PPS Superintendent discusses 2025-2026 budget proposal
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong laid out her proposal for the 2025-2026 school year at a press conference Wednesday morning, a proposal which includes laying off hundreds of positions in the district.
At the event, Armstrong spoke on the current deficit the district is facing, $40 million, and the fact that this is the district's third straight year facing a deficit.
She also shared that the current budget reflects tough decisions being made with students as their central focus.
Proposal to make Portland Street Response its own standalone unit moves forward
According to Armstrong, when it comes to layoffs, the central office is taking the biggest hit and in total, they are looking at a reduction of at least 240, which includes layoffs, vacant positions and teachers who are retiring and will not be replaced.
'We are making sure that our classrooms have all the essential services to be successful,' said Armstrong. 'That we are continuing with high-quality instruction, materials that our standards align, and making sure that we are providing wrap-around supports to our students who need it most. We still believe that Portland Public Schools is the best option and choice for families in our community, and we are going to continue to uplift those experiences.'
When asked about some of the key reasons for the budget deficit, Armstrong said that the district has been seeing declining enrollment and that schools receive funding on a per-student basis. She also said that the district has been affected by rising costs.
PPS Chief Financial Officer Michelle Morrison emphasized that this current budget proposal is only preliminary and that it will be revised.
Next week at Grant High School, PPS is hosting a Board Budget Public Comment Session meant to allow the public to voice their input to the board on next year's budget.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
26 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Billie Joe Armstrong posts burning Waymo video in protest of ICE raids
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has publicly aligned himself with the wave of protests erupting across California in opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and the Trump administration's military response. Armstrong posted an incendiary video to Instagram on Sunday, June 8, that stitched together footage from Los Angeles demonstrations. The clip included scenes of a burning Waymo self-driving taxi tagged with 'F— ICE,' and protesters being arrested. The video was set to Green Day's 'F— Off,' a track from the band's latest album, 'Saviors (Édition de Luxe).' Armstrong, who last month headlined the BottleRock Napa Valley festival with his band, captioned the post with a middle finger emoji and an ice cube — a not-so-subtle jab at the federal agency. The protests erupted following ICE raids at multiple workplaces across Los Angeles on Friday, June 6, prompting a weekend of citywide unrest. Demonstrators blocked freeways and torched vehicles, including the autonomous Waymo cars. President Donald Trump responded by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to the region, a move criticized by Gov. Gavin Newsom as an unnecessary escalation. In San Francisco, police made 60 arrests, which included some minors, after protesters refused to comply with a dispersal order. Armstrong's post garnered mixed reactions. Some fans denounced the glorification of property destruction, while others defended the East Bay punk icon's political stance.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wisconsin bill would give state income tax deduction to educators for classroom expenses
MADISON – Teachers in Wisconsin schools would be able to deduct classroom materials from income tax filings under a new bill. Under the proposal, teachers may claim up to a $300 deduction on their state income tax return for eligible expenses such as professional development courses, books and other classroom supplies. Bill co-author Rep. David Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, told the Journal Sentinel that two of his daughters are teachers so this is an issue close to home for him. "I think it's ludacris that teachers have to buy their own supplies. I get that maybe that's just normal practice now so I want to help as much as I can," Armstrong said. The bill mirrors current federal policy that allows educators to claim a $300 deduction on federal income tax returns for the same expenses. Teachers spend a significant amount of their own money on classroom supplies, averaging between $500 and $800 annually on classroom supplies that are not reimbursed by the school, according to the National Education Association. Over 90% of teachers in the U.S. have spent money out of pocket on classroom supplies, a 2023 study found. Armstrong said that while the bill has been well received by educators who have attended listening sessions in his district, he wishes there was more he could do. "I wish I could've done more, but I think with the reality of where we are at right now with the budget, this is the best I could get through right now," Armstrong said. Armstrong said that there has been a good response from Democratic lawmakers, and he believes it's likely the bill will get a unanimous vote in the Assembly. Several Democratic lawmakers have signed onto the bill, including Rep. Lisa Subeck, who told the Journal Sentinel that "frankly, the bill just makes good sense." "The reality is that we should be doing a better job of funding our schools to ensure that classroom needs are met so teachers would not feel like they have to purchase things out-of-pocket," Subeck said. "Until we do that, I think this is the least we could do." Subeck said teachers have been spending money out of pocket for a long time, noting that she remembers spending her own money on classroom materials when she was a preschool teacher for Head Start. But that strain has become greater in recent years as rising inflation drives up supply costs. While Subeck could not speak to whether Gov. Tony Evers would support the bill, she pointed to Evers' time as state superintendent and his work through the budget process to provide more funding to Wisconsin's schools as showing his commitment to uplifting educators. "I think that he knows well the strain the teachers in our classrooms feel," Subeck said. A spokeswoman from the governor did not respond to a request for comment. Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin bill would provide state income tax deduction for teachers
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Billie Joe Armstrong Shares Message of Solidarity Amid L.A. Protests
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has shared a message of support amid protesters rallying against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration's recent deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. On Sunday evening (June 8), Armstrong posted a protest snippet from downtown L.A. via Instagram Stories, captioned with a middle-finger emoji and an ice cube. The clip featured a live recording of 'F— Off,' a track from Saviors (Édition de Luxe), the deluxe version of Green Day's 2024 album, released in May 2025. More from Billboard Kylie Minogue Joins Prestigious '21 Club' at London's O2 Arena Kevin Parker Previews New Tame Impala Music During Barcelona DJ Set 'Maybe Happy Ending,' 'Sunset Blvd.' Win Key 2025 Tony Awards: Full Winners List The post comes amid increasing criticism of federal raids across Southern California, which saw ICE agents detaining dozens of individuals alleged to be undocumented immigrants. The crackdown was quickly followed by the unrequested deployment of National Guard troops to L.A., marking one of the first times in modern history that the Guard was sent to a state without the governor's approval. California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the move as a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' in a letter issued Sunday afternoon, while L.A. Mayor Karen Bass echoed that sentiment, calling the situation 'provoked chaos' during a press conference. Armstrong's statement also follows comments from Finneas, who claimed he was tear-gassed while attending what he described as a 'very peaceful protest' in downtown L.A. The Grammy-winning producer and artist posted several Instagram stories, writing: 'Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown — they're inciting this.' Finneas also reposted a video showing 9News Australia correspondent Lauren Tomasi being struck in the leg by a rubber bullet while reporting live from the scene. The protests began Friday in response to ICE raids at several Los Angeles-area businesses. By Sunday, the National Guard had arrived in the city, and images of heavily armed officers confronting peaceful demonstrators, including journalists and musicians, began flooding social media. For Armstrong, this latest act of resistance fits squarely within a decades-long tradition of speaking out against institutional injustice. Green Day's discography is filled with political commentary, from the anti-Bush sentiment of American Idiot to more recent critiques of gun violence and authoritarianism. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart