It’s the end of summer and the first day of school is just around the corner. Today (Thursday) Eugene’s 4-j School District held a “Back to School” gathering for faculty and staff. Speakers touched on the Presidential election and state-wide and local ballot measures that could change schools for better or worse. Paul Duchin with the Eugene Education Association pointed to an initiative that would base teacher pay on merit and another that requires English-only education. And he said a measure that allows Oregonians to deduct more of their federal income taxes on state forms would hit schools hard.

Duchin: “We heard the other night at the 4-J School Board that passage of Ballot measure 59 could mean cutting  up to 70 full-time classroom teachers at 4-J.”

Superintendent George Russell reminded faculty of the need for sensitivity in diverse classrooms.

Russell: “I want to caution that while it’s important we maintain our focus on the academic needs of our students. We cannot forget about their social and emotional needs.”

The keynote speaker was former 4-J Superintendent Tom Payzant, who now is a professor at Harvard.