Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eugene 4J school district is anticipating an $8.3 million reduction in state funding. To save funding for next year’s budget, the school district will implement scheduled furlough days.
During Wednesday’s 4J school board meeting, members authorized the Superintendent to adjust the calendar to implement furloughs as needed.
4J General Counsel Christine Nesbit says furloughs could help avoid high impact cuts in the future and prevent large cuts that took place during the Great Recession.
“When we went through the Great Recession, we had some brutal years,” said Nesbit. “We did 36 furlough days in a seven year period. We increased the class sizes at twice I believe, and cut dozens of staff. It was heartbreaking to go through.”
Nesbit also believes implementing furlough days now could have less of an instructional impact than if they were implemented later.
