By Sharon Ko
MEDFORD, Ore. -- Hundreds of employees at the Medford School District will take a reduction in their pay and benefits because of budget shortfalls.
Since May, the district has been discussing possibilities to keep employees after having to cut 11-and-a-half million dollars last year. A spokesman says classified employees agreed to an 8% reduction for the current school year. Classified employees will be taking those cuts; that's the support staff like teacher aids, receptionists and custodians.
"Nobody in the school district is pleased about this solution but it does keep those that are here working, even though it's been a little bit less money and it's hard, its just been hard on everybody," Human Resources Director Dr. Todd Bloomquist.
The district says it's putting $500,000 of its reserves to keep classified employees working. The district spokesman says they're using reserve funds that it saved for the next two years, but say it was necessary to use on the employees in this circumstance. The contract expires June 2012 and will be up for negotiations again.
