Canby School District ‘will persevere’ following teacher layoffs

By Raymond Rendleman, The Canby Chronicle

“We will continue; we will persevere,” Canby Superintendent Jennifer Patterson said after the failure of a school funding levy request to voters.

While the levy not passing will mean fewer adults serving Canby students in the upcoming school year, Patterson said the school district was undeterred in its commitment to provide quality education.

The fewer number of Canby educators heading into the school year that begins on Aug. 31, she said, will “continue to make our schools strong and great places for learning, great places for artistic creation and expression.”

A statement from the Canby School Board said that the elected officials were disappointed in the outcome of the levy vote, but the board expressed their respect for the democratic process and the will of those who cast their vote.

“We want to acknowledge the many supportive voices for our schools and students that came forward during this process. This election reflected a community deeply invested in its schools, even when perspectives on the path forward differed. That level of engagement matters, and it will continue to shape our work moving forward,” according to a statement from the school board.

The vote will create serious financial challenges for Canby schools, with a difficult year ahead. A cut of $6.3 million means that Canby schools will experience larger class sizes, reduced counseling, reading, and nursing supports, and fewer student opportunities in areas such as CTE, music, art, theater, and athletics. The local option levy would have generated an estimated $5.9 million per year for five years, but 52.3% of Canby citizens voted against the measure.

“We’ll find a way through this, and we will continue to advocate, just continue putting students in the center and finding all of the creative solutions that we can collectively pursue," Patterson said. “I remain committed to this community as superintendent. I’m so proud to serve here, and I’m so proud to say we’ll keep going together.”

Difficult decisions lie ahead as the board implements operating plans with significantly reduced resources while working to prioritize students and maintain as much stability as possible for our schools. On June 1, the board will hold a work session focused on long-term operational adjustments, including school closure and consolidation.”

“In addition, the loss of 60 additional staff members weighs heavily on our hearts. The board extends its deepest gratitude to those impacted by budget reductions over the past two years and recognizes the years of care, service, and dedication they have given to Canby students and families. Every member of our staff has played an important role in the success and well-being of our schools,” the release continued.

Moving forward, the Canby School Board will continue to advocate for more adequate and reliable state funding for public education, including solutions for rising PERS costs and the underfunding of special education services.

“Canby students should not bear the burden of longstanding statewide underfunding for public education,” according to the school board’s statement. “Even in this moment, our schools remain places of learning, belonging, opportunity, and care for children.”

The district cut 11% of its budget in the 2025-26 school year by reducing staffing and increasing class sizes. The cuts included a 50% reduction to art and music programs in grades K-6.

Canby School District, in the 2025-26 school year, already eliminated full-time equivalent positions, reduced operational budgets district-wide, froze staffing and examined each position vacancy for attrition/reduction. Class sizes are now expected to go up to approximately 30 students in K-6 classrooms and 35-40 students in 7-12 classrooms.

Impacts are expected across all of the schools in Canby. At the high school, for example, the following cuts were expected for the 2026-27 school year:

• 1 social studies teaching position 
• 1 language arts teaching position 
• 1 math teaching position 
• 1 science teaching position
• 1 health/PE teaching position
• 1 culinary arts teaching position
• 1 early-childhood teaching position
• Reduction of one secretarial position
• Reduction of one custodial position 
• Elimination of four of the remaining six Career and Technical Education programs
• Elimination of yearbook classes
• Elimination of theatre classes
• Reduction of special education, maintenance, custodial, athletics, and technology services