March 6, 2026
Dear Newberg-Dundee Families,
I want to take a few minutes to share what is happening in our district and to personally invite you to one of our upcoming community meetings.
Where We Are
Our district is strong in many ways. Newberg High School’s graduation rate has climbed to 92.6%, well above the state average of 83%. Across the district, our graduation rate is 86%, still about 3 points higher than the state. At the elementary level, our students are performing strongly. When compared with 33 similar Oregon districts, our 3rd-grade reading and math results are among the highest. None of this has come easily. Our teachers and staff have continued to give everything they have, even as we eliminated 76.75 positions over the past two years and shortened the school year by 13 days.
That commitment is real, and I am proud of it. I also need to be straight with you. The financial picture heading into 2026–27 is serious. We are facing a projected $4.5 million funding gap next year, on top of the significant reductions we have already made to balance our budget. In those cuts, we worked hard to protect classrooms and essential student services as much as possible. The reality now is that additional reductions in 2026–27 would be harder to contain and would directly affect classroom programs and services.
What I want you to know is this: Newberg is not alone. Districts across Oregon are facing the same grim reality. Canby, Corvallis, Eugene, West Linn-Wilsonville, Portland Public, and many others are expected to announce their own budget gaps in the coming weeks. When this many districts are in financial difficulty at the same time, it tells you something important: this is not only a local problem. It is a state funding problem. Oregon has steadily reduced the share of its budget dedicated to public education for more than two decades, and school districts across the state are now absorbing the consequences.
We cannot control how the state funds public schools. We can control how we respond here in Newberg.
What We Are Asking
The Board has placed a proposed Local Option Levy on the May 2026 ballot. This is a temporary, five-year measure that would allow us to stabilize class sizes, protect teaching positions, and rebuild the financial reserves needed to operate responsibly. For a homeowner with an average assessed value of $330,000, the cost would be approximately $33 per month.
If the levy does not pass, we are looking at further cuts of approximately 25 additional teaching positions, class sizes exceeding 30 students in 25% of our elementary classrooms, and potential school closures down the road.
Come Talk With Me
I believe you deserve the full picture, not a summary, not a marketing pitch. That is why I have been visiting every school in our district to sit down with families, share the data, and answer your questions directly.
All meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. No registration is required. Come to your school, come to any school, or come to several. Come with your questions. I will share what I know and be honest about what I do not.
You can also learn more and follow our progress at www.NewbergSchoolsLevy.org.
Thank you for your partnership and your trust. These schools were built by this community, and they are sustained by it.
Sincerely,
Dave Parker
Superintendent, Newberg-Dundee Public Schools