BEND, OR -- While teachers prepare classrooms this week for students to return, Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Cook is looking ahead to the next legislative session. "We're already in contact with the Governor's office about our priorities," Dr. Cook tells KBND News, "Lots of dialog with our local legislators, lots of dialog with the Governor's office. And we will be doing a lot of advocating for what the students and staff of our district need, as we go into this long session." 

Bend-La Pine Schools expects to benefit from the Governor's proposal to change how K-12 school funding is calculated for the 2025-27 budget cycle. Dr. Cook is pleased with the adjustment, "The Governor did really pay close attention to the fact that the way they're calculating some of the math on school funding has- we had some discrepancies in what we believed the way it was going. And she's committed an additional $500 million." He adds, "That's a huge benefit to our schools and our families. And our students are going to feel that impact." But he hopes more will come in 2025, "We're excited to continue that. We're asking them for things like, 'Hey, if there are laws that we want to implement, let's make sure there's funding that come with meeting the needs of those."

The district attempted to increase its budget with a five-year $21 million levy, but that was soundly defeated in the May election.