Alina Harway

We've been speaking with parents, teachers, students, and other education advocates all around the state to find out how things really look in Oregon's K-12 classrooms.

Here is the latest in our video series, from High School History teacher (and dad) Steve Nims.

There's been a resurgence of interest in the effects of Measure 5, the property tax cap measure that is widely credited with defunding Oregon's schools.

Measure 5 was passed in 1990, and was proposed as a property tax cap and limit. Proponents of this measure failed to mention that the policy would also severely cut public school funding while shifting decisions from local officials to state lawmakers. With limited funds and far-removed politicians making decisions how to use them, school funding has faced troubling trends in the ensuing decades.

The nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office (LRO) has released their report on the revenue implications of Measure 84, Kevin Mannix's Estate Tax Break for Millionaires.

Their findings? It's gonna cost us.

In short, if the measure passes, it will cost the state between $256 million and $600 million (or more) per biennium, once fully implemented. 

Let’s face it, the news today can be downright depressing. It’s important to remember that things aren’t all bad — in fact, there are some really great things happening around us all the time. Introducing, The Bright Side of Life!

Happy Friday, folks! Here are a few stories that brightened things up around the OO office this week: