The Senate Committee on Education convened on March 19, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding classified employees in Oregon's K-12 school districts. The meeting highlighted the complexities of job classifications and compensation across the state's 197 districts, each with its own unique job descriptions and pay structures. This lack of uniformity makes it challenging to compare spending and compensation effectively.

A key recommendation from the task force was to conduct a classification study of classified staff to support data-driven decision-making and ensure comparability across districts. This recommendation received unanimous support from task force members and is documented in the task force report.

The committee discussed Senate Bill 980, which proposes a two-year process overseen by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to develop standardized job titles and descriptions. This initiative aims to facilitate uniformity across school districts and improve the clarity of job roles. The process will include interim and final reports to keep the interim education committees informed of progress.

During the meeting, concerns were raised about the potential implications of this classification study on base pay and cost-of-living differences across various regions in Oregon. However, it was clarified that the initial analysis would focus on establishing a framework for future discussions regarding compensation.

The committee expressed appreciation for the insights shared and acknowledged the importance of addressing the challenges faced by classified staff in Oregon's education system. The meeting concluded with an invitation for further questions and discussions on the topic.