News about the staggering deficit in the Newberg (Ore.) School District budget should compel its leadership to resign. After hearing persistently this year that "finances are great!" a financial analysis discovered that our schools are facing a $3.7 million deficit this year, with significantly more deficits on the horizon for 2024-25. A lack of transparency, combined with incompetence, accounting errors, an unwillingness to change, lucrative contracts for administrators: these are all actions, taken by leadership, that put our district and its students in financial peril. 

For these reasons, Superintendent Stephen Phillips, Deputy Superintendent Scott Lindenberger, and Director of Finance Heather Bixby should resign.

The Newberg School District has faced several years of chaos and disorder, including the firing of one superintendent without cause, and then the hiring of Phillips, who was not qualified to lead a district of Newberg's size, especially given actions at two other districts that led to his dismissal or suspension.

Phillips negotiated a lucrative contract for himself and his deputy superintendent, but both men have done little in the last two years to justify that pay. Instead, there's been more chaos; a toxic work environment that has led to several lawsuits; the exodus of almost 200 educators from the district; and now financial ruin for a once-robust district.

If these leaders remain in their roles and continue to cause destruction, Newberg loses more. The community's children have already suffered disruptions in their education, alongside the loss of beloved teachers, and severe budget cuts will affect them most. Continuing on this pathway will ruin our district for a generation, if not more.

We need competent leadership in Newberg who can right this sinking ship.

We need leadership who will be transparent about where we are, so we can know where we need to be. 

We need leadership who put children first. 

It's time for the current leaders to do the honorable act for our community's good. This petition should send the message: it's time for Phillips, Lindenberger, and Bixby to resign.