S06. Demand for public school services may increase at the same time that costs of maintaining public school facilities increase

Schools in the Portland metro area are exposed to a limited number of impacts due to peak oil, but they are critical issues, as the education system is a core societal activity. The cost of heating and lighting schools, especially older buildings, will rise. This could result in budget reductions in other areas, such as routine and capital maintenance expenditures, which are already squeezed. In addition, the cost of transporting students will increase, and some parents who currently drive their children to school may stop doing so, placing a greater transportation burden on the school system. As school budgets are squeezed by higher prices, the current trends of teacher, curriculum, school year and program cuts could get worse, and the quality of education could decline.

Public school enrollment may increase as private school tuitions rise and population moves back into Portland, although this could be partially offset by an increase in home schooling. Marginalized populations will be affected if there is a reduction in federal funding for food programs in the schools. Finally, there may be increased pressure for schools to become more of a multi-function community resource, putting more pressure on the schools’ maintenance and capital upgrade budgets.