AM Live guest George Mendoza 4/2/2026

In this April 2nd, 2026 episode of AM Live on EOA, host Brent welcomes Grand Superintendent George Mendoza for a deep dive into the financial and operational challenges facing La Grande School District. Mendoza outlines how declining enrollment—driven by post-COVID shifts, lower birth rates, and rising living costs—has led to a 330-student drop over five years, directly impacting state funding tied to student counts. With funding reductions and rising PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) costs—now requiring 20 cents of every dollar received—districts are forced into difficult choices like staff reductions, program cuts, and layoffs. Mendoza emphasizes the emotional toll of these decisions, likening the district to a truck losing parts, and calls for systemic PERS reform or new revenue sources like a targeted tourism tax. He also explains the funding structure: state funds for instruction, bonds for buildings, and levies for learning, while criticizing federal and state mandates that lack alignment and accountability. The conversation shifts to sports, where Mendoza praises the girls' wrestling team's three-peat and the boys' basketball team's success, while expressing frustration over the GOL Coach of the Year award being given to a 4-20 coach, highlighting the disconnect between performance and recognition. He advocates for equitable, high-quality championship experiences across all school sizes and locations, citing Portland’s venue issues as a major pain point. Throughout, Mendoza underscores his commitment to teachers, staff, and students, despite limited resources, and stresses the importance of purpose, belonging, and long-term thinking in education leadership.