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Officials Say Oregon Schools Face Early Closure

Salem, Ore.

Many Oregon schools could close early this year unless they receive help soon from a federal stimulus package or an infusion of cash from state reserves, school administrators are warning.

The Confederation of Oregon School Administrators called Monday for quick action to avoid a repeat of early school closures in the 2003 recession that hurt the state's image and deprived students of a full school year.

Part of the school chiefs' worry is that, at the congressional level, the Senate's version of a federal stimulus package contains far less money than the House approved to help financially strapped states preserve programs...