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Filling the Briscoe vacancy By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland School Board members are discussing the future of Briscoe Elementary, including two possible scenarios for leasing the historic Ashland landmark which closed last week. Teacher Martha Wilhelm packs her classroom into boxes Monday at Briscoe Elementary School. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA At the board's regularly scheduled meeting held Monday night, Superintendent Juli Di Chiro presented members with two proposals for the site as recommended by the superintendent-appointed committee, which has explored possible options since its formation in late February. Taking no action, the board will consider leasing the site to the Oregon Shakespearean Festival and/or the Oregon Child Development Coalition, which serves Migrant Head Start programs. "They both have some interest in the site as an educational facility," Di Chiro told the board. OSF is interested in leasing the new music performance hall in addition to the old gym for school outreach programs. OCDC officials have indicated interest in using portions of the remainder of the now-defunct building, school officials said. Di Chiro said the committee recommended the district hold onto the site as opposed to selling it. "By hanging onto that property, the only thing that will happen for the district is that site will continue to grow revenue," Di Chiro said. She said the district would pursue a minimum three-to-five year lease for any new tenants. Di Chiro said both options would allow the Briscoe neighborhood access to the playground, addressing some concerns expressed from the Briscoe community. The OCDC would like access to the site by July with classes to start in August, according to school officials. This could prompt a decision by the board at its July 14 meeting. "If they need to do that we will need to make a decision," board vice chair Amy Amrhein said. However, the decision could be postponed depending on what OSF board members decide at the end of June. School board member Chuck Keil said some community members have relayed concerns over the timing of the board's decision on Briscoe. "There has been some concerns expressed that we shouldn't make decisions during the summer but it looks like we're going to have to," Keil said. Representatives from the Waldorf community also expressed interest in leasing portions of the site, but Di Chiro said leasing the building to a private school could potentially draw students out of the district. In other business Monday, the board: approved the election results; ratified the certified bargaining agreement; accepted the memorandum of understanding between the district and Oregon School Employees Association Chapter 42 regarding 2003-04 salary schedule; adopted the 2003-04 budget and resolutions; adopted transfer of funds; reviewed first reading of board policy revision; and accepted an insurance bid in the amount of $114,348 from Marsh USA, Inc., with the provision that the district has the flexibility to continue negotiations. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 14 in the Ashland Council Chambers. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -