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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad December 21, 2005 At Length Di Chiro has earned broad support By Leeanne R. Wallace Ashland Education Association Past President On Dec. 12, as I was leaving the Ashland School Board meeting, Paul Copeland looked at me and said, “Nice try.” When pressed, he said that he believed that I was responsible for the large number who had shown up in support of a three-year contract for Juli Di Chiro. He is sadly mistaken. Mr. Copeland's “nice try” was a slap in the face to the good people who came to openly voice their opinions as well as a slap to those who have taken the responsibilities of the school board upon their shoulders knowing that everyone who has an interest in the district is scrutinizing them. A diverse group of citizens from our community came to participate in the valued democratic process. They expressed their true, sincere feelings about the need for having an experienced, capable, supportive leader at the head of our district. Of the 16 people who spoke last night, 14 were in favor of a three-year or longer contract for Juli. One person asked for a one-year contract and one individual questioned the need for lawyers in the process. Those who spoke in favor of Juli, spoke of her wisdom, her leadership, her experience and the respect others have for her in the community and beyond. If I had spoken, I would have shared many additional qualities that make her such a valuable and needed leader. Because of her position as head of this district and due to issues out of her control such as financial realities, a few resent some of the tough decisions she has had to make. But I see her as thoughtful, compassionate and considerate. She never degrades anyone either in public or in private. Above all, she demonstrates integrity and honesty and is completely ethical. The last time the Ashland School District conducted a superintendent search started in the summer of 1999. It took a year of dedicated focus by the entire school community to find our new superintendent. But our school board does not have this freedom. Instead the board has some very difficult events ahead of it. A renewal of a bond is being discussed and will need to be ready to present to the community next year. The certified staff (teachers) will be renegotiating their contract also next year and the activity levy will be presented the following year. And, unfortunately the continuing negative impact of declining enrollment needs to be addressed. Without a solid, stable and experienced superintendent at the head, any one of these transactions would be difficult to achieve if not impossible. I urge the board to offer a fair and complete three-year contract to Juli DiChiro as the superintendent and then work with her to lead this school district effectively. The Tidings gives priority to letters on local and regional topics of current interest. It seeks to encourage thoughtful, well-reasoned letters and to discourage personal attacks, repetitive messages and personal disputes. Form letters are not published in the Tidings, nor are letters identified as having been published in other publications. Contributions to the Opinion page should be e-mailed in text-only format to [email protected]. Please include your address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached for confirmation. Letters are limited to 250 words. At Length submissions are limited to 400 words. Submissions may be edited for length, content and clarity. See www.dailytidings.com for our expanded letters and opinion section. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.