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Enrollment below projections By AMBER FOSSEN Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland School board members took a look at enrollment numbers, noting a drop in elementary figures. "We are below our elementary projection of 1,136," Ashland Superintendent Juli Di Chiro announced at Monday night's board meeting. Di Chiro emphasized that enrollment numbers are fluid and subject to change. "These can and will change. Our first really good enrollment count will be Oct. 1." School principals reported on the start up of school - each said that smooth transitions and positive spirits characterized the beginning of the 2003-04 school year - and enrollment figures. Total elementary enrollment as of Monday stood at 1,104 students, 32 students below the projected number. Bellview elementary reported 229 students, Helman rang in at 346, and Lincoln and Walker elementaries reported 205 and 324 respectively. Lithia Springs reported 29 students and the Willow Wind Community Learning Center reported an estimated equivalent of 152 students. Enrollment at Ashland Middle School also took a slight dip, according to Principal Dale Rooklyn noting 741 students are currently registered - down about eight students from last year but above the projected 727 students. However Ashland High School enrollment was above the projected figure, district officials said. AHS counted 1,185 students but school officials said the number is subject to change. "In the time it took for Tess (Razzano, AHS registrar) to compile these numbers today, we had three students leave and two come in so it's a really fluid population," AHS Assistant Principal Don Valentini said. Total district enrollment as of Monday stood at 3,211 students. Board member Heidi Parker expressed concern with class sizes, particularly in the upper grade levels. According to Di Chiro, funds from the Ashland Schools Foundation have helped to alleviate some of the problem by establishing additional full-time-equivalent positions at the middle and high school. "There is a handful of classes with more than 30 kids (at AHS)," Di Chiro said. "We worried that a lot more teachers would have more than 30 students in their classes." Some classes at AMS are between 30 and 35 students, school officials said. At the elementaries, several upper level classes host more than 26 students. District officials said they would like to keep class sizes low and may engage the help of community volunteers. Walker Elementary Principal Michelle Zundel said volunteers are commonplace in classrooms. "More often than not, there is more than one adult in the room," Zundel said, adding the help is welcome and appreciated. In other business, the board: listened to a report on possible future growth areas; approved annual school board objectives; announced budget committee vacancies; held the second reading of board policy revisions; and acknowledged Debra Pew to the administrative position of probationary home school director for Willow Wind. Interviews for two budget committee vacancies will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, preceding the regularly scheduled board meeting which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Ashland Council Chambers at 1175 E. Main St. Budget committee applications can be picked up at the District Office located at 885 Siskiyou Blvd. Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. For more information call 482-2811. 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 -