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Schools lose out By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Oregon voters' decision to put a stop to the "stop-gap" Measure 28 means many schools throughout the state will be reducing academic calendars in an attempt to streamline budgets even further. As the election dust settles, local school officials pause to consider what the future will bring. Amy Amrhein, Ashland School Board vice chair and a "Get Out The Vote" campaign coordinator, said that the Ashland School District calendar will soon be reduced to address the district's $540,000 loss courtesy of Measure 28's failure. "I think we're looking at eight days being cut from the ASD," Amrhein said. These eight days will be in addition to two days that were previously cut, saving the district approximately $73,000 in salary and benefit costs for each reduced day. "I have no confidence that the Legislature will do anything. I think the cuts will remain where they are," Amrhein said. The first paycheck reduction will begin in February although which days will be eliminated has yet to be determined. Superintendent Juli Di Chiro said that negotiations with employee unions will continue this week as the district works toward shortening its calendar. The measure's failure equates to a $95 million loss in state funded school support - $5 million of which is a direct loss to Jackson County schools. And while the ASD will be able to avoid additional cuts this year, reductions to staff and programs could be on the horizon this fall. "We're definitely going to have to look at ways to reduce our budget next year," Di Chiro said, noting that the failed measure would have raised much-needed funds for the next three years. For Pauline Black, Walker Site Council member and parent, the election's result was deeply disappointing. "It's a pretty sad day when we can't come up with $10 a month to send our children to school," Black said. "Underfunding public services is not the way to achieve an ideal state." Black said that she's concerned not only for the teachers whose quality of life will be affected, but for the families who will have to find supervision for their children on the days they would normally be in school. "It means they're (parents) going to have to scramble to find child care," she said. Di Chiro said the district will notify families of schedule changes as soon as possible. "I don't think we'll see any changes before spring break," she said. Leeanne Wallace, president of Ashland Education Association and AHS Leadership teacher said that she's concerned for the students but also worries about cuts to human services and other state supported programs. "I'm very disappointed that Oregonians don't feel a sense of responsibility," Wallace said. With the failure of Measure 28, Wallace sees that the Youth Activities Levy and the Ashland Schools Foundation support will be crucial to the road ahead. "They've always been extremely important since Measure 5 put a stranglehold on local control of schools," Wallace said. The Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission voted to include the levy in its budget Monday night - the levy stands at $1.38 per $1,000 assessed property value, raising approximately $1.7 million per year for the district. While there was some talk of raising the levy should Measure 28 fail, Di Chiro said she would advise against it. "My recommendation is that we do not raise the levy. We can't afford to have the levy fail. We have to have it pass," she said. "The importance of the levy cannot be underestimated. It is crucial to maintaining the well-rounded education we value here in Ashland," Amrhein added. "I'm hopeful that residents will continue to do what they can to support Ashland schools." Instead of asking for a three-year increment, the board will discuss asking for a five-year levy at its next board meeting scheduled for Feb. 10. The levy is set to go before voters in May. ASF Board Member Carol Coye Benson said the levy and the ASF fund drive - which raised approximately $300,000 through community donations last year - will be necessary for the future of education. "They're all pieces of the solution and no one (piece) by itself is enough," Benson said. In addition to losses the ASD will absorb, the Phoenix-Talent School District will have to address a $485,750 loss and Southern Oregon University will be dealing with $460,157 in losses through a $50 winter and spring tuition surcharge. According Ron Bolstad, SOU vice principal for administration and finance, university officials will continue to moderate tuition increases while maximizing financial aid so that higher education can remain feasible for Oregon students. "Our paramount concern is affordability in this environment and in looking ahead to next year," Bolstad said. 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