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AHS battles for bucks By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Students are taking a stand - for their future. Ashland High School students are joining the political bandwagon as educators, health and human service providers and concerned citizens head to Salem to rally today in support of Measure 28 and stable state funding. Students hope their voices won't fall on deaf ears, and AHS senior Mariah Mayfield finds herself looking at what she may soon have to do without. "If Measure 28 doesn't pass, we'll lose school days, we'll lose teachers and the value of our education will go down," Mayfield said while taking a head count this morning at the AHS bus ramp. Senior Evian Di Stefano, with business suit and coffee in hand, said that he's heading to the rally to make sure elected officials perform their job. "Personally, I'm rallying to see that the state Legislature gets something done," Di Stefano said. Di Stefano was joined by more than 30 classmates who opted to make a political impression on an otherwise "day-off." AHS Principal Jeff Schlecht said that the rally - which coincides with Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday - is an opportunity for students to be a part of a larger cause. "Most kids look at this day as a chance to go skiing. Instead they're up there giving up their free time for a cause that is bigger than themselves. They want the opportunity to say 'This is how it feels and this is what it does to our future,'" Schlecht said. The students will join more than 350 Southern Oregonians heading to the rally at 1 p.m. According to Jim Bond, a consultant with Oregon Education Association, the OEA contracted with Laidlaw to bus concerned citizens to Salem to voice their support of Measure 28. Bond said the rally should draw in people from every regional pocket. The measure seeks to offset $314 million in potential reductions to state services by creating a three-year temporary tax increase that would salvage existing state-funded programs. Should Measure 28 fail, the Ashland School District will take a $540,000 cut which may mean students will be looking at a shortened school year, according to school officials. The district is currently negotiating with the Southern Oregon Bargaining Council and the Oregon School Employees Association for a reduction of up to 10 school days if the measure fails to garner voter approval. According to Leeanne Wallace, president of the Ashland Education Association, seniors Ben Carrier and Mayfield coordinated students to take action. "They e-mailed the superintendent and asked to attend (the rally) with the concept that as students, they really wanted to see how politics influenced decisions," Wallace said. Not only will students get the chance to see a politically charged event, they will have a moment to speak with Sen. Lenn Hannon (R-Ashland) and Rep. Alan Bates (D-Ashland) to give their two cents worth. Sophomore Ofer Alves feels the measure is necessary in dire economic times. "Schools need the money. The small tax increase is necessary" Alves said. Senior Isaac Skibinski, agreed. "If Measure 28 doesn't pass, we'll definitely still need funding here," Skibinski said. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | 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 -