Document text
ASD tweaks school calendar By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland School District certified and classified personnel received a heads-up on which days would be reduced from the district calendar, including news that spring break could be two days longer this year. Superintendent Juli Di Chiro met with more than 200 district employees Friday to discuss what brought the district to the point of reducing eight days - on top of two other day reductions. According to school officials, continued financial cuts due to economic downturns topped with declining enrollment has left the district with few options, save for a reduction in salaries. "We just don't have any place else to go," Di Chiro told a crowded house at Ashland Middle School, noting the district has dealt with declining state funds by deciding to close one of the district's five elementary schools, laying off staff, shifting teachers' paychecks and utilizing unemployment and contingency fund money. A further reduction of $540,000 to the ASD budget - brought about by the failure of Measure 28 late last month - means that days must be eliminated. Tentative days to be reduced include March 21 and March 31, which will extend spring break; April 25 and April 28; and June 9-12. These day reductions will not be official until approved by the Ashland School Board. Di Chiro said while reducing days will remedy the current financial situation, further cuts to education could mean future layoffs. "I wish I could tell you that because of the personal sacrifices you're making that it's all going to be OK, but that's not the case," she told the teachers. Should financial constraints warrant layoffs, the announcement would come by April. Rick Sharp, Ashland High School English teacher, said Friday he will continue to roll with the budget punches. "There are just some things that are outside our control. You just have to maintain a positive attitude and move ahead. The bottom line is that teachers still want to teach and they still want to provide the education students deserve," Sharp said. The Ashland School Board will meet to address the proposed reduction in days at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night. In addition to discussing the school calendar, the board will decide on the level and length of the Youth Activities Levy, which could end up on the May ballot in Ashland. The levy now stands at $1.38 per $1,000 assessed property value and is renewed in three-year increments. The amount of the levy and its increment could be subject to change. The board will also consider a memorandum of understanding between the Southern Oregon Bargaining Council and the Ashland Public Schools regarding early retirement options. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Ashland Civic Center council chambers, 1175 East Main St. The meeting will be carried live on Rogue Valley Community Television Channel 9. 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 -