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School cuts approved By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland School Board members unanimously approved the latest round of reductions in force without much audience reaction, or rather, without much of an audience. A sparse crowd - less than five -attended Monday night's regularly scheduled meeting to hear the board's decision on reducing Ashland School District staff. Board officials said the unanimous - yet reluctant - approval to reduce both certified and classified positions was in an effort to meet the projected $18.5 million budget for the 2003-04 school year. Eliminating nearly five full-time equivalent staff positions will save the district approximately $198,000, officials said. The decision was made in absence of board member Terry Littleton. The projected budget was conservatively calculated, according to Superintendent Juli Di Chiro, who along with ASD Business Manager Loren Luman estimated $4,700 in state support per student based on the proposed $4.5 billion education funding level. "I hope it doesn't go below this and we really hope we don't have another year like this where every time we turn around we're back at the table facing more cuts," Di Chiro said, adding the amount the district will receive from the state per student is still up in the air. The 2003-04 budget stands at $1 million less than the projected operating budget for this school year, which saw reductions to staff, programs, school days and even the closure of an elementary school, prompting community unrest. Di Chiro said several of the eliminated positions were supported - in part- by outside revenues. "If we look at the certified positions, a number of those laid off were partially funded by Ashland Schools Foundation funds," Di Chiro said. Reductions in force include: four assistant teaching positions - established by ASF funds to reduce class size at Bellview, Helman, Lincoln, and Walker elementaries; an Ashland Middle School science teacher; an Ashland High School business teacher; an elementary librarian; and a head custodian from Briscoe Elementary. School officials said affected staff members were notified of the layoffs before spring break to allow them additional time to seek alternate employment. Board Vice Chair Amy Amrhein questioned the impact further reductions would have on class size. The answer: Class sizes will go up. "Class sizes will increase throughout the district because not only will we have these layoffs, but a number of district employees are retiring," Di Chiro said. The exact number of planned retirements in the district was unavailable by press time today. School district officials said the layoffs would have been more severe if Briscoe Elementary remained open. Shuttering Briscoe at the end of this year will save the district $320,000 - and about seven positions. Board member Chuck Keil said the board's vote to approve district layoffs was a reluctant decision. "These are very difficult things to do. These are very good people who do very good work in the district," Keil said. In other business, the board: approved the school calendar for the 2003-2004 school year; approved requests for leaves of absence; and, adopted the ASD Science Curriculum. The next regular session will be held at 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 12 in the Ashland Council Chambers located at 1175 East Main Street. 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 -