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--> --> Wary ASD board OKs budget By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Budget committee members voted to approve the proposed 2002-2003 school budget for the Ashland School District, despite the many financial uncertainties the district faces. "It's frustrating because we know that it's not going to be a complete document or plan," member Jill Turner said. The 2002-2003 budget outlines $1.9 million in cuts. However, the district was presented with an additional $1.2 million in cuts due to the recent failure of Measure 13, which would have allowed districts throughout the state to borrow $220 million from the Educational Endowment Fund for use in the up-coming school year. The additional shortage to an already tight budget has the district continuing to explore all options. "We're analyzing every account that we have to see if there's any carry over," Superintendent Juli Di Chiro said. While the district seeks to solve the budget dilemma, the lack of a solid monetary budget shortfall has made it difficult to proceed. The district's uncertainties center around what the Oregon Legislature will do to tackle the statewide $880 million budget shortfall. So far, the state's inability to come to an agreement on how to alleviate the shortfall has left the district proceeding without knowing fully what the outcome will be. Di Chiro has recommended the district look toward graduated steps until the school board fully understands the situation. Taking steps toward a solution, the Budget Committee approved the proposed 2002-2003 budget of $20.5 million, but added amendments. The first amendment added that negotiations between the district and the Oregon School Employees Association will continue. The budget outlines $120,000 in reductions from the classified staff. Although both parties are trying to reach an agreement, there is a differing of opinion on how to reach the targeted $120,000. "Part of the quality is retaining the staff that you have. When they (the district) are cutting the staff from 8 hours down to 6, it reduces that quality," classified representative Anne Noble said. But that's only part of the classifieds argument. If the district decides to reduce any more school days to reach the intended $600,000 in further cuts to staff, some classified staff will be subject to two losses: both in days and in hours. "When you look at hourly cuts plus days cut it's just huge for our group," classified representative Judy Kimball said. So far, the district has reduced two days from the current year and two days from the 2002-2003 school year, and is looking into the possibility of more. The second amendment focused on the contingency fund and the possibility it be used to supplement the Intergovernmental Fund to cover the costs of unemployment claims. The board also motioned to: · approve the Drug and Alcohol Policy; · include Certificates of Mastery (CIM) in the Arts; · implement a school wide Title One plan for Lincoln Elementary School; · proceed with the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department for maintenance of school grounds; · allow students with disabilities who earn an alternative diploma at the high school to participate in the commencement ceremony. The next scheduled school board meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 8 in the Ashland Council Chambers. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing