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Proposed schools budget approved By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland School District budget-crunchers unanimously approved a proposed $18.5 million budget for the 2003-2004 school year. Committee members held a brief meeting Monday night to continue reviewing the budget document. After an overview of the district's revenue history and a legislative update, which touched on some of the uncertainties faced by the district, committee members OK'd the budget, saying it is the best estimate of what the district will have to work with. The proposed budget could be subject to change based on the outcome of the Youth Activities Levy vote next week, along with ASD staff negotiations, the level of state funding and adjustments to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), according to school officials. Jill Turner, committee chair, said she went over the document with ASD Business Manager Loren Luman and feels comfortable that the presented budget is a good plan. "There are many things that are unknowns in this budget and it's a good basic plan," Turner said. The $18,595,267 budget for next year maintains staff positions and programs that includes previous cuts made to personnel in April. The approved budget will go before the Ashland School Board for consideration at its regularly scheduled meeting June 9. No additional budget meetings will be held. Budget committee member John Schleining requested the school board notify the committee if any major changes to the budget document are required. The committee would have to reconvene if the budget is increased by 10 percent or more. ASHLAND SCHOOL BOARD The board met Monday night and approved the motion to extend the Certificate of Initial Mastery testing for second languages through June 2005. According to school officials, the decision to postpone testing was based on the loss of school days, lack of proper testing equipment and complications with staff schedules. In addition to extending CIM testing, the board summarized the evaluation for the superintendent and approved Ashland High School curriculum handbook changes, with the exception of the proposal to temporarily drop the senior project requirement for the 2003-2004 school year. The board would like further discussion on the senior class project requirement before rendering a decision. The next regular session will be held at 7:30 p.m., Monday June 9 in the Ashland Civic Center council chambers, 1175 East Main St. Meanwhile, an executive session will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday in the District Board Room to review bargaining proposals and to consider the superintendent's contract. 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 -