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Ashland schools hire new leader By WENDY SIPOREN ASHLAND -- The school district's next superintendent is meeting with teachers this morning as she begins a process of learning the challenges and strengths of Ashland schools. Juli Di Chiro (pronounced Dee-Kiro) was hired by the school board Monday to replace retiring superintendent John Daggett. She begins her three-year contract July 3 at a salary of $95,000 plus benefits, slightly less than Daggett's current salary of over $97,000. "I'm still getting my feet wet," said Di Chiro after sitting in on the two-hour board meeting on topics from summer maintenance projects to new graduation requirements at the high school. "It'll take five years," was the knowing reply of her predecessor, John Daggett. Daggett retires June 30 after 12 years as superintendent and more than 31 years in education. A former elementary school principal, Di Chiro is the director of standards, assessment and evaluation for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Prior to that, she was an elementary school principal for 10 years with a total of 25 years experience in education. Di Chiro was chosen as the sole finalist candidate from a pool of four interviewees after a rigorous five-committee interview process in March. Board members Terry Littleton and Dan Thorndike then traveled to Santa Monica to check her references as well as talk with a variety of parents and school employees. Littleton said Monday the testimony was an overwhelming chorus of praise and made particular note of Di Chiro's ability to listen and include everyone. "She balances that with vision and a sense of direction," said Littleton. Monday, Di Chiro said the panel interviews were a wonderful way to be introduced to the community. Borrowing from an African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child, Di Chiro said, "It takes a community to find a superintendent." In other action: The school board approved an increase in the number of credits required for high school graduation from 48 to 50, beginning with the class of 2004. One of the additional credits will be given for an internship, work experience or community service. The second credit will be for an additional elective in the student's career interest area. The additional credits are a part of the state's new Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) requirements. The board also approved a pilot program at Walker Elementary which will modify the kindergarten schedule from five, 2.5-hour days to a Monday-through-Thursday schedule of 3.25 hours. The program is aimed at increasing the quality of the kindergarten experience by allowing teachers more time with students and to ease the transition to first grade when students begin to spend both morning and afternoon in school. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA