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School districts face shortfall Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Don Alexander, superintendent of Prospect Schools, sweeps the floors just after the lunch break at Prospect High School. Thanks to past cutbacks, Alexander is also principal of the high school, middle school and elementary school and often fills in as teacher, counselor � and janitor. Prospect and other districts may face more cutbacks this year because of rising costs and declining enrollment. By DAMIAN MANN The specter of staff cutbacks looms at school districts throughout Jackson County this year as expenses soar and cash reserves dwindle. Funding decisions at the state level, coupled with declining enrollment, have left school districts with little money and few options, school officials say. Schools may end up with larger class sizes, fewer teachers, fewer administrators or less to offer students. Though Gov. John Kitzhaber proposed a $5.2 billion education package that boosts funding for grades kindergarten to 12, the state has warned that the economy is cooling, which could result in less-than-expected tax revenues. Educators are worried that this could also mean less money for schools. Projected carryover funds at a few districts District or entity 2000-2001 2001-2002 Jackson ESD $2.3 million $1.7 million Rogue Community College $1.6 million $300,000 Pinehurst School District $73,289 $50,000 Prospect School District $200,000 $200,000 Phoenix-Talent School Distri $1.1 million $300,000 Estimates provided by school districts. Many districts already have gone through budget cutbacks, forcing teachers and administrators to wear many hats to get the job done. Some, like Prospect and Pinehurst, are just barely hanging on. "We�re going to keep running this school until we run out of money," vowed Prospect Superintendent Don Alexander. Alexander has performed every task imaginable at his district, including sweeping or mopping the floor. Although proud of his district, Alexander said the cuts haven�t come without a cost. "Unfortunately, you have to sacrifice quality for the quantity of things that need to be done," he said. Thanks to cutbacks made in previous years, Alexander is not only superintendent but principal of the high school, middle school and elementary school. Often he fills in as teacher, counselor, and, from time to time, as janitor. Alexander and other administrators are worried over Oregon�s slowing economy after 10 years of prosperity. "The �90s were relatively good from an economy standpoint in the state, but not necessarily good for education," said Howard George, Jackson Education Service District business manager. ESD Superintendent Joe Crowder said, "Almost every school district is having problems. All we can do is wait for the Legislature to make a decision and hope our share will be higher." The ESD is planning staff reductions to cope with rising expenses and relatively flat revenues. Schools try to keep enough money aside at the end of each fiscal year to carry over into the next year. But with increases in salaries, insurance and energy bills, they are finding that this cushion of money is fast dwindling. With many districts dipping deep into their cash reserves and with no sizable new sources of revenue, they will have little choice but to make cuts to balance their budgets. "We had some reserves of about $2 million, but we don�t have anything any longer," said Ashland School District Business Manager Loren Luman. The situation in Ashland is mirrored by school systems throughout the county, such as Rogue Community College, which is cutting expenses by $1.5 million in the next five months, and the Phoenix-Talent School District, which is also planning cutbacks. Other districts like Eagle Point may not be far behind. Finance Director Greg Lecuyer said he has seen his district�s carryover funds diminish. "If we don�t do something, we�ll be in the same situation as Ashland in a couple of years," he said. Vicki Robinson, director of business services at Central Point School District, said her district has already gone through painful cutbacks in staff. "The only reason we�re not in dire straits like some of the other districts is that we have been planning on this for years," she said. The district has been forced to increase class sizes, to provide only one media specialist for all the elementary school libraries and to cut music classes. Robinson said the district will look at the financial health of its budget over a two-year period before determining if any further cutbacks are required. Central Point has enjoyed increases in student population, but Robinson said the district is still using up its carryover funds. "It�ll definitely be less but we�re not sure how much less." Medford School District Superintendent Steve Wisely said it is too early for him to predict what his budget will look like for the coming year. Many of the school districts are blaming declines in enrollment for their financial situation. Schools receive about $5,000 from the state for each student enrolled. "The situation tends to get ugly when people fight over limited resources," said Judy Barmack, who prepares demographic studies for districts in Jackson County. With fewer staff members, Barmack said, "It starts to impact the programs that you offer." At the middle and high school levels, staff reductions lead to fewer foreign language options or science teachers. At the elementary grades, a school may have to let go of its music program, its librarian or its physical education teacher. "These are just some of the services that have to go," Barmack said. Shelly Rafaelly, interim superintendent at the tiny Pinehurst School District, said cuts have already been made in her 33-student district. "We�re a crew of survivors," she said. Like the Prospect superintendent, Rafaelly admitted, "I have swept the floors." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.