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Budget drain may force Ashland school closure By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune ASHLAND - Briscoe Elementary School parents got the bad news, then it only got worse. More than 150 parents from the Ashland School District discovered their top-rated school system is in for years of budget problems, leaving open the potential closing of an elementary school. Parents generally said the closure should be a last resort, but also agreed the idea should be left on the table because of the magnitude of the district's gloomy financial future. Many parents thought the district should look at other revenue options including a sales tax, or a possible merger with the Phoenix-Talent School District. Carlus Harris, who has three children in district schools, said "If we don't do something, down the line we're looking at falling off the end of the cliff." This was part of a series of meetings offered by the school board that will allow the community to brainstorm ways to cut programs and generate more money. The district, which cut $840,000 from this year's budget, is faced with cutting up to $1 million next year. Even worse, superintendent Juli Di Chiro said the state's latest revenue projections could mean more cuts of from 2 to 6 percent for schools, translating into cuts of another $400,000 to $1.2 million next year. The state is forecasting a $720 million budget shortfall because a worsening economy has provided less-than-expected revenues. To accomplish these cuts, the district is looking at everything from reduced staffing to the potential closure of an elementary school, generating a savings of $338,000 a year. District officials have said it is unlikely that a school would be closed this year. The district is wrestling with three main hikes in expenses next year. To meet contractual salary obligations, $400,000 will be needed to increase salaries and benefits that already make up 88 percent of the $20.5 million budget. Up to $250,000 will be needed to maintain the district's aging computer system, which has been funded by a bond measure. Some parents thought the school system could scale back on this expense. The district is expected to lose about 50 students next year, which is a loss of about $250,000, and the district expects continued enrollment declines. Di Chiro said the district could be faced with financial problems in years to come as the state anticipates a shortfall of potentially $1 billion in the next biennial budget. Debbie Fitzpatrick, who has children at Briscoe and Ashland Middle School, thought legislators should ease state standards to give schools more discretion over how they spend money. Lincoln elementary parent Carol Coye Benson said, "If we're going to bite the bullet (by closing a school), is there going to be another cost savings with this building?" Briscoe Principal Jeff Schlecht, who spoke hypothetically, said the school could potentially be rented out, which would keep it in the district if there was an increase in enrollment. He also said that if Briscoe were closed, additional classroom space is now available at the other schools. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.