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ESD sends layoff notices to 33 By DAMIAN MANN The Jackson Education Service District recently sent layoff notices to 33 employees as part of cost-cutting efforts and a restructuring of special education services. "The layoffs are due to two things: increasing costs to serve special education and a lack of funding," said Superintendent Joe Crowder. After years of relatively flat funding and rising expenses, the ESD board made the decision earlier this year to cut back on staff. He said the earlier estimate of 38 staff members being laid off was reduced to 33 after review of the services offered. Layoff notices have been sent to 6 licensed employees and 27.5 classified, he said. Mike McEachern, an Oregon Education Association UniServ consultant, said there is a possibility some of the six speech pathologists could be picked up by Ashland and Eagle Point school districts, which will augment their special education programs in light of the restructuring at the ESD. McEachern, whose union represents school district personnel throughout Jackson County, said some of these staff members have worked as much as 12 years. Earlier this year, the ESD decided it needed to reduce $1 million from its program for severely handicapped students to keep other programs properly funded. It also decided to shift about 40 or fewer of the less-severely handicapped students back into regular classrooms, resulting in potential savings. A special education program for 247 severely handicapped students costs the ESD $6 million. By shifting some of these students back into regular classrooms under the guidance of local school districts, it could reduce costs to $5 million. The ESD, which serves Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties, has experienced special education increases of 10 percent a year and enrollment that has jumped 14 percent annually. As a result, more of its budget has been consumed by special education, detracting from some of the other programs it offers such as migrant education, English as a second language and technology. To soften some of the impact to school districts that must now shoulder the responsibility of these special education students, the ESD will not charge for certain services during the first year of restructuring. Crowder said, however, that the funding problems might improve next year. "There is a glimmer of light on the horizon," he said. The Legislature is wrestling with a proposal to more equitably fund ESDs throughout the state. Crowder said a more equitable distribution would mean the local ESD could receive more money. 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.