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M/CLOUDY Temp: 56 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Tuesday, April 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 6, 2002 Ashland parents question school closure By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Emotional pleas to keep all elementary schools open outnumbered statements of criteria on which to base a closure at a public forum held Wednesday at the high school. Speakers questioned why a closure was even being considered, the speed of the process and community impacts before an 11-member committee directed to recommend to the Ashland School Board which one of five schools to close. The committee asked to hear criteria on which to base a decision. About 150 people attended the hearing. "I think we are being ramrodded and really rather insulted," said Laura Davidson. "Right now we are looking at kids," said Kimberly Bruhn. "(The school) is my kid’s family." A June 25 date has been set for the recommendation. The board must cut $1.5 million from the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Declining state revenues and failure of statewide Measure 13 in May prompted the new cut. It comes on top of a $1.9 million reduction made earlier that will result in the loss of 27 teaching positions next year. Closing a school is estimated to save from $250,000 to $300,000. Board member John Maurer said the board would be remiss if it didn’t explore a closure. But he added the committee might not be able to come up with a recommendation in that short a time. Long-term credibility and trust of the district may be on the line, said John Javna. "Your responsibility is to understand what traumas you are creating," said Javna. "You will lose allegiance of the community and the schools you want to save." Javna and other speakers said parents in the district would be ready to send their children to private schools if the district does not maintain its standards. "You have the duty to say to the school board, ‘it can’t be done’," said Javna. Donations to the Ashland Schools Foundation’s Save Our Schools campaign have dropped off dramatically since Measure 13 failed and announcement of the closure process was made, said coordinator Craig Gorson. "People right now are heart broken and don’t want to contribute,’ said Gorson. Not all speakers urged the group to stop the process. People should keep perspective, said Shekinah Slater. "I feel like a lot of people are overreacting. With the creative minds in the community we will have creative solutions." Criteria for ranking the schools suggest by the audience included: Economics of a closure, including savings realized and cost to close a school. Impact a school closure would have on the federal Title 1 status of three elementary schools that receive additional money. Physical condition of the buildings. Earthquake work that is needed at several schools. Safety issues for children, including risks of having more students bussed further distances. Capacity of elementary schools to absorb future growth. Long term impacts on the town and the neighborhood where a school is closed. Impact on volunteers who serve at the schools. Audience members also proposed money saving schemes to avoid a school closure. "Instead of spinning your wheels at this non-productive challenge ... get excited about other possibilities," said Linclon teacher Trisha Mullinex. Among the possibilities suggested were: Returning sixth grade student to elementary schools and having district administrative office move to the Middle School Moving the Willow Winds community learning center that serves home schooled students into one of the districts building. The center property could be sold. Using money from the foundation school campaign to prevent a closure Another committee meeting will be held tonight. Four other sessions are scheduled. Public testimony won’t be accepted at the meetings, but the committee will accept written comments. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S