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L/RAIN Temp: 55 °F Wind: N at 5 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 October 30, 2002 Declining rolls support closure By AMBER FOSSEN for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — A demographer’s report projecting a 14 to 16 percent decline in enrollment by 2007 validates the necessity of closing one of Ashland’s five elementary schools, said members of a committee charged with deciding which one. The Ashland School Closure Committee on Monday heard a report commissioned by the district that projected enrollment figures to 2007. Compiled by Portland demographer Judith A. Barmack, the report predicted a 15.5 percent enrollment decline in kindergarten through fifth grades, a 16.2 percent decline at Ashland Middle School and a 14.4 percent decline at Ashland High School for a total loss of about 480 students. Although several factors influence the district’s enrollment — including the aging of Ashland’s population, housing trends, inter-district transfers and home-schooling or private education — all areas contributed to the decline, the report said. "The demographer’s report is validating that the school board needs to do something," said Kent Provost, School Closure Committee facilitator. School Board Chairman John Maurer noted the reality is that Ashland is changing. "The point is, as a district, we’re not going to have all five schools any more. Our community is changed," Maurer said. The report reinforced the need to close a school but will not be included in the committee’s criteria for which school to recommend. The committee will weigh each school based on student demographics, facilities, property analysis and transportation. After receiving the long-awaited demographer’s report, committee members grappled with how to share their progress with the community. "I feel very strongly that this committee is taking everything into account and I don’t think the public knows," said member Daniel Cazares. The committee will hold a work session with the school board Dec. 2 in which it will report its findings and recommendations. The public will be invited, but no public comments will be taken at that time. The school board will then take the committee’s recommendations and hold public hearings at a later date. In addition to reviewing the demographer’s report, the closure committee accepted member Lyle Halprin’s suggestion to alter the ranking order of which school to close. "Instead of ranking which school to close first, we should rank them by what gives us the most flexibility in the future," Halprin said. At its next meeting, the closure committee will review Superintendent Juli Di Chiro’s report on closure savings per site as well as a seismic report completed in 1995. The next meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 in the district board room at 885 Siskiyou Blvd. Amber Fossen is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. 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