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Schools will raise numbers per class Higher costs force cuts from staffing By DAMIAN MANN With about 200 teachers and other staff lost to budget cuts, some Jackson County schools will squeeze more students into classes that begin after Labor Day. In districts such as Medford, Ashland and Eagle Point, the number of students for each class will rise depending on grade level. School administrators blame the budget cuts on increased salaries, insurance and energy costs. The state approved a $5.2 billion biennial education budget - the biggest in history - but it was not enough to compensate districts for cost increases. Eagle Point schools suffered the deepest cutbacks, losing 71 positions. Superintendent Bill Jones said a recent increase in insurance rates of $250,000 will result in more staff reductions, but just through attrition. With fewer teachers, class sizes will have to increase, he said. In grades kindergarten-3, 23 to 25 students will be the average versus 20 to 22 last year. In grades 4-6, some classes could range from 25 to 30 students, compared to the previous average of 26 to 27. Most cuts at the high school were in support staff, so the impact on class size should be minimal. Eagle Point Junior High School will be bumped from an average 23 students a class to about 26 to 27. Jones hopes that parents won't notice any difference in the kind of education their children receive. "Our hope is that we don't have glaring deficiencies in communications with parents," he said. Despite larger class sizes, the district will improve other areas of education. A new reading program will be started to improve literacy in grades k-8. Eagle Point Junior High School will begin a new management program that should improve attendance and student participation. The Options Program, designed to allow credit retrieval and help pregnant women and women with children get a diploma, will also be in full swing this year. IN MEDFORD , the school district faced a $1.8 million budget shortfall and cut 32 positions through attrition, which will result in a slight increase in class sizes at elementary schools. Superintendent Steve Wisely said the district tries to maintain 20 students in kindergarten and first grade, 25 students in grades 2-3 and 30 in 4-6. But with fewer teachers, classes will increase by about 2 students. But, he said, "We shouldn't see any class sizes of 35 or more." The situation could have been worse, but a slight enrollment decline in the elementary grades has somewhat mitigated the impact of fewer teachers. Wisely said the district will also be providing more educational assistants to teachers who have larger-than-normal class sizes. Although enrollment at the elementary level has dipped, many of these schools have approached overcrowded conditions. To partially alleviate the problem, Medford schools have begun a pilot project in which 232 volunteer sixth-grade students will move into a special middle school program. In most districts in the state, middle schools are comprised of grades 6-8. Medford hopes to convert to a full 6-8 program by 2004, when a new middle school is planned to be built. AT ASHLAND , schools suffered an $840,000 budget shortfall this year, forcing them to reduce 14 positions. Superintendent Juli Di Chiro said class sizes at the middle and high schools will increase slightly. However, until enrollment figures come in after Sept. 5, she will not know for sure. Ashland High School, which averages about 24 students per class, will be approaching almost 30 students in some of its language classes. "For some schools in this area that may not be a lot, but for us it's high," said Di Chiro. Ashland Middle School, which averages 24 to 25 students per class, could go up to 26 to 27, she said. "The will be no change in the elementary schools," she said. Because of the cutbacks, the district will remain shorthanded at the district office as Di Chiro assumes the roles of personnel and curriculum directors. "For the average student there is very little impact from this," she said. "It just hurts the efficiency and support in the district." Throughout the summer, teachers have been honing their skills for the coming school year. Di Chiro said 21 teachers spent two weeks in a technology class sponsored by Intel. As a reward, the district will provide these and other teachers who took part in a similar program with 40 computers that the district had purchased before its current budget problem. "We will support their effort by providing them with a classroom computer," she said. Another 25 teachers took part in a two-day literacy institute that will help students struggling to learn English. 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.