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Two area schools in spotlight By VICKI GUARINO Two Rogue Valley programs were part of a showcase of innovations from around the state at a statewide convention over the weekend. Central Point and Eagle Point representatives talked about their efforts at the Oregon School Boards Association convention in Portland. Representatives from Eagle Point presented information about two efforts -- school-based budgeting and a counseling program that has boosted scholarships for high school students. From Central Point, Central Point Elementary School Principal Hal Oxner presented a workshop on reading instruction that included a synopsis of 30 years of educational research and recent curriculum changes at his school that have improved reading scores. The subject was a natural one for Oxner: "Reading is the most important subject we teach," he says, a skill that enables a lifetime of achievement. So throughout Central Point Elementary, Oxner says, teachers have increased classroom time spent on reading. As a result, the average Central Point Elementary first-grader read on average 60 words a minute at the end of the last school year, while the district average was 47 words a minute. In addition, starting this school year all students are expected to read, or be read to, 15 to 30 minutes daily. Parents and students keep a daily reading log. Eagle Point's efforts to de-centralize school operations have given schools more authority to develop new programs, including a high school counseling service that earned students about $1 million in scholarships last year. The Eagle Center was created by a school-wide decision to dedicate resources to counseling, says district business manager Mark Sorensen. Both the Eagle Center and the district's budgeting methods were convention workshop topics. In the five years that schools have been able to set their own budgets, they've amassed nearly $1.2 million in reserves to fund special projects. "They're being very judicious," Sorensen says. Because schools have been able to save their own funds from year to year, projects like wiring buildings for Internet access have come more quickly. Parents and staff set priorities; Sorensen gives advice and suggestions. Budgets still go through committee and school board review, but the proposals come directly from each of the district's eight schools, not central office administrators. "Originally I had some misgivings," Sorensen recalls, "that they just were not going to spend the money as wisely as I would. But they've done an excellent job. I think the best decisions are made closest to the action." E.P. school gets $475 book grant EAGLE POINT -- Glenn D. Hale Elementary School has received a $475 grant for books. The money, from the H.J. Heinz Co., is to be used for the school's Reading is Fundamental program. RIF gives youngsters a chance to pick out books for themselves. The grant is one of several the school has received for its RIF book distribution. RIF's goal is to inspire children to read through planned reading-related activities and by making it possible for youngsters to choose and to own books that interest them -- without cost to their families. The program has distributed some 4,000 books during its three years. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA