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CLEAR Temp: 87 °F Wind: NW at 8 mph Wednesday, July 9, 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 13, 2003 The new White City Middle School might not be finished in time for the beginning of the school year. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Year may start 20 days late Then, if the district has money by the end of the year, they’ll buy some or all of the days back, according to the plan By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Eagle Point administrators plan to kick off the school year on Sept. 29 — 20 days later than any other school district in Oregon. Superintendent Bill Jones said that by eliminating days at the front of the school year, the district potentially can replace them at the end of the year, if enough funding is available. The school board voted in May to cut 20 school days from the 2003-04 calendar in order to save $1.6 million. Those cut days would be added back one by one, starting in June, as funding is made available throughout the year, Jones said. "We’re not going to spend a nickel before we have it," he said. "As soon as money becomes available, we’re going to buy back every day we can." Advertisement Members of the district’s union said they think the decision was prompted by construction delays at White City Middle School, and said administrators are turning teachers into scapegoats to cover up poor planning. In the May budget discussions, school board members said the number of days cut from the school year would depend on how salary negotiations turn out. "I believe that it’s just another excuse," said Eagle Point teacher and union spokeswoman Jody Streetman. "The administration wants to blame (cut school days) on the bargaining process. I would just prefer that people would step up and admit that they screwed up." Streetman said the decision to delay the school year could end up costing the district more money because teachers would be eligible for unemployment beginning Sept. 2. Jones says the plan to take days off at the start of the school year had already been discussed before district officials learned of the construction delays. Construction project manager David McFall explained the slow pace of work to the school board Wednesday. The middle school project, slated for completion in September, has fallen six weeks behind schedule because the steel contracting company was seized by the Internal Revenue Service. "Every day that we can have up front makes it that much more possible for us," said McFall. "I really don’t see the White City school getting done by the first of the year." Although work is expected to wrap up on Eagle Point Middle School and Eagle Rock Elementary School by Sept. 1, McFall noted that it will take several days to work out any kinks in the new buildings and move in furniture. The situation is further complicated by a fire that gutted Eagle Point Middle School last September. Middle school students spent the year sharing the high school with older students, and the two age groups were divided into split shifts. If the year isn’t delayed but the construction projects continue to lag, McFall said, middle school students may be sent to Glen D. Hale Elementary — scheduled to be closed next year because of budget cuts — or resume the split shift at the high school until work is complete. Communication Director Gene Evans of the Oregon Department of Education said no other district in the state has proposed delaying its school year. "That’s certainly within their local authority to do that," said Evans, who said although he lacked many details, Eagle Point’s proposal could be an innovative way to avoid slashing school days. The school board has not voted on when to cut the 20 days. Members are expected to hold a special meeting sometime in July when new superintendent Dr. Bill Feusahrens begins. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Insurance settlement’s use undecided The Eagle Point School Board still has not decided what to do about an insurance settlement for Eagle Point Middle School, which was destroyed by fire in September. The district’s insurance company has offered the school district a $5 million settlement if it chooses not to rebuild the school. The company has also offered to pay for a new building if the board votes to rebuild. The project would cost up to $9 million, administrators estimated. A new middle school is under construction, to be paid for with through a bond measure approved by voters. Before the fire, the old middle school was scheduled to be demolished after the new one opened. The district could use the insurance money to build a new elementary school to replace the aging Glen D. Hale Elementary School in Eagle Point. According to finance director Greg Lecuyer, the district is not under any time restraints. Although the board was expected to talk about the issue this week, Lecuyer said members will probably wait until new Superintendent William M. Feusahrens begins work in July. 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 SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times