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38 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, January 20, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 9, 2003 Ashland looks at school options By BILL CHOY for the Mail Tribune Estimated enrollment figures and capacity at elementary schools in the Ashland School District were the focus of Monday evening’s school board meeting. The figures were of great interest to the board, which is figuring out if it will close Lincoln Elementary School during its February meeting. The possible closure also brought out an emotional plea from board member Heidi Parker, who asked the board and the community to "think outside the box" and look at other ways to make the Lincoln school site the best for the community and the children. One suggestion she gave was making Lincoln a creative arts school for kindergarten through eighth grade, in which subjects such as drama, art and foreign languages could be a focus. Last school year, district officials tapped Lincoln Elementary as the second school to be closed in the district if two developments occurred during the next school year — if district enrollment dipped below 1,050 at the four elementary schools or if financial concerns warranted the closure. Neither has happened at this time. Briscoe Elementary was closed by the district in June. Superintendent Juli Di Chiro showed the board the number of available classrooms at each school, and discussed projected enrollment for the 2004-2005 school year. The enrollment estimate was 1,038. Advertisement Di Chiro said the real number could be below this estimate. The number of classrooms available is 57 with Lincoln, and 44 without. Classrooms at current class sizes came out to be 45.1, with classes needed at contractual size at 46.3, about what the district hoped for, Di Chiro said. Board member Chuck Keil presented figures he compiled from the 2000 census, which showed a steady decline in younger children in Ashland and a trend of possible dwindling enrollment. Lincoln parent Pauline Black presented a letter signed by a number of parents asking the board to delay the closure for at least another year. "Now more than ever we need to preserve the things that make Ashland schools excellent, insuring that a wide range of teaching styles, individual attention and consideration of special needs are not lost," the letter read. During the board report section of the meeting, Parker asked the board to think outside the box about Lincoln. Having recently gone to the Oregon School Board Association Conference, she was inspired by other school districts who had developed creative ways to help children learn despite financial restraints. She proceeded to tell the board her dream, which would be the Lincoln School of the Arts. The school could go into partnership with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and teach children subjects like dance, drama with a general curriculum, Parker said. Parker said if the community worked together, something like it could become a reality with people coming up with different solutions to best educate children in Ashland. "We must not let go of our dreams," an emotional Parker said. When she finished, a large majority in the crowd, made up of many Lincoln parents and faculty, gave her warm applause. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times