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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 8, 2004 Medford teachers ratify contract Agreement boosts class sizes and does away with teachers’ aides Medford teachers have ratified a contract agreement that will increase class sizes and eliminate teachers’ aides but will maintain a full school year and restore elementary music and library programs. Teachers and district officials both lamented the cuts needed to balance the budget. "This agreement makes none of us happy," said board member Larry Nicholson, noting that the board had to carve $6.2 million from its 2004-05 budget, which rolled spending back to 1999 levels. However, both sides also see reason for hope. "We will try to keep things going and build on them," said Sally Killen, a teacher who served on the negotiating team. "This is a baseline," Nicholson agreed. Advertisement Under the agreement, class sizes will average 27 students in elementary school, 32 in middle school and 35 in high school. The number of classroom aides will shrink from 64 full-time positions to 14. A committee is determining how the aides will be assigned. The 2004-05 school year will remain 190 days long, the same as last year. Cost of living raises will drop from 3 percent to 2 percent, but step increases based on experience will remain. Also, teachers will pay $50 per month toward their medical insurance, a contribution that previously was set to drop to zero. Music and library programs will be restored, but with fewer music teachers and media specialists. The district hasn’t worked out exactly how those programs will look, officials said. 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 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