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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 17, 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 How To Guide 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 August 26, 2004 Howard Elementary School volunteer Jill Lesh stocks art supplies in preparation for the start of classes at the north Medford school. Officials and the volunteers themselves � who do everything from helping kids learn to read to serving as mentors. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Volunteers come to the rescue By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune With the first day of school just around the corner, Jill Lesh, mother of three and a loyal volunteer at Howard Elementary School, is busy. This day she’s in the school’s supply room sorting mail, cutting open boxes and shelving tempera paint, manila envelopes and other supplies. "Usually (educational assistants) did this," she said. "I’m just beginning to see how terribly we will miss them." Howard lost eight of its nine teaching assistants to budget cuts, as well as a shared child-development specialist and a librarian. Volunteers like Lesh, a key organizer of the Howard Boosters, a parent organization that provides help to the school, will try to fill the gap. Advertisement "It’s more imperative than ever to have parents’ help," said Julie Smith, office manager at Howard. "Teachers will be missing valuable support." To balance its budget, the Medford School District laid off 36 classroom aides and cut teaching positions. It cut the jobs of seven child-development specialists and 13 media specialists, who worked in elementary school libraries, and reduced the number of music teachers. "We have to reach out to the community for volunteers," school board member Larry Nicholson said. He expects a strong need for library volunteers with only one media specialist overseeing all of the district’s elementary libraries. Previously each school had its own specialist. "I would hate to see any reader programs suffer," he said. Nicholson plans to tutor math students at Abraham Lincoln Elementary, where his son is in sixth grade. Districtwide, more than 3,000 people signed on as Volunteers in Medford Schools or VIMS last year, said Susan Galpern, who coordinates the program. That number includes people who regularly helped in classrooms, lunchrooms and playgrounds; some who volunteered for one-time events; and a few who signed up but didn’t serve, she said. Most volunteers contact their neighborhood schools directly. The district runs a background check of all volunteers. Then, teachers, administrators and parent-teacher organizations match people to the school’s needs. While parents and grandparents make up the bulk of volunteers, community members, especially retirees who are new to the area and business people, also get involved, Galpern said. At Jackson Elementary in West Medford, Principal Tom Ettel said between 20 and 30 parents volunteered last year, but 150 other community members helped out. Volunteers came from civic clubs, businesses, churches, and organizations like Junior Achievement. In addition to the district’s volunteer program, other organizations also place helpers in local schools. Start Making a Reader Today, known as SMART, has about 950 volunteers in Jackson County who read with pupils at elementary schools in low-income areas. A Foster Grandparents program places people older than 60 to help with various duties in schools. A Lunch Buddy program links adults of all ages with students who need a mentor. Rogue Valley Manor Community Services oversees the Foster Grandparents and Lunch Buddy programs. SMART is gearing up for its 11th year in Southern Oregon, said Julie Brimble, the program’s Rogue Valley area manager. Volunteers undergo a background check, then are assigned to a school, where they complete a short training session, she said. The reading program starts Oct. 11 and runs through May. "We are always looking for more volunteers," Brimble said. "An hour a week is usually something people can do." The Lunch Buddy program connects adults with kids for one lunch period a week. Educators report improved self esteem and work habits among kids who participate in the program. "There are always more kids who want lunch buddies than we have volunteers," program coordinator Randi Rigby said. Last year the program had 67 volunteers in 30 Jackson County elementary schools and Medford’s two middle schools, she said. To become a lunch buddy, volunteers must submit an application and get fingerprinted for a background check, Rigby said. The buddies head into the schools in early October. Foster Grandparents places seniors with nonprofit agencies serving children, mostly elementary schools, said Becky Snyder, executive director of Rogue Valley Manor Community Services. A few work in middle schools and one helps band students at North Medford High School, she said. The group is placing volunteers now. Volunteers must commit to at least 10 hours a week and those who meet income guidelines can earn a stipend if they volunteer 15 hours a week or more. Volunteers undergo a background check with fingerprints and get monthly training. Last year, 141 Foster Grandparents in Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties gave 95,000 hours of service, Snyder said. Want to volunteer? Here’s how Schools throughout the Rogue Valley welcome volunteers. Medford and Phoenix-Talent school officials recommend that people contact the school where they would like to help. Ashland advises potential volunteers to contact the district office. Central Point school district offers a training session for all volunteers from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at Central Point Elementary School. For information call Chris Reed at 494-6232. For information about becoming a SMART volunteer, call 734-5628. To learn more about Lunch Buddy and Foster Grandparent programs, call 494-5050. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] 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 SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities