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49 °F 5 Day Forecast Saturday, November 29, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | 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 November 6, 2003 Schools cut to the bone Smaller districts cope with reductions, may face more By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune The Medford School Board this week released a backup plan to slash $9.2 million from its budget if a Legislature-approved income tax surcharge is overturned by voters. But officials at smaller Jackson County school districts say years of massive cuts have all but eliminated the need to draft a contingency plan. At this point, administrators say the only viable options include firing teachers or slashing school days to compensate for a loss of state funding. "We’ve already cut all our music programs, reduced support staff. We’ve done all those things," said Central Point Superintendent Candy Manary, who noted that at least 40 positions and $3 million have been cut from the budget over the last three years. "At this point, there’s nothing left." In Central Point, support staff including media specialists, janitors, secretaries and counselors have been pared down or eliminated entirely. In June, the district eliminated the position of curriculum director, adopted a pay-to-play athletic policy and cut coaching stipends to balance its 2003-04 budget. Without the surtax, the Central Point district is facing an estimated $3 million deficit in 2004-05. Advertisement The Eagle Point School District, which has reduced its staff by more than 20 percent during the last two years, also stands to lose $3 million in 2004-05. "I’m hoping we can limp through this and not cut any more staff or instructional days," said Superintendent Bill Feusahrens. "The extras are long gone. We reached that conclusion last year." In June, Eagle Point adopted one of the region’s most conservative budgets, which included the loss of 18 teaching positions, 16 support staff, the curriculum director’s job and an elementary school counselor. The high school athletic programs were trimmed and sports in the middle school were eliminated. The school board also opted to close Glen D. Hale Elementary School. Feusahrens said that two weeks ago the school board agreed to freeze all unnecessary spending to have some cash left over to help compensate if state funding is lost. But he added the district will face hard choices without promised state funding, even with that belt-tightening in place. "It’s just one of those wait-and-see type of things. We’ve taken such a huge hit, and there isn’t any more staff to cut," he added. "We don’t know what’s going to happen." Ashland Superintendent Juli Di Chiro noted that her district’s staff also has been cut by more than 20 percent to compensate for lost funding. The steady decrease in state dollars, coupled with declining enrollment, also resulted in the closure of Briscoe Elementary in June, which saved the district nearly $200,000. "We can’t cut anymore and keep kids safe," said Di Chiro, who added that the district may close Lincoln Elementary to plug a deficit in 2004-05. "Everything else is pretty much gone." In Rogue River, Superintendent Charles Hellman said it’s still unclear how the surtax would impact the district in 2004-05, since the board in June adopted a conservative budget designed to leave some cash left over to transfer to the next budget. Like many other districts, Rogue River doesn’t have elementary music, media specialists or a curriculum director. Principal Michele Wolf serves at both Evans Valley and Rogue River Elementary, and one childhood development specialist divides her time between elementary and middle schools. Coaches are no longer paid, and staff has been reduced by 23 percent in the last seven years. "It’s quite possible we’ll be cutting staff again and instructional days. That would be a tragedy," Hellman said, noting that for the first time the district is faced with overcrowded classrooms. "If we don’t get the funding, I think school districts across the state will be in dire straits," he added. Reach reporter Jill Briskey 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder 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