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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, June 13, 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 May 19, 2004 Medford school board approves $4.9 million in budget cuts By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Medford’s elementary music and library programs fell to the budget ax Tuesday night as the School Board authorized trimming $4.9 million from the district’s budget. "This has been the hardest decision," board member Trish Prendergast said. "It truly grieves us to do this, but our backs are against the wall." The cuts also include reductions in teaching jobs at elementary, middle school and high school levels, but the music program has received the most vocal support from community members, students and the board. In a motion to adopt the reductions, board member Joe Frodsham called for continued creativity to find ways to keep music in the elementary schools and for the music and library programs to be top priorities for reinstatement should additional money become available. "We can’t lose music in the district," said Frodsham, who has served 17 years on the school board. Advertisement Top students and those who might not excel in academic programs both can soar in music class, he said. Ending the elementary music program could cut the roots off a districtwide program that is thriving, with high school music groups winning state and national awards, he said. "I hope this is not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of a new way to incorporate the community into the program," Prendergast said. The district needs to develop a balanced budget for the coming school year based on its most recent revenue estimate of $74.7 million, Finance Director Galen Anderson said. "This is not what we want to propose, but we have to as we can’t have deficit spending," he said. Officials have estimated a $5.9 million gap between expected revenues and spending, even after a series of cuts enacted this spring. With the board approving the latest rounds of major cuts, administrators think they can save an additional $1 million through smaller adjustments in numerous budget categories. The reductions authorized Tuesday include nearly $2.7 million in cuts at the elementary level. Those include the elimination of music and library programs, as well as 11 teachers and roughly 60 assistants. At the middle school level, the district expects to save $910,000 by cutting 13 teachers and shifting to a six period day. Cuts at the high school would eliminate 20 teaching jobs and save an estimated $1.3 million. Sports programs were cut by $200,000, but the funds will be made up through pay-to-play fees assessed to student athletes. The district is still negotiating with its teachers’ union over class size language that would clear the way for the staff reductions. The middle school and high school cuts will boost the average number of students per classroom by about five, officials said. 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 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