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Shortfall cuts 3 Ashland custodians Teachers, pupils take up slack; some parents express concern By WENDY SIPOREN ASHLAND -- It's not exactly a new home economics program. But don't be surprised if your kids tell you they learned how to wield a vacuum cleaner at school. Facing a moderate budget shortfall, the Ashland School District decided not to fill three custodial positions serving its five elementary schools and the high school. As a result, classrooms are being cleaned every other day rather than getting the daily cleaning of previous years. And teachers and students are being asked to make up the difference. "We are asking young people to take more responsibility for the mess they are creating," explained Superintendent John Daggett. At the high school, portable vacuums and brooms have been installed in each classroom. Students also are being asked to pick up after each class. "I hate to add another thing for them (teachers) to do," said principal Julie Reynolds. "But they understand the financial situation of the district." Some parents at Lincoln Elementary are less sympathetic. Paul Paulich, who has two kids at the school, first found out about the cutbacks when he saw a teacher vacuuming during school hours. "The place is not a sty,' said Paulich. "But it is a concern." Considering how dirty kids can be and common problems with head lice and allergies, he thinks the kids deserve a regularly cleaned school environment. "You go in there and you see teachers vacuuming or trying to get kids to vacuum," said Paulich. "I think (teachers) have better things to do." Responding to the concerns of parents and school staff, the cleaning schedule at Lincoln has been reshuffled to ensure daily vacuuming of classrooms and daily mopping of common areas. "It will definitely be better from now on," said principal Susan Hollandsworth. She says she hasn't asked teachers or students to vacuum or do strenuous cleaning. "We're encouraging them to pick up after themselves ... wipe their feet," said Hollandsworth. "Cutbacks are never easy. Everyone's chipping in together to make it work. The question becomes how much involvement (in cleaning) you want kids to have. That's a philosophical question we haven't addressed." After an enrollment peak of 3,540 in 1993, the number of students attending Ashland schools has generally been declining. This year the district is teaching 3,323 students. That's 35 fewer students than last year at this time. And at a state compensation rate of $4,451 per student, the district had to make up a shortfall of nearly $156,000. The custodial cutbacks will save the district $65,000 this year, says district business manager Loren Luman. The district will save an additional $65,000 by not completely filling a teaching position at the middle school. "We looked for the most non-invasive way of cutting back," said Daggett. "We're trying to protect the general fund for teaching and learning ... fortunately we're not looking at slashing a million dollars from the budget." Daggett says these types of cutbacks are the reality under the state's property tax limitation measures. "We will be (making similar cutbacks) until the state starts giving us revenue to match our expenditures," he said. "We have a bigger issue -- keeping everything people think is important. It's interesting to see how difficult it is to take something away." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA