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Kitzhaber stresses putting children first By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Whatever happens - budget cuts, turf battles, agency unrest - remember, it's all about the kids. That was the message Gov. John Kitzhaber stressed Tuesday to Southern Oregon education and social service leaders already well-versed in the concept of collaboration. Speaking to about two dozen of the region's top managers of school, law enforcement and nonprofit programs, Kitzhaber warned of lean times ahead and urged leaders to keep the focus firmly in mind. "I'm very concerned that as we move into this period of austere budgets, how do we keep the child in the center?" he said. Kitzhaber's visit was part of a two-day Southern Oregon swing that included stops at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's new parking structure and a meeting with doctors in Roseburg. Kitzhaber reminded the local crowd that the state may still face a $700 million budget shortfall, which could force a fierce funding battle during a January special Legislative session. Kitzhaber already has asked state agency directors to tell him how they would trim costs by up to 10 percent, if necessary. Local agency and education leaders extolled the virtues of more than a decade of collaboration. Working together allows social service and law enforcement agencies and schools to meet the entire range of needs, instead of an isolated few, they said. "We wouldn't be anywhere near as effective as we are from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with our students without the agencies," said Carolyn Hayes, manager of at-risk programs for the Medford School District. "When you have children sleeping in wheelbarrows behind houses - shacks, really - and they have a place to go after school, it makes a difference." Leaders urged Kitzhaber to use the remaining 14 months of his term as governor to continue to force state agencies to align their efforts. "We plan and plan and plan," said Hank Collins, county Health and Human Services director. "Push us to coordinate the planning process." Others advocated for increased funds, even in lean times. Kitzhaber's efforts to support youth at risk for criminal behavior before they get in trouble have been positive, said Tom Cole, director of Kids Unlimited, a nonprofit agency. "But what these kids need are surrogate families," he said. "There's a shortage of resources to develop other parts of the program." Increased collaboration needn't require new resources, some said. For instance, school buildings could be used after hours to meet community needs, said Juli Di Chiro, superintendent of the Ashland district. "Schools belong to the community; they don't belong to the people who work in schools," Di Chiro said. Forty-five minutes of lively discussion ended where it began. "If we're going to make some tough choices, how do we do that in a way that best serves the interest of the kids?" said Kitzhaber. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.