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CLEAR Temp: 59 °F Wind: NE at 6 mph Monday, May 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 16, 2003 Ashland school board OKs cuts By AMBER FOSSEN for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — School district board members unanimously approved the latest round of reductions in force without much audience reaction, or rather, without much of an audience. Barely a handful attended Monday night’s regularly scheduled meeting to hear the board’s decision on reducing Ashland School District staff. Board officials said the unanimous albeit reluctantly adopted plan to eliminate certified and classified positions was an effort to meet the projected $18.5 million budget for the 2003-04 school year. Eliminating nearly five full-time equivalent staff positions will save the district approximately $198,000, officials said. The projected budget was conservatively calculated, according to Superintendent Juli Di Chiro, who along with ASD Business Manager Loren Luman estimated $4,700 in state support per student based on $4.5 billion in state education funding. The governor has asked the Legislature for $5.05 billion. "I hope it doesn’t go below this ($4.5 billion) and we really hope we don’t have another year like this where every time we turn around we’re back at the table facing more cuts," Di Chiro said, adding that the amount is still up in the air. The 2003-04 budget stands at $1 million less than this year’s projected operating budget, which itself required layoffs, program cuts, a shortened school year and the closure of an elementary school. Di Chiro said several of the positions being cut with Monday’s vote are supported in part with Ashland Schools Foundation funds. Among the cuts are four assistant teaching positions — established by foundation funds to reduce class size at Bellview, Helman, Lincoln, and Walker elementary schools; an Ashland Middle School science teacher; an Ashland High School business teacher; an elementary librarian; and a head custodian from Briscoe Elementary. School officials said affected staff members were notified of the layoffs before spring break to allow them more time to find new jobs. Board Vice Chairwoman Amy Amrhein asked Di Chiro what impact further cuts will have. "Class sizes will increase throughout the district because not only will we have these layoffs, but a number of district employees are retiring," Di Chiro said. The exact number of planned retirements in the district was unavailable. School district officials said the layoffs would have been more severe if Briscoe Elementary remained open. Shuttering Briscoe at the end of this year will save the district $320,000 — and about seven positions. Amber Fossen is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search 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 A D V E R T I S E R S