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District buys Waldorf ranch Ex-private school will be used for homeschool students By Wendy Siporen ASHLAND � School district officials believe that some former Waldorf School students will choose to return to their East Main Street ranch as part of an expanded homeschool program this fall. That projection persuaded School Board members Monday to approve the purchase of the 40-acre ranch, used by the Waldorf School of the Rogue Valley until it closed in June because of budget shortfalls. The $865,000 school district purchase is contingent on City Council approval to extend municipal water lines to the property because of a contaminated well. That condition requires that the school district extend the Aug. 26 closing date until the council can discuss the matter at a September meeting. A preliminary appraisal of the property came in at "no less than $950,000," making the purchase attractive, said school district business manager Loren Luman. Luman says the district is able to afford the purchase with a combination of lottery funds and additional revenue from the district�s homeschooling program. The school district plans to use the site to expand its Community Learning Center for homeschool students, which now occupies three classrooms at the middle school. The program served 150 different students in the past year, the equivalent of 42 full-time students. Adding former Waldorf students to the pool could boost those numbers and draw additional state funding to the district. "The homeschool concept is growing. I�ve been turning people down at our current program," said Luman. "I�m quite certain that there will be quite a number of Waldorf students ... I don�t miss very often." Luman estimates that with an expanded program, the district could attract the equivalent of 47 additional nontraditional students into the district � and bring in $235,000 more in state funding. His budget projections for the 2000-01 school year estimate that the district would have $130,950 "gross profit" remaining after expenses. These funds would then be used to make payments on the property over the next eight to 10 years. New schools superintendent Juli Di Chiro acknowledged that the district didn�t exactly need the property at this time, but said it was attractive because it allows the district to be creative and prepared for long-term enrollment growth. "The needs of all students can�t be filled in a traditional school setting," said Di Chiro, adding that a new site for the Community Learning Center may bring in additional students who are currently being homeschooled. Other options for the property might include agricultural programs for high school students� Certificate of Advanced Mastery requirements, she said. But at least one group of former Waldorf parents won�t be taking advantage of the new location. Former Waldorf parent Larry Medinger said the three former Waldorf classes that are continuing to meet outside of the context of the school need a stable space by the beginning of September. "As much as we appreciate the intentions of the personnel of the district on the subject, it�s hard for us to see how it�s a good match," Medinger said, speaking for the parents of 21 seventh-graders. Other former Waldorf parents could not be reached for comment. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA