County schools cut 184

Revenue won't maintain level of staffing, programs

By DAMIAN MANN

Besieged by soaring expenses and insufficient revenues, Jackson County schools have been forced to eliminate 184 positions next year to offset combined gaps of about $7 million.

School administrators had been bracing for even deeper cuts if Gov. John Kitzhaber's proposed $5.2 billion education package was reduced.

But with the state's revenue projections holding steady, school administrators are breathing a collective sigh of relief that their budgets might not take any more substantial hits.

The state this week projected a slight $20 million in extra revenues during its 2001-2003 budget. Earlier predictions indicated the revenues might have been less than expected.

Despite the largest education package in the state's history apparently intact, almost every Jackson County district faces cutbacks in staffing, increased class sizes and reductions in programs.

School administrators here and throughout the state say increased salaries, insurance premiums and energy costs are the main reasons for their reductions.

Districts also have used up their carryover funds during the past few years in an attempt to forestall cutbacks.

Educators are not out of the fiscal woods yet, warily eyeing pending bills before the Legislature that could nibble away at the fragile budgets of school districts.

"We're waiting," said Ashland schools Superintendent Juli Di Chiro. "But we're thinking the $5.2 billion will hold."

The Ashland School District found itself with an $840,000 shortfall, forcing it to reduce 14 positions next year.

If her district suffers even a 1 percent difference in anticipated funding, it could have severe repercussions, Di Chiro said. "We are so razor-thin on our margins."

The Eagle Point School District suffered the most this year, losing 71 positions and cutting $1 million from its budget.

With 49 instructional aides missing from classrooms, 13 fewer teaching positions and other support staff gone, school officials predict that students might not receive as much personalized help next year.

Superintendent Bill Jones said a 1 percent increase in revenues from the state for the district's $26 million budget was not enough to compensate for salary increases and other hikes in costs.

Medford schools Superintendent Steve Wisely said he is waiting to find out about a bill that would give a financial boost to small high schools, but could leave his district with about $85,000 less than anticipated.

Medford schools will lose 19.5 positions through attrition, and a moratorium has been placed on filling another 15 positions, pending the state's final budget figures.

Although the Medford district would lose from a change in funding to small high schools, districts like Butte Falls and Prospect could gain.

"We would get about $13,000 plus a grant to hire another full-time teacher," said Prospect's Superintendent Don Alexander.

Butte Falls Superintendent Clay Dunlap, whose district could also stand to gain about $13,000, said, "I'm elated the $5.2 billion is holding."

One of the few districts to escape serious funding problems, Butte Falls has nevertheless found it difficult to make expenses match revenues without resorting to program cuts. "We trimmed were we could," said Dunlap.

Vicki Robinson, director of business services for Central Point schools, said her district has made reductions in previous years, but not this one.

Even so, her budget was very tight. After seeing that every other district made cutbacks, Robinson said, "I've been through my budget several times and asked myself, what am I missing?"

Across the state, districts have faced shortfalls. Some have even closed down entire schools.

Becca Uherbelau, program coordinator for the Coalition for School Funding Now, said that further cuts could be avoided if the Legislature approves the $5.2 billion education package as proposed by Kitzhaber.

"We are real concerned that they will approve something other than the governor's package," she said.

The Legislature could, Uherbelau said, adopt the $5.2 billion but place so many strings on a portion of the money that not all funds will be available to the schools. "That's what happened during the last session," she said.

As a result, her statewide organization gave two days of testimony recently before the Joint Ways and Means Committee urging adoption of the budget as proposed.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com 

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