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Ashland schools face big test
Student leaders at Ashland High School, from left, Brad Rahmlow, Brady Brim-DeForest and Dan Golden talk about the school district's drug and alcohol policy, which they say needs revision. The policy has generated considerable controversy in a district facing other challenges, such as $1 million in budget cuts. Rahmlow and Golden say teachers could use a proposed leadership contract to retaliate against students. Already battered by battles over drug policies, the district may have to cut $1 million next year By DAMIAN MANN It has been a turbulent year for the Ashland School District. It began with administrators and the board wrestling with $840,000 in budget cuts, primarily in staffing. Then the district became embroiled in lengthy debate over the expulsion of two students suspected of smoking marijuana. Parents hired attorneys, one of the students took drug and polygraph tests to profess his innocence, and the community became sharply divided over the school's ability to enforce the expulsions. At the same time, the district's drug and alcohol policy created a standoff between the administration and leadership students who didn't want to sign a contract holding them responsible for off-campus behavior. Ultimately, the school board overturned the expulsions and voted for a toned-down version of the policy, but not without incurring the wrath of high school teachers concerned that they no longer had authority over students. In the midst of this turbulence, the Ashland School District faces a more ominous threat, one that could undermine its academic success. Officials predict they may have to cut up to $1 million out of the district's $20 million budget next year because of a recessionary state economy and declining enrollment. Enrollment at Ashland schools dropped this fall, down from 3,496 last year to 3,451 this year. Long-range projections show this trend could continue as the population ages. Such deep cuts could result in larger class sizes, threatening a history of academic excellence the district has enjoyed for some time. Ashland students consistently outperform other Jackson County districts on Oregon assessments and historically score high on college aptitude tests.Maintaining this academic status in such a financial climate worries Superintendent Juli Di Chiro: "How do we get the same quality of work without the same funding we've had in the past?" she said. Some community members have suggested the district look to additional grants and other temporary funding sources to help alleviate the cuts, but administrators remain cautious about this idea. "I don't think we should ever depend on private donations or grant money to run the basic operations for the school district," said Di Chiro. "That should come out of state funds." That will be the rub for Ashland and other school districts warily watching the state's forecast of an economic downturn that is sure to financially pummel education. For community residents used to a high academic standard for their schools and a curriculum that offers a broad range of activities for students, all this comes as unsettling news, particularly if class sizes increase. Kathy Christian, mother of three, said her volunteer work in the school system has given her a firsthand look at how much more difficult it is to effectively run an elementary class with 24 students rather than the average 21. "It is really hard with that many kids," she said. "It amazes me how a few more kids makes such a difference." Despite the recent problems, the district is fundamentally strong and should weather the financial problems, though not without some hardships. "Our schools are doing well by any measure," said Di Chiro. But not all residents believe the district is a complete academic success story. Parent Larry Cooper said the district has done a particularly poor job of serving special education students. He also said the district has cut its full-time media specialist to half time and has undermined the foreign language program by not offering it in elementary school. Many programs that were cut during the 1992 fiscal year have never fully returned, and now some are in danger of being cut again, he warned. "I hope we're not going down the road of taking a half-time media person and splitting their responsibilities among more than one school," said Cooper. Board member John Maurer acknowledged, "We have some real glaring holes in our district. ... We've been in default in meeting our special needs kids." He said the district has done particularly well with its high achievers, but has much work to do with many other students who don't perform as well. The district needs to increase the number of special education staff and also needs more counselors, now averaging only one for about every 400 students, he said. Possibly more worrisome to many Ashland residents is the potential threat of closing an elementary school to save the district money, even if the idea is several years from serious consideration. Steve Schein, who has three children in Ashland schools, said, "The neighborhood elementary schools are what makes Ashland special. It would be a horrible thing to close an elementary school." Schein recently moved to Ashland after looking at school systems around the country for his three children. "It's a little like going back in time," he said. "It's like the neighborhood school I went to 35 years ago." He previously lived in Telluride, Colo., where similar issues faced the local district, eventually forcing a split that created a private school. "It was very polarizing," he said. "I would hate to see that happen in this community." Most administrators agree that closing a school should not be done this year but must be considered in the future. "We may have to swallow that bitter pill at some point," said Di Chiro. "It would not be worth the community upheaval at this point." Ashland would be in far worse shape and face far more serious cuts if not for a $1.6 million activities levy approved by voters last year. Also, the Ashland Schools Foundation, which raises about $350,000 annually, allows for a broad range of programs, from storytelling classes to ropes courses. However, with the academic core being threatened by cuts, the foundation may be called upon to help support core curriculum. Robert Kuenzel, chairman of the foundation, said his organization would be hard pressed to make up the losses expected by the district. "We have a modest impact on an overall budget of $20 million," he said. Nevertheless, Kuenzel said, the foundation would look at ways to generate more money. "The board of the foundation is committed to finding ways to do more," he said. "We've been doing a lot of things at the foundation to enrich our education. Now we're looking at a point where the bare bones is in jeopardy." Another possibility is to ask the community for more money. But Di Chiro and other administrators believe it would be difficult to tax residents of Ashland any further, especially considering the economic downturn. Parent and teacher Laura Freeman said schools are already making heavy demands on parents to pay for supplies and special projects. "Free public schools are not so free anymore," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com |
