CONTACTS:
Juli Di Chiro, Superintendent
Phone: 541-482-2811
E-Mail:
juli.dichiro@ashland.k12.or.us
Terry Littleton, Board Chair
Phone: 541-482-6345
Email: terry@mighty.com
Web site: http://www.ashland.k12.or.us/
BACKGROUND:
The Ashland School Board anticipated a smaller budget looming for 2002-03 . . . even before the state budget shortfall came into focus in late 2001.
“We had budget problems of our own because of our declining enrollment,” said Terry Littleton, board chair during the budget season. “When the news hit about the state shortfall in December, suddenly our worst case scenario actually became our best case scenario.”
Calling it a “no brainer” Littleton, fellow board members and Supt. Juli Di Chiro had already been conducting in-depth “conversations” since October 2001 with each elementary attendance area and the high/middle schools in the community. So when the budget crisis started unfolding later, community leaders were well-aware of Ashland’s challenges.
THE MEETINGS:
Parents and public were invited to evening forums through parent newsletters and news stories in the local Ashland Tidings. Supt. Di Chiro worked closely with the local education reporter on covering the topic.
Di Chiro started each meeting with an overview of how Ashland schools are funded, how budgets are created and adopted, showing how district enrollment is factored into the state funding formula. She also presented Oregon’s Quality Education Model, using a Powerpoint presentation from the Quality Education Commission. This demonstrated that Oregon
was painstakingly creating models for the most effective education programs for elementary, middle and high schools
-- and how much they should cost. That helped Ashland citizens understand what a “good education actually costs” and learn how their own programs could be prioritized.
All board members attended each meeting from October through January. After Di Chiro’s overview, board members split into groups to lead smaller discussions to get the public’s take on spending priorities.
“We heard some great ideas we wouldn’t have thought of,” said Littleton, noting they discovered support in a grassroots effort to create more affordable housing to attract families to live in the district. “Ashland has high housing costs, which attract higher income and older couples without children,” she said.
Parents and citizens also helped the board create a plan where principals were “shared” in positions such as curriculum directors or between two elementary schools.
Budget materials and handouts presented at the meetings were simple and easy to
understand. For examples, contact the district at 541-482-2811 and
ask for Jeannie in the superintendent’s office.
RESULTS: “For the first time citizens truly understood our situation and ground-level communication was the key,” she added.
With declining enrollment, Ashland will be faced with a possible school closure in the near future. “In December or January we’ll be talking about which school to close and our community already will have a rational background and understanding behind this emotional topic.”
A renewed interest in Ashland’s school foundation emerged after the meetings. “We normally raise funds for teacher grants, but through grassroots fund-raising effort after our work groups last year we raised $440,000 and gave $300,000 to the district to support new sections at the high school and pay for staff time,” Littleton said.
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