By Andrea Calcagno
 
May 18, 2009
 
ASHLAND, Ore. -- The Ashland School Board gave the go-ahead Monday for a third phase of layoffs.
 
Under the motion, which was approved by a 4-1 margin, five positions will be cut, and the Educational Services Department will be eliminated. Among those being let go is popular Bellview Elementary School Principal Christine McCollom.
 
Through all three phases of cuts, the school district eliminated around 56 full time positions, just under 15 percent of the total number of full time employees. The cuts complete the $4.3 million budget gap left by state funding cuts.
 
ESD oversees curriculum and teacher development. The current director of ESD, Michelle Zundel, will be relocated as the Bellview principal. Since both Zundel and McCollom have the same seniority level, the district decided on who to cut by drawing names, as stated in their contracts. McCollom's name was drawn.
 
Some parents at Monday's meeting expressed strong opposition to this reduction, and some suggested administration take a pay cut to fund the principals' position.
 
"She's a fantastic principal. Best boss I ever worked for, cause I did work for her for a couple of years and the best principal I have ever seen so I really think it would be great if we could keep her in her positions and find some other way to crunch numbers so we can keep her there," says Parent Karen Cooke.
 
"It's going to have a big impact on the entire school district, all of our curriculum development, all of our of state and federal projects, professional development for teachers working on instruction. All of those important things now are going to be reassigned," says Ashland Schools Superintendent Juli Di Chiro.
 
Officials say elementary and middle school principals will be taking on additional projects, along with Superintendent Di Chiro, to make up for the curriculum services department.