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Interested in other cultures? Check out this year’s exchange students Page 4-5
Meet our 2010-11 Rogue News staff! See our staff biographies on Roguenews.net
YAAL ready for this?
$3,000,000 of extracuricular funding hangs on your parent’s vote on the November 2 ballot.
What is it?
The Youth Activities and Academics Levy is up for reelection. It keeps AHS athletics away from having a “pay to play” program and provides funding for over 50 extracurricular activities.
Who will it affect?
Everyone, including taxpayers, elementary P.E. music and after school sports, middle school Spanish and athletics, high school athletics and extracurricular activities.
Where?
The tax boundary covers the limits of the Ashland School District.
When will it happen?
Ballots will be mailed on October 15 and the election takes place on November 2.
By Anya Ludwig & Ian Wurfl Illustration by Kailey Cockell
On November 2, the Ashland School District, as we know it, could be radically altered, for better or for worse. The Youth Activities and Academics Levy (YAAL) is up for renewal, which would provide for an additional five years of local tax support for the Ashland School District. If the levy doesn’t pass, over 50 extra-curricular activities will have to start charging students for participation, or could be eliminated altogether. “I don’t even know how we would keep athletics,” Karl Kemper, the athletics director at AHS, said. “100 percent of our athletic funding comes from the YAAL. Without it, there would be no coaches, no footballs and no jerseys,”
In the athletics department alone the YAAL’s possible failure is a grim prospect. Ashland High School is the only public high school in Southern Oregon that doesn’t have “pay-to-play” sports. Other schools have to charge either per sport, or charge a one-time fee to raise revenue for students to participate. These fees can reach up to $335 for one person, for three sports a year. “We just don’t want to eliminate kids because they can’t pay. Everyone should get to participate.” Kemper said. “We’ve gotta pass it.” 1This occurrence would not only apply to students in athletics, but to speech and debate and fine arts students as well.
The YAAL was set up in 1994 when the State of Oregon severely limited public education’s funding from local property taxes. The YAAL would reinstate a tax of $1.29 per thousand earned within the limits of the Ashland School District and would provide funding for the elementary, junior and senior high schools. It is evident that the YAAL will have a monumental effect on the Ashland School District, “I encourage you to become informed about this important upcoming decision facing voters,” superintendent Julie DiChiro said . For more information visit www.Ashlandyaal.org.
Homecoming 2010 Were you gone this week? Well we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you missed:
All Photos by Laurel Sager