February 27, 2009

February 27, 2009

Ashland, Oregon

www.roguenews.net

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What will it

Vol. III Issue VI

Budget tears school apart

us?

Editorial - P.P.S. The worldwide financial apocalypse is coming.

Stock markets are crashing, unemployment is rising (especially in Oregon, where nearly ten percent of the population is out of work) and the nation is entering a tailspin where fewer jobs spawn cuts which in turn necessitate more layoffs. To top it all off, the Ashland School District’s budget woes just keep getting worse, with the current projections of the budget shortfall up to $1.3 million for this year and $5.2 million next year. We are currently in a recession, and now the looming question is whether we are heading into the next Great Depression, if we aren’t already there.

Obama’s stimulus bill might hold some hope of relief for this year, but don’t hold your breath for the federal government to swoop down and save us.

The best we can hope for is for it to soften the blow.

Ashland will still receive $366,000 from the bill, and if the current Oregon Ways and Means Committee plan (which will try to convince the governor to reverse his previous qualms about digging into the Rainy Day Fund) goes through we may escape even further cuts this year. We are still in dire trouble for next year, and with little hope of government assistance.

Compared with the more than $17.4 billion spent bailing out automakers, $366,000 for education feels insulting. In America, many students take high school for granted and don’t fully take advantage of the unique opportunity to learn.

Education is a cornerstone of our democracy, and it is what allows our system of government to function. It should be the first priority that the government funds at any level. If we can bail out automakers, why can’t we bail out our schools?

As this years’ seniors move on to new and different experiences, it is frustrating to know that some of the opportunities that have been the most valuable to us will not be available to other students left behind.

Mr. Cicerella’s Philosophy and Literature class is the most important I have ever taken at AHS. This incredible teacher guided me and my class mates, like so many students before us, through the greatest thinkers of mankind and changed our perceptions of the world. At a time when I needed it most, his class allowed me to examine my life and find meaning in an existence that at times seems trivial and frustrating. This life-altering opportunity will not be offered to future students.

Mr. Cicerrella will not be returning next year.

Madame Schaffer has changed the lives of her students. More than just teaching a language, she fills her students with passion for French culture and literature, even going as far as organizing trips to France. Her class embraces more than new ways of making sounds, it allows students to embrace a global perspective. No more.

Madame Shaffer will not be returning to fill her room with French movie posters and photos.

See Editorial on Pg. 6

d a cleare uad are q s l’ o o h High Sc e.

Ashland uring class tim d ts n e d stu

of

Photo by Azure Ginsberg Photo illustration by Abbie Deal

$380,000 cut from the budget results in a loss of five school days from this year’s calendar: Spring Break is now March 13 through 30

by Zena Shelton and Morgan Hall By now it’s been clear that America is struggling to stay afloat in the current economic recession, but a lot of people still have yet to feel any direct effects from the crisis. That is about to change with the budget shortfall that the Ashland School District, and the state, will have to deal with next year. All Ashland students are going to feel the consequences of the coming money crunch.

Because of state cuts the Ashland School District is going to lose between $500,000 to $800,000 from this year’s budget, and up to $5.2 million next year, $1.7 million more than expected.

This is a sizable chunk of change.

These numbers are not exact yet and will not be until February 27, but it is clear that Ashland High School will have to operate differently next year.

AHS receives money from the state through a percentage of income and property taxes. The total taxes for these two areas are divided among each school district in Oregon, based upon enrollment in the districts. This amount of money has been decreasing as unemployment rises and more and more people lose their houses due

to foreclosures, both consequences of the global economic crisis.

The Ashland School District receives $6,430 for each student that is enrolled in the district, and because enrollment is declining, this amount dwindles as well. This is a tricky situation for AHS because even though enrollment is declining throughout the district and has been declining at the high school

Have any comments?

Ideas? Come to the School Board Budget Meeting on March 9 at 7 p.m. at 1175 East Mainor visit ashland.k12.or.us previously, AHS enrollment actually increased this year.

This is mostly due to the school’s US News and World Report silver medal rating, which has motivated families to move into an otherwise declining district. However, because the district is losing money as a whole, AHS has to make cuts as well.

To combat the loss that needs to be made up for this year, the Ashland School District has cut school days.

To reach the $380,000 that needs to

be cut from this year’s budget, a total of five days have been cut from the school calendar. These five days will be cut before the current Spring Break begins.

However, new numbers have arrived implying that more than just those five days may need to be cut, depending on if the Governor allocates additional funds from the School Stability Fund (also known as the Rainy Day Fund). ASD will receive $366,000 from the stimulus package, but is has yet to be determined where these funds will go.

“Our number one concern is not cutting too many days of instruction,” Vice Principal Don Velentini said. “We don’t want to impact student learning.”

To lessen the blow of cutting five days, the conference days in March and the previous teacher in-service day on March 30 will now become days of instruction. This way staff members will not be paid for these days cutting a total of five days for staff, but only two instructional days for students.

The teachers overwhelmingly voted to cut five days before Spring Break, but the Southern Oregon Bargaining Council overruled this vote. It is See Budget on Pg. 6

Rogue News

Page 2

February 27, 2009

Minor in possession

by Elle Swarttouw Substance abuse is a detriment for any age. Starting out in high school or earlier can lead to an adulthood of heavy alcohol and drug use. The risks of substance abuse are too great, and the payoff too little.

Legally, one of the most common consequences of drug or alcohol abuse is receiving a Minor In Possession, which is an infraction, and can be brought to a court of law. It also carries with it a stiff financial penalty ranging from $299 to $427.

According to official statistics comprised through surveys by the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2007, habitual marijuana use by Ashland High School seniors is 39.8 percent, nearly two times the national average of 21.5 percent. Perhaps this is one of the reasons MIP’s are so common at AHS. MIP’s are fairly common in the valley as well, but there are certain days of the year that pertain to more mischief than others, “Halloween, New years, Graduation night… But the largest numbers of

News Wire AP Testing Fees: Better find that 86 bucks needed for the registration deadline on March 04.

Pajama Game: The AHS Drama Department is presenting the Tony Award winning musical Pajama Game.

It runs Feb. 27 through March 15. Tickets can be bought at AHS, Paddington Station, Tree House Books and Music Coop for $15, or online at showtixforu.com Brain Bowl: The AHS Master’s Brain Bowl Team won all their matches at the competiton on Feb. 21. They will compete in the televised semi-finals on April 5.

MIP’s are on Halloween, it is by far our busiest time of the year,” Terry Holderness, the Ashland Police Chief, said.

“I got my first MIP on Halloween…

I was in a car with my friends, and than we heard the sound, and of course it was the cops riding our tail. Me, and two of my buddies were busted!” Said a junior who wished to remain anonymous. In his case, he was charged with an infraction, which involves community service hours and fees. This student and his friend lost their drivers licenses, due to recent house bill 2147 in Oregon, which includes that one can and will lose their drivers license upon getting an MIP. Some don’t take MIP’s so lightly, “I cried through the whole thing. It was the most humiliating thing I’ve ever experienced… My parent’s were furious, and took away all of my freedoms. I don’t think the family has gotten over it.” Another anonymous student said. She was charged for alcohol abuse, which Holderness says is the most commonly used substance in Ashland and Medford combined.

Other MIP recipients have a more relaxed viewpoint, “I got my third [MIP]

Illustration by Heather Case

last month. My parents don’t really care that much and I’m not planning on going to college or anything like that. It just kind of sucks to get caught over and over.” An AHS senior said.

So, the next time you and your

friends want to party like its 1999, consider what’s at stake: your freedom, your privileges, and your future. Is it all really worth betting for a few laughs? Perhaps its time to put your chips in, and head out the door to a world of opportunity.

Burnt out students

by Sadie Shelton As the world becomes more complex, the high school work load has increased. Today students not only deal with a heavy homework load, but learn how to incorporate all their extra curricular activities into their daily lives.

Students feel the need to do as many things as possible during their high school career. “There’s pressure to do everything in these four years, like community service, extra curricular activities, sports, AP classes, and a wide range of subjects to be versatile for college,” Amelia Farber, a sophomore, said. Students also feel pressured to do more because it looks better on a college application.

There are a lot of opportunities to get involved in during a student’s high school career, but it’s hard to juggle all of them with homework. “After you get out of high school a lot of opportunities are gone so you try to do as much as you can now,” Farber said.

Rogue News -The Rogue News will strive to practice professional journalism at Ashland High School. It will aim to be a voice for the student body, and an important contribution to the school and community. In order to achieve this goal, the Rogue News will attempt to do the following to the best of it’s ability.

-Report accurate and objective information -Uphold all journalistic ethics and standards -Provide an outlet for voices within the school through letters editor and editorials. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the staff, all others are signed. Letters to the editor must be signed unless extenuating circumstances warrant a students name being withheld, as decided by the Editor-in-Chiefs or newspaper advisor.

-Attempt to cover school events fairly and evenly.

Learning how to handle daily activities and homework while still trying to have a social life can be hard for students. Students have to learn how to prioritize their lives, but even if they do that, sometimes things get to be to much. Students find themselves over their heads. Doing a lot of things looks good on a application for college or a job, but sometimes that can jeopardize the quality of the work you do for school and how much energy you put into your activities. “When you try to do a lot of things to look good on a college application everything becomes mediocre,” Farber said. This is when students start asking themselves if it’s better to do many extra curricular activities and be okay at them, or do one activity and be excellent at it.

Today’s students seem to be doing more and trying to be more involved in their communities, but in doing so they‘re getting burnt out. “Students are more burnt out today because college is more prestigious because now your expected to go to college,” Sam Boehnke, a sophomore,

said. Students not only do more today, but put pressure on themselves to do their best, which causes them to be exhausted.

The homework load and extra circular activities can lead to late nights and loss of sleep. “There’s not enough time to do anything but homework, which keeps me up late,“ Robert Christy, a senior, said. Teenagers need seven to nine hours of sleep, because during that time, the teenagers mind goes through stages. If your mind doesn’t experience these stages during sleep, then you are less likely to perform your best the next day and be energetic. There are also stages when you sleep that help you learn and make memories. This means sleep is important for the teenagers mind, especially with all the classes that demand a student to be mentally present. But some students get half that each night during the week.

See the rest of this story on the rogue online at roguenews.net

February 27, 2009

Page 3

Rogue News

A day in the life of a debater

Photos by Wendy Werthaiser-Kent

Above: Ashland High School Speech and Debate Team shows off their winnings after taking first at the Willamette Debate Tournament. Right: Dante Toppo and Forrest Wells relax between rounds.

by Olivia Florio Thirty kids dressed head to toe in black are standing in a hotel lobby with their brief cases in complete, concentrated silence. No, we’re not Wall Street executives or Men in Black revisited. We are the Ashland High School debate team the morning before a tournament. Vibrations of excitement and nerves can be felt in the air, and even though it’s 6:30 A.M. on a foggy, Saturday morning, we’re psyched and ready to go!

On this particular morning, my partner and I walk into the room with an unfamiliar judge and formidable opponents. Holding my breath, I mouth a prayer that I’ll be comfortable with the topics for our first round

of the day. Even though I’ve done this a thousand times, each debate is different. There are always surprises, but that’s what keeps me on the edge of my seat.

We’re handed a slip of paper with three resolutions on them, all relating to the electoral college. Since we’re the affirmative, we strike the one that we like least first, then hand the slip to the opposing team. They strike another, and we’re left to debate the remaining topic.

My partner and I hastily leave the room, pens and paper in hand, and have precisely 20 minutes to construct a case that will win us the round. The timer beeps, and we return to the room.

I’m the Prime Minister in the round, so it’s my responsibility to give the first speech. I wring my sweaty hands together, but try my best to appear poised as I

step up to the podium. I’m a bit nervous. I smile at the judge as I begin my speech, and within a minute I’m on my game. I feel the familiar exhilarating excitement of a race car speeding fast around the track in my stomach.

I wasn’t always the confident debater that I am today. I remember my first round as a inexperienced freshman, my knees knocking together as I struggled to stand in my black pumps, giving a speech about a topic in which I was uninformed. The seven minutes are over and I finish my last point with grace. My partner gives me an approving head nod, then I sit down to take notes of the Leader of the Opposition’s speech.

I love public debate because it is unrehearsed. This means that you must be up to date on your current events, since topics range anywhere from state measures to Japanese militarism. I have spent many nights lying in bed, flipping through issues of the Economist, the New Yorker and the Sunday New York Times in order to increase my knowledge of these topics. Of course, I always make time for my favorite TV shows, too.

After our round, we head back to the common room of the University where all the debate teams have settled. Chairs are circled around coffee tables with everyone’s trash from the weekend strewn everywhere.

Kids curl up in little balls, covering themselves with their suit jackets trying to catch some Z’s before their next round. I find the cluttered nook that our team inhabits, and immediately I’m greeted and surrounded by other debaters. High fives are passed around and I know everyone feels the intense sense of camaraderie, as I do.

Four days, three nights, eleven debate rounds- some won some lost. It’s late at night, and we pile onto the crowded bus. It’s loud and uncomfortable, and even though we’re exhausted, we proudly display our hard earned trophies after another successful tournament.

This is just a glimpse of the roller coaster ride of the subculture we call Speech and Debate.

The foreign dialect of a debater Slang is abundant in our world. That’s no different for everyday debaters. Here is a brief overview of some basic debate terminology:

Speaker Points- Speaker points, or ‘speaks’ are

the amount of points each speaker receives from a judge on a scale of 20-30. These are judged aside from the victor of the round, as speaks gauge the ability of the speaker to present information.

Judges choose the winner based on who states a more believable case and who is a better speaker.

Resolutions change once a month.

Resolution – The topic for the debate.

Public Debate- Commonly referred to as Parli, this debate form requires a high knowledge of a wide Aff – The affirmation, or the team that debates for Breaking- Breaking is when a team advances past range of topics. Debaters don’t know the topic until the topic. They have to prove the resolution as truth they get to their round, at which point they choose and as something beneficial.

preliminary rounds to final rounds.

- Policy is the longest debate form. Average Neg- The negation, or the team that debates against Policy policy rounds last for just over an hour. Policy focuses the topic. They have to prove that the resolution is harmful, or highly unlikely.

Rounds- The actual debate between two teams.

Most tournaments have six rounds before the final teams are announced.

mainly on the two teams’ ability to relay as much information as possible in their speeches. Policy debates rely on their speed to be able to get through as much material as possible. Resolutions change once a year.

Forum- Public Forum, or PoFo as it’s Cases – What the Aff and Neg use to debate, these Public commonly referred to is the shortest debate form. are essentially everything they’ve researched and their guidelines to win them their debates.

Meant to be a debate form for the common people, PoFo is supposed to be brief and to the point.

from a list of three resolutions. Parli debates last for about 40 minutes.

Lincoln Douglas-

LD is the only debate form that is done on an individual basis. Unlike its fellow debate forms, LD debaters require an intricate knowledge of philosophy. Morality and ethics are the basis of most of the arguments presented.

Judy’s elves

by Abbie Deal

Her arms are full of books as she hurries past. Scanning the shelves, she quickly returns each book to its proper place. She’s up and down constantly, stretching on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf only to drop to her knees in the next instant to place a book on the bottom shelf. Within just one period, she will have easily shelved anywhere from 100 to 150 library books.

Hayley Johnson calls herself a library helper, and she dedicates her fifth period to making sure that the library runs smoothly. Students don’t realize how much time and effort is put into the library, and how much work fellow students do.

Officially, Johnson has been assigned as the TA (teacher’s assistant) for the library during her fifth period, so it counts as an actual class. However, Zack LeRoy, the other library helper during that period, volunteers all of his time. He arrives at 7:00 in the morning and works all through fifth period with Johnson; then he comes back in and continues to work during lunch.

Working in the library can be hazardous. When shelving there is always a risk of causing an avalanche of books from one of the top shelves. “Especially the big ones,” Johnson said, “that’s when you have to run.” Another thing that Johnson doesn’t like is seeing how some of the students mistreat the books.

“I see the disrespect shown to the books. People don’t get it that we have a certain number of books and we have limited resources to replace them with,”

Zach LeRoy keeps busy at the front desk

Photo by Rogue News Staff

Johnson said.

While Johnson is a speed demon when it comes to shelving library books, LeRoy enjoys manning the front desk, checking books in and out. “Zack likes people,” Judy Kimball, the Library Educational Assistant said, “he’s not happy sitting quietly in the corner.”

They are the only two working in the library during fifth period, but all of their jobs get done. “When we work together, we accomplish a lot,” LeRoy said.

Both helpers also ‘process’ new books (where they laminate the covers, and put on the barcodes), and repair older books, putting pages back in and repairing the bindings.

“The library is really busy and I really do need helpers. There are a lot of jobs to get done,” Kimball said. The students are doing real work in the library, not just jobs created to keep them busy.

BUDDY OF THE YEAR TOPSoccer program picks Pavlich

Photo by Grace Azure Ginsberg

Adam Pavlich is one student who definitely doesn’t stay under the radar. He is known by his peers and throughout the community as being not only a varsity athlete in basketball and soccer, but also an honor student involved in many extracurricular activities.

This month, Pavlich was acknowledged not for his brains or brawn, but for his heart, when he was awarded “Buddy of the Year” by the TOPSoccer program.

TOPSoccer is a community-based program managed through Oregon Youth Soccer that gives disabled children the opportunity to play soccer at levels consistent with their skill. A TOPSoccer buddy is a volunteer who meets weekly with an individual player to hang out, play some soccer, and basically just have a fun time.

No particular experience is required, all a TOP-

by Anna Hume

Soccer buddy needs is the desire to help a child.“ At first, I was just interested in it for the community service,” admits Pavlich. Little did he know, the experience would be a life changing one.

Once a week for two months, while his peers were doing homework or chillin’ with friends, Adam spent his after school hours hanging out with his buddy, a spirited seventh grade boy with cerebral palsy. Their activities would vary from week to week, but mostly they just played a whole bunch of sports, Pavlich’s specialty. Pavlich was brought back to his childhood days playing “Sharks and Minnows” and “Tag,” but he couldn’t have enjoyed it more. “Its pretty incredible that he doesn’t let his disability hold him back,” says Pavlich of his buddy.

“He embraces it and makes the best of his abilities.”

In January of this year, a banquet was held in

Eugene for all TOPSoccer “buddies.” It was Pavlich’s fun spirit, sense of humor, and kindness that won him the statewide honor of “Buddy of the Year.” “ It was really cool to be honored, but the experience meant way more to me than the title,” Pavlich said of his award.

If you are interested in being a part of the TOPSoccer program, visit AshlandSoccerClub.com.

“Being a buddy taught me so much about patience and acceptance.” Pavlich said, when asked about his overall experience “I’ve been told my whole life you can’t judge people by their appearance and never before has that been so true.”

Pavlich suggests this program to anyone who likes working with kids. “ I went in thinking I would have a lot to teach this kid, but as it turns out, he’s really the one who taught me.”

Rafferty Swink Inspirations: Thelonious Monk, Lightning Hopkins, Fela Kuti If you could be any animal: Platypus Favorite color: Plaid Photos above taken by Arthur Lawniczak

A Strange KIND oF lOVE

by Vincent Brinegar and Anna Hume

You’ve heard them playing at Battle of the Bands, The Aids Dance and taking the trophy freshman year at The Talent Show. If you went to Ashland Middle School, you may have even been lucky enough to hear them play “Foxy Lady” almost every week in the gym or on the quad. You may have even stumbled across their music on their newly edited Myspace page or just found yourself knowing their name or humming one of their songs. They are Strangelove, an emerging young band of AHS students, and they are everywhere.

Juniors Willis Plummer, Rafferty Swink, and Lucas Opgenorth started playing together in the eighth grade. Once they entered high school, this talented trio formed into a quartet when Matt “Dreads” Kandaris joined the group.

Since then, they have been dedicated to their music, performing every chance they get and recording at the Grove, here in Ashland. They play covers of many artists and genres, and lately, have been performing original songs.

Although they have been compared to many famous bands including The Beatles, Plummer has higher hopes for the four-man band. “We’re gonna be the next Turned Up Missing. Watch out Andy Orsow, your fan base is soon to be ours.”

When they are not practicing in Plummer’s basement or finding spontaneous shows to play, these four fine fellows have a lot going on. Some of the activities they take part in are: Speech and Debate, Water Polo, Swim Team, Bowling Team, Jazz Band, Model UN, Global Citizens Corps, and Leadership. They enjoy having heated discussions about politics, and arguing

Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief.......Phoebe Parker-Shames, Žena Shelton Front Page Editor..............................................Abbie Deal News Editors....................... Jackson Santee, Sadie Shelton Feature Editor................................................Morgan Hall In-Depth Editors...........Arthur Lawniczak, Hannah Sayles Quadlife Editor...............................Phoebe Parker-Shames Sports Editors.............................................Zack Kitamura Back Page Editors.............Arthur Lawniczak Žena Shelton Graphic Designer/Ad Designer.........................Jesse Smith Managing Editor......................................Ella Riley-Adams Advertising Managers....Brenna Heater, Adam Pavlich and Alex Quadrini Distrubution Manager.................................Nicholas Dake

about their music knowledge, all this while never conforming.

If you, by some chance, have missed this group (which would require you to have attended no school functions for the past three years) don’t fret. They will be competing in the Battle of the Bands this March, hoping to reclaim the glory of their freshman year and take first. No matter what kind of music you like, this group has a little something for everyone. Give them a chance, lend an ear, you may find yourself loving their catchy sound...strangely.

Rogue News

Page 6

February 27, 2009

Students show off at Art Walk

by Michael Deckelman Those marked with are locations with student art

Kaylee Tracey displays her painting

Key for the map: (number on map. Gallery: student whose art is being displayed there) 3. Art FX: Deven McCoy 4. Ashland Art Works: Talon Haggard 5. Bohemia Gallery & Framing: Alison Van Olphen 8. Etienne Gallery: Matt Amrhein 10. Hanson Howard Gallery: Wes Davis 12. Illahe Studio and Gallery: Hayden Miller and Kaylee Tracey 13. Jega Gallery & Sculpture Garden: Emma Harding, Anne Sirski, Kailey Cockell, and Kaylee Tracey 15. Nimbus: Kevin Schilling and Miles Fidler 17. The Web•sters Inc.: Derek Jascot B. The Crown Jewel: Cody Caplinger, Clint Gorbett, 1. Lithia Arts Guild of Ashland: Kaylee Tracey and Alison Van Olphen

Photos submitted by Alison Van Olphen

Editorial

Continued From Pg. 1

These are just two examples of what will be lost to Ashland High School next year.

All those familiar faces that have become so imbedded in the vision of our school were once young teachers just starting in their careers. We will also lose those vibrant newcomers who brought a fresh outlook to our school.

The current cuts have already impacted 44 district teachers (with the equivalent of 20.5 full time teaching jobs axed for next year) and 16 classified staff, and even more will come. How else can we get to a reduction of $5.2 million when 83% of the budget goes to personnel? Maybe one of you reading this has the answer.

Like our parents have always said, there are children in other countries who either don’t have an education or have to pay the price of a private school to get it. Now it almost feels like that could become the reality here. Although we are still far from that situation, it should make us appreciate the education we have available and should galvanize us to fight to make that opportunity continue. We need our community’s support to save our schools. If you have any ideas, please visit the district website and email the school board. This need not be the disastrous end to our nation’s most precious institution, but we need your help to fix it.

Budget

On March 6, history will be made for Ashland High School. For the first time ever, the Annual Student Art Walk is being completely organized by students as a senior project.

Allie Van Olphen and Olivia Gerber, AHS seniors, are organizing the event.

They have been making phone calls, sending emails and rallying students since November. Not only are they organizing the Art Walk, but Van Olphen is also contributing her own artwork.

“I love that my senior project is so tied not only to my job right now, but my current interests in life,” she said.

Her art teacher, Mark Shoenleber, was glad to see how the various galleries welcomed the students’ ideas.

“It’s really awesome that art galleries in an art town are letting students use their galleries,” Shoenleber said.

This will be sophomore Deven McCoy’s second art show, but this will be his first time doing the Art Walk as well as his first time being featured at Art FX. “I’m glad to contribute,” McCoy said.

Seven woodworking students are also participating this year and their work can be viewed at Nimbus, Illahe, Hanson Howard, Etienne, Crown Jewel, and Ashland Art Works. The students purchased their lumber, mostly fallen trees harvested from Lithia Park, from the school through shop teacher John Weston and then did the rest themselves. All pieces have been made since the fall of last year so it’s fairly fresh work.

“This is another example of the great support that the Ashland community gives to the students of Ashland High School,” Weston concluded.

Continued From Pg. 1

important to note that the staff is not getting paid for those five days.

There is some concern that by cutting these five days of school that seniors will not be able to graduate. However, Superintendent Juli DiChiro received a notice from the State Board of Education that, in light of the current crisis, there will be a new standard not requiring students to meet the 990 hours of instruction time, making AHS an accredited school. Therefore current seniors have nothing to worry about as they will graduate in good standing with a certified diploma.

Currently, the estimated budget cuts for next year are $5.2 million, but this number will change as new revenue forecasts will be generated at the end of each month. It has not yet been determined what cuts will be made to accommodate this deficit. It is clear however that these cuts will be across the board and at all levels: elementary, middle school, high school, maintenance, administrative, and extra curricular.

DiChiro stressed however that the district wants to maintain its quality, choosing not to slash entire programs to stay afloat. School administrators want to keep the wide range of activities at the high school, but it is hard when the state is requiring more years of math and science to be completed by students, starting with the class of 2011.

The cuts for next year affect 44 teachers: 22 teachers will lose their jobs and 12 teachers will have their hours reduced, which translates to the equivalent of 20.5 full-time teachers being laid off. 16 classified positions will also be affected, 8 people will lose their jobs and 8 people will have their hours reduced, translating to 12 cut full time positions. DiChiro has also already taken a pay freeze for next year, and there has been some negotiation on the cost of living allotment, meaning that teachers’ paychecks may not have a yearly increase next year. These are only a few things that are going to be affected to combat the rising budget deficit.

Despite the need to cut funds “our goal is to maintain a comprehensive high school and many opportunities for kids,” Valentini said.

Valentini sums up his frustration with budget cuts with this comment: “We are very passionate about our world and it should be a priority [to maintain it].

How else can we change society if we can’t educate our youth?” It’s good to see that even in the face of economic perils we haven’t seen in years, we can still see the need to educate our future.

Rogue News

February 27, 2009

Page 7

Hitting theISlopes n S tyle ...

Photo by Grace Riley-Adams

Neil Presicci gets tackled by Ignacio Muñoz de Toro and Andrew Harlan

Ruggers

by Michael Deckelman ing the ter jibb r a h C Mimi

bench

Photo by Willy Terran

by Zach Kitamura Last year the Ashland High girl’s snowboard team won the overall state championship. This year there aren’t enough boarders to field a complete squad.

Senior Mimi Charter and Junior Alisha Jucevic are the lone Grizzly girl snowboarders this season, down from nine athletes last year. Although they can’t qualify as a team for state, the two of them have set the bar high for themselves in individual competitions.

“I’m hoping we can place in the top three in every event,” Mimi Charter said. In last year’s state championship, Charter took the individual championship in half-pipe and slope-style and second place in boarder-cross, while Jucevic took third in slope-style.

The poor snow pack this year on Mt. Ashland has made practice difficult, exposing bushes and rocks. Only recently has there been enough snow to build jumps and place rails that will resemble

SPORTS WIRE...

February 26 at Mazama High School: AHS boy’s basketball team plays their final regular season game before heading to the state playoffs.

the state championship course at Mt. Hood; but Charter says it only helps them. “Not having the features pushes everyone at Mt. Ashland to get better,” Charter said.

Even though there aren’t a lot of Grizzlies hitting the slopes, there’s plenty of camaraderie with snowboarders from other schools. “I’m trying to push all the Southern League girls so that we can all do well at state,” Charter said. “I want to go up to Mt. Hood and show everyone Southern Oregon girls can shred.” Charter has looked up to older riders in the past and hopes she can set an example for others. “I want to be a role model for other girls coming up in the sport,” Charter said.

The girls have started the year off well, with Charter taking first place in the Southern League bank slalom and boarder-cross events, with Jucevic taking third in boarder-cross. These results qualify them for the Oregon Interscholastic Snowboarding Association State Championship at Mt. Hood the first weekend in March.

February 27, 9:15 pm at the Rrrink in Medford: Ashland Hockey takes on Klamath Falls for their first playoff game of the 2009 season.

February 28 at McNeal Pavilion at SOU: The AHS girl’s basketball team plays in the second round of the OSAA 5A State Playoffs.

Our regional boys’ rugby team, the Southern Oregon Steelheads, is mostly composed of Ashland High School students. Up until February 16, they weren’t sure if they’d be able to play due to lack of participants but they now have more than the required 15 players on the roster.

One of the trials the team faced was getting support from schools. The team would have grown much faster if schools had been helping get the word out. Instead, team members and supporters have been handing out flyers around the valley to spread the word. Another problem faced by the team was the fact that many potential rugby players are playing other sports right now.

“Prior commitments make it difficult to start a new game in a new area,” Jason Holt, the head coach, commented. Holt has been coaching this team for two years now. “My main goal for this year is to teach the guys rugby and how to have fun playing in college,” he added. The sport also isn’t school funded, so it will be difficult for the team to have things like rides and Coach Holt hopes to get help from parents when going to further away games.

“It’s painful, but really fun at the same time,” Charlie McMillan said.

This “hooligan’s game for gentlemen” (so called because the home team takes the visiting team out for pizza after each game) is practiced everyday at 4 pm on the Lincoln Elementary School soccer field.

Players perform drills practicing agility, endurance, strength, ball handling and other skills required in an 80-minute game where the clock doesn’t stop.

“My favorite part about rugby is growing the bond with fellow ruggers,” Andrew Harlan stated.

“It’s a really good time to build a bond with friends,” Neil Presicci agreed.

The season starts in March so make sure to go out to some games and support your fellow Ashlanders.

For more about the history of rugby, visit theroguenews.com

Directions: Match the item to the teacher’s name.

A

T eachers:

1.Tamara Anderson 2.Robyn Hernandez 3.Paul Huard 4.Matthew McKinnon 5.Mark Miller 6.Brenda Paustian 7.Leeanne Wallace

C D

B

F

E

G

1)D 2)E 3)A 4)C 5)G 6)F 7)B

Key:

Photos by Azure Ginsberg and Grace Riley-Adams