SUPERINTENDENT: 'JURY'S STILL OUT'

Drug debate leaves Di Chiro wondering if her belief system fits in with the
culture in Ashland

Backlash from the school administration's firm stance on drugs and alcohol
has left the relatively new superintendent questioning how she fits into
the Ashland culture.

"I guess the jury's still out on that," said Juli Di Chiro.

After she came under fire for the expulsion of two leadership students
suspected of smoking marijuana, Di Chiro wonders whether her belief system
resonates with most parents.

Compared to her experience in other school systems, she said, "I feel less
of a consensus here."

Di Chiro, who joined the district last year from the Santa Monica, Calif.,
school system, acknowledges she brings something of a big-city demeanor to
a small-town atmosphere.

But she also says she can't change who she is, particularly her strong
belief that students should not use drugs and alcohol.

Di Chiro said she has received as much support as opposition from parents
over her role in the expulsion debate.

Some parents have stood steadfastly behind her decision, believing the
district should be firm in preventing students from using drugs and alcohol.

Others have called her inflexible.

While many letters and calls from angry community residents denounced the
students' expulsion by the administration, a petition was signed by 300
local residents disapproving of the school board's decision to overturn the
expulsions.

Di Chiro remains confident her feelings ultimately represent Ashland as a
whole, however.

"I have to feel that (the backlash) doesn't represent the majority of the
people, and the board seems to support the majority of the work I'm doing,"
she said.

Having witnessed the detrimental effects of drug abuse on friends, Di Chiro
feels strongly that drugs and alcohol should be kept away from students,
and that school policy should reflect that.

"You can say that's being power hungry," she said. "But I don't care how
people characterize it. I know from my own heart that it comes out of care
and concern for kids and their well being."

From the time a child leaves home until the time it returns after school,
that child is the responsibility of the district, Di Chiro said.

Most of the time, the district has no problems disciplining a student who
has behaved inappropriately.

"Nine times out of 10, a kid just admits what he did," she said.

Whether she's a good fit for the community is something only time will
tell. "That's something for the community to decide if my beliefs and
values don't resonate with them," she said.

Di Chiro hopes the debate over the drug and alcohol issue dies down as the
district faces the weightier issue of balancing its budget amid a potential
$1 million shortfall.

As an administrator, she finds the budget situation familiar.

But she does worry that deep cuts might prevent her from being an effective
leader.

Di Chiro had hoped to fill a curriculum director position because she now
assumes those duties in addition to her own.

Given financial and political realities, she said, it will be difficult to
fill this position.

"The life and blood of the district is curriculum," she said. "Over time,
(not having a curriculum director) will erode the quality of our programs."

Also, with increased responsibilities, Di Chiro finds it more difficult to
visit the schools she serves.

"I forced myself to go to every school this month," she said. "It should be
every week."

Despite a year filled with controversy and uncertainty, Di Chiro said
Ashland's situation is not unique as districts throughout the country
struggle with some of the same issues.

"This is not a crisis," she said.