By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

FAIRFIELD - Mariam Henrich told educators her son was well prepared for his freshman year at Purdue University, largely because of the advanced placement classes he took at Fairfield Senior High School.

But she worries about her two younger sons.

"Is my sophomore going to be as prepared, or are some of the courses going to be put on the back burner?" Henrich asked.

She was one of nearly 100 parents, teachers, bus drivers, business leaders and residents who turned out Monday night for the second of two 90-minute meetings school officials called in this 9,500-student district.

The meetings were called to gather comments following the March 2 defeat of an operating levy that would have raised $9.1 million annually. Following the levy defeat, the school board cut $3 million from the budget, with a $9 million deficit looming for the 2005-06 school year.

"Those are huge amounts of money," Superintendent Robert Farrell said. "We are in fiscal distress."

He said low enrollment in the advanced placement classes put them in jeopardy. But changes under consideration to the grading policy might make those classes more attractive to more students, bringing enrollment to acceptable levels.

Those in the audience had differing views on after-school activities, which the board voted to eliminate as part of the reduction package. They also talked about safety concerns and traffic because high school busing was cut.

"You can't separate (extracurriculars). A coach is a teacher only in a different way," said parent Dave Holthaus. "Kids are learning when they do extracurriculars. They are not separate. They are integrated."

Added Linda Kessler: "One is not more important than the other. If it's meeting the students' needs, we need to keep it in place."

Chris Kendall said he believes the after-school activities are important to a child's education - his three students are active in sports and music - but academic programs should take priority.

"If choices have to be made ... the focus has got to be on academics," Kendall said.

The board of education will discuss a pay-to-participate proposal being put together by a community group at its April 5 meeting at board offices, 211 Donald Drive. It has not decided whether to put another issue on the August or November ballots.

E-mail suek@infionline.net