In an effort to trim the proposed 2010-11 budget, the Avonworth School District may cut funding for the high school's newspaper, The Avonews.

Instead of a printed newspaper, administrators are suggesting moving The Avonews to the internet, making it an on-line newspaper.

Caroline Schaper, a junior at Avonworth and one of the editors of the paper, said at Monday's regular school board meeting that the paper had been in existence for 60 years, serving as the voice of the Avonworth students. She said that she disagreed with the decision as well as the lack of notice given to those involved.

Schaper said that after she was informed that the district would cut funding, including elimination of the production of the last two editions of the paper this school year, she was informed Monday by newspaper sponsor Scott Tuffiash and principal Ken Lockette that the newspaper would continue to operate for the rest of the school year. After that, she said, she was told the paper would stop its normal production.

Schaper asked the board and administrators to provide enough funding in the budget to produce the paper, which she said costs $970 per issue. According to director of fiscal management Brad Waters, the paper is produced five times a year, for which the district budgets a total of $7,500.

Schaper said that, according to the district's strategic plan, one of Avonworth's goals was to provide individualized instruction. She said that removing funding for the newspaper contradicted that goal.

Schaper said that the educational experience of being involved with the paper was two-fold, involving both the process of putting it together and the final product.

Rachel Sonnet, also a junior, said that she believes students will not go on-line to view the paper, and prefer the printed paper.

"What's convenient is to have newspapers in every classroom," Sonnet said.

Board member Brenda Barlek said that the process of creating a newspaper would not be changing, just the medium in which it was published. Barlek said that everything is moving on-line.

"This is the future," Barlek said.

Board member Marybeth Sommers suggested that there should be a transition phase before the paper goes on-line.

"We need to come up with a balance," Sommers said.

Sommers said that student-run newspapers were still in existence, especially at the college level. Director of public relations and communications Sidney Alvarez said that those newspapers were sustained through selling advertising, which is something that The Avonews has never done. He said that the paper will get a larger readership on-line, as it could be marketed on a number of social networking sites.

Sommers questioned whether the change would affect the students’ ability to submit newspaper work for various competitions. Alvarez said that students would still be able to compete.

Superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald said that it was never the goal to take away the tradition, but rather make the paper "more modern," with the hope of also saving some money.

McDonald said that administrators will meet with the students and attempt to come up with other possible solutions.