Sharing, Regional High Schools, and School District Reorganization Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES January 31, 2011 Alan D. Pole Education Consultant

Greater Expectations for Students  Elimination of local diploma for regular education students  Passing 5 Regents exams  More math, more science, more credits  Focus on increasing graduation rates  Raising 3-8 cut scores  Significant local support for students

Declining Enrollments  Most school districts across New York State are experiencing student enrollment declines  12 K-12 OCM districts<2,000 students  K-12 enrollment (-11.8%) in past 7 years  9-12 enrollment 902 students more than K-3 enrollment (-20.4%)

Financial Crisis  Elimination of federal stimulus finding  Fixed benefit costs continue to increase  Utility costs are increasing  $12-19 billion state deficit  Cuts in state aid  Property tax caps???

The Perfect Storm  Greater expectations and opportunities for all students  Declining student enrollment in many districts  Precarious financial condition Business as usual will not be an option

Sharing Opportunities

Shared Administrators Instructional Leadership:  Special Education  Curriculum/Staff Development  Instructional Technology  Athletics  Business Official

Shared Management Functions Staff--Transportation, Custodial/Maintenance, Food Service, Health Care Coordination, Records Management, Safety Risk Management, Instructional Technology  Substitute teacher recruitment/calling  Central business office  Cooperative purchasing  Special education finances  Printing and copying  Transportation and maintenance  Energy management  Maintenance specialists

Shared Facilities  Fuel filling stations  Libraries  Fitness center  Records storage  Special education programs

Restructuring High Schools

Regional High School Study (Wayne County, New York)  Maintain 11 school districts, 11 boards of education, and 11 superintendents  Maintain the existing elementary and middle schools in the 11 school districts  Transition from 11 high schools to 4 high schools  Current high schools average 470 students

Motivation for the Study  Desire to provide a “world class” education for the students  High school enrollment has been declining (8.3% since )  County study identifying Wayne County taxes as the highest in the nation

Sharing Opportunities for Wayne County High Schools  Wayne Student Exchange Programs  New Vision Programs  Thematic High School Programs  Electronic Learning Programs  Alliance High School Program

Student Exchange Program District A District B

New Vision Programs  ½ year senior program  Integrates career and academic education  2 CTE credits + senior year social studies and English credits  Program is immersed in the career field  Health, Law & Government, Education, Environmental Science, Insurance & Banking

Thematic High Schools District A’s Humanities High District B’s High Tech High District C’s Health HighDistrict D’s Communications High

Electronic Learning District A District B District C District D

Alliance High School  4 year comprehensive high school  Career focused with contextualized learning  Mix of career awareness and academics  Same diploma requirements apply  Priority for field experience  Might be located at BOCES

Regional High School Study Findings  Average decline in HS enrollment of 19.8% ( )  Larger HS = more opportunities for students  Better to add on to existing HS’s than build new HS’s  Some HS students will have longer bus rides  Annual cost savings of approximately 3% with 4 regional HS’s  Need for state legislation & financial incentives  Need to amend rules for athletics  Need for more community dialog  The public likes their HS’s very much!

School District Reorganization

Why Consider Merger?  Increase course offerings for students  Teachers teach only in their area of specialization  Upgrade facilities and equipment  More cost effective administrative structure  Eliminate duplication of facilities, equipment, staff and support functions  Reduce taxes

Why Merger May be Difficult  Fear of losing local identity  Perception that the communities are incompatible  Uncertainty over board representation  Less personal attention for students  Busing time for students will be increased  Fear of losing job security by staff  Natural resistance to change

Two Steps in the Merger Process  The Study-Conducted by consultants with oversight by a local committee to provide information to the boards, the administration, and the communities  The Vote-Overseen by the State Education Department and the District Superintendent, boards sanction an advisory public referendum which, if successful, is followed by a final referendum

Components of the Study  Enrollment Projections  Instructional and Extra-curricular Program  Finance  Facilities  Transportation  Staffing  Contract analysis  Superintendents’ contracts

The Merger Study  Provides information for school district officials, the communities, and the Commissioner  Describes the other district…..AND what a merged district might look like  Facilitated by consultants  Overseen by school/community advisory committee of people  Both boards of education decide how to proceed with the final study  State funding is available for studies

Time Line for the Study/Merger  September-Boards meet to discuss study  November-Committee appointed  May-Study completed  June-Study reviewed by S.E.D.  August-Study presented to boards  September-Public information and discussion  November-Boards decide to go forth  December-Advisory referendum  January-Final referendum  April-Vote for new board members  May-Budget vote  July 1-New district begins operation with the new board of education

Mergers-What Research Tells Us  Curriculum opportunities for students will be enhanced  Extra-curricular opportunities for students will be enhanced  School buildings will be enhanced  Some students will have a longer bus ride  Class sizes tend to get larger  Tax rates on true value decline  School district spending increases  Student achievement will not necessarily change

The Finances of Merger-Part 1 Incentive Operating Aid Combined operating/foundation aid (GEN Report-Part VII ) for both districts is increased as follows: Year 1-40%Year 6-36% Year 11-16% Year 2-40%Year 7-32% Year 12-12% Year 3-40%Year 8-28% Year 13-8% Year 4-40%Year 9- 24% Year 14-4% Year 5-40%Year 10-20%Year 15-0%

The Finances of Merger-Part 2 Incentive Building Aid  Additional 30% on top of the higher district’s selected building aid ratio up to 95% (98% for high needs districts) for 10 years for any new construction  Existing debt is aided at the higher of the previous districts’ selected building aid ratios

Districts’ Operating Aid and Building Aid Ratios District Operating AidBuilding Aid Ratio Cincinnatus$3,008, % Cortland$9,310, % DeRuyter$2,285, % Fabius-Pompey$2,984, % Homer $7,555, % LaFayette$2,819, % Marathon$4,496, % McGraw$2,257, % Onondaga$2,805, % Solvay$4,985, % Tully$3,513, %

The 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 Guideline for Incentive Operating Aid  1/3 to finance transition costs to the merged district  1/3 in reserves for long term fiscal stability  1/3 to reduce taxes

History of School District Reorganization in New York State YearNumber of DistrictsDecrease , , , ,118 1, ,397 2, ,189 3, ,293 1,

What Will the SED/Legislature Do???  Nothing  Update 1958 Master Plan  Discover the 1992 DS Reorganization Plans  Increase Incentives/Disincentives  Create a Commission for School District Reorganization  Mandate Changes  Other

The Past………The Future  The structure of school districts has changed dramatically in the past century  School enrollments are projected to continue to decline for at least the next 10 years  More will be required of our students in order for our state and country to be leaders  The financial support for public schools will be challenged in new and different ways  Business as usual will not be an option

Questions???

Chenango County Before After 9 School Districts 1 9 Boards of Education 1 9 Superintendents 1 9,000 Students 9,000 9 High Schools 3 9 Middle Schools 3 13 Elementary Schools 13

Types of Reorganization  Centralization-New district created with a new name and a new board of education  Annexation-One district takes over the other district with the annexing board of education, administration, contracts, policies, etc. remaining in place

Summary Findings  Need for State legislation  Need for financial incentives  Need for community dialog about the future  Need for more compatible high school schedules  Need for more collaboration/new rules for inter-scholastic athletics  Need for more sharing  Need for follow up to study

K-12 School Districts in New York State-2010 Size of DistrictNumberEnrollment Below , , , , , , , , ,279,383

Shared Superintendent…..+/-  Saves money  Promotes sharing in other areas  Twice as many board meetings, concerts and athletic events  Existing superintendent contracts/differing perceptions of the superintendent’s effectiveness  Reduced superintendent longevity  Split community allegiances  Impact on students  Presence when a crisis occurs