New Configuration Public Hearing May 15, 2008 Superintendent Terry E. Shoemaker

Presentation Purposes Why the need for a configuration change? Why the need for a configuration change? What are some proposed solutions? What are some proposed solutions? What are the benefits of the proposed change? What are the benefits of the proposed change? How much will the proposed configuration changes cost? How much will the proposed configuration changes cost? Which building will house grades 7/8 and which building will house grades 5/6? Which building will house grades 7/8 and which building will house grades 5/6? When will the configuration plan be operational? When will the configuration plan be operational?

What is prompting this need for a change in configuration?

Explosive Enrollment Growth Wasatch continues to be one of the fastest growing school districts in the state Wasatch continues to be one of the fastest growing school districts in the state Takes approximately 10 years for a class to grow 100 students Takes approximately 10 years for a class to grow 100 students Our senior class this year has 304 students, our Kindergarten class has 409 students Our senior class this year has 304 students, our Kindergarten class has 409 students We project a 3% enrollment growth each year We project a 3% enrollment growth each year High school enrollment has declined by nearly 50 students since 2001 High school enrollment has declined by nearly 50 students since 2001

Enrollment History

YearEnrollment Growth Growth % Increase % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % Average912.41%

Enrollment Projections Without a configuration change SchoolCapacityEnrollment Heber Valley Elementary *626*701 Midway Elementary *627*702 J.R. Smith Elementary *603*675 Old Mill Elementary *676*757 Rocky Mountain Middle *783*876 Wasatch Mountain Jr. High *799*895 Wasatch High School920*1003*1123 Wasatch Alternative *3% per year growth rate increase

Three Possible Solutions Move our elementary and middle school to year-round productivity models. Move our elementary and middle school to year-round productivity models. Bond to replace the Junior High School and build a new elementary school Bond to replace the Junior High School and build a new elementary school Change the configuration and move students where we have additional capacity Change the configuration and move students where we have additional capacity

Year-Round Schools 4 Track Year-round schedule for elementary and possibly the middle school 4 Track Year-round schedule for elementary and possibly the middle school Would need to begin such model for Midway, J.R. Smith, and Heber Valley in the school year Would need to begin such model for Midway, J.R. Smith, and Heber Valley in the school year Rocky Mountain Middle would have to move to year-round schedule around school year Rocky Mountain Middle would have to move to year-round schedule around school year

Bond for a New Elementary School Old Mill Elementary cost $8 million to build; land costs were donated, but the school district built the roads and infrastructure; around $105 per square foot Old Mill Elementary cost $8 million to build; land costs were donated, but the school district built the roads and infrastructure; around $105 per square foot Today, the same structure would cost around $13,000,000 at up to $200 per square foot, plus at least $2 million for ground Today, the same structure would cost around $13,000,000 at up to $200 per square foot, plus at least $2 million for ground Two years from now: estimated $14+ million for the structure and over $2.5+ million for the ground Two years from now: estimated $14+ million for the structure and over $2.5+ million for the ground Total costs for a new elementary school + ground and infrastructure could approach $18 million Total costs for a new elementary school + ground and infrastructure could approach $18 million

Bond for a replacement Jr. High A New Jr. High today (150,000 square feet) will cost $30 million at up to $200 per square foot A New Jr. High today (150,000 square feet) will cost $30 million at up to $200 per square foot Two years from now the same structure could cost $36 million + infrastructure costs Two years from now the same structure could cost $36 million + infrastructure costs

Costs of the Bonds Up to $18 million for the new elementary Up to $18 million for the new elementary Up to $31-36 million for the replacement Jr. High Up to $31-36 million for the replacement Jr. High Costs could approach $49-54 million to complete these two projects Costs could approach $49-54 million to complete these two projects Debt service required of the public approaches what was needed for the new high school Debt service required of the public approaches what was needed for the new high school

Proposed New Configuration K-4 Elementary schools K-4 Elementary schools Grades 5&6 Intermediate Elementary School Grades 5&6 Intermediate Elementary School Grades 7&8 Junior High School Grades 7&8 Junior High School Grades 9-12 High School Grades 9-12 High School

Shifting the School Population Rocky Mountain Middle currently has 36 teaching areas Rocky Mountain Middle currently has 36 teaching areas Wasatch Mountain Jr. has 39 teaching areas Wasatch Mountain Jr. has 39 teaching areas The new Wasatch High School has 75 teaching areas The new Wasatch High School has 75 teaching areas There is classroom capacity available for use in all three of these schools There is classroom capacity available for use in all three of these schools

Classroom Expansion We have 9 double portable classrooms We have 9 double portable classrooms Rocky Mountain Middle and the new high school were designed to be expanded Rocky Mountain Middle and the new high school were designed to be expanded

Configuration Change Enrollment Projections Heber Valley Elementary (K-4)574*481*568*653 Midway (K-4)575*501*591*680 J.R. Smith (K-4)553*461*544*626 Old Mill (K-4)620*526*621*714 Intermediate (Gr. 5,6)718*749*883*1015 Jr. High (Gr. 7,8)733*765*903*1038 Wasatch High School (Gr. 9-12)920*1322*1560*1794 *3% growth rate per year

What Supports the Configuration Change? Explosive enrollment growth Explosive enrollment growth Accelerating commercial construction costs Accelerating commercial construction costs Bond raters are concerned with our mounting debt Bond raters are concerned with our mounting debt Pay off most of our existing debt Pay off most of our existing debt Maximizes the use of existing classroom space Maximizes the use of existing classroom space

Curriculum needs match better with a 5/6 school vs. 6/7 school Curriculum needs match better with a 5/6 school vs. 6/7 school Curriculum and activity needs match better with a 7/8 school vs. 8/9 school Curriculum and activity needs match better with a 7/8 school vs. 8/9 school More efficient use of personnel resources More efficient use of personnel resources Allows greater opportunity for performing arts programs to be initiated and sustained Allows greater opportunity for performing arts programs to be initiated and sustained

Which building will house grades 5/6 and which building will house grades 7/8?

Further study is still needed to make the determination about which building will best fit the needs of either grades 5/6 or 7/8. That decision will be made before January 1, 2009.

Costs to change the configuration Finish the four classrooms, little theater, and auxiliary gym at the new high school (around $750,000.) Finish the four classrooms, little theater, and auxiliary gym at the new high school (around $750,000.) Brighten and repair the hallways in the current Jr. High. (around $67,500.) Brighten and repair the hallways in the current Jr. High. (around $67,500.) Add playground space and equipment (around $130,000) for elementary age students Add playground space and equipment (around $130,000) for elementary age students Transportation costs: Minimal if 5/6 is on secondary schedule; around $200,000 for additional bus drivers if 5/6 is on elementary schedule Transportation costs: Minimal if 5/6 is on secondary schedule; around $200,000 for additional bus drivers if 5/6 is on elementary schedule

When will the configuration change be implemented? The configuration change would become operational in the school year. This is the same year that the new high school is slated to open.

Thank you for your attendance. We appreciate your interest in what we are trying to accomplish.