Sharing, Regional High Schools, and School District Reorganization

Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES

January 31, 2011

Alan D. PoleEducation Consultant

315-692-4615/polead@yahoo.com

Greater Expectations for Students

Elimination of local diploma for regular education students

Passing 5 Regents examsMore math, more science, more creditsFocus on increasing graduation ratesRaising 3-8 cut scoresSignificant local support for students

Declining Enrollments

Most school districts across New York State are experiencing student

enrollment declines12 K-12 OCM districts<2,000 studentsK-12 enrollment (-11.8%) in past 7 years9-12 enrollment 902 students more than K-3

enrollment (-20.4%)

Financial Crisis

Elimination of federal stimulus findingFixed benefit costs continue to increaseUtility costs are increasing$12-19 billion state deficitCuts in state aidProperty 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 FunctionsStaff--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

superintendentsMaintain the existing elementary and middle

schools in the 11 school districtsTransition from 11 high schools to 4 high

schoolsCurrent 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 2005-06)

County study identifying Wayne County taxes as the highest in the nation

Sharing Opportunities for Wayne County High Schools

Wayne Student Exchange ProgramsNew Vision ProgramsThematic High School ProgramsElectronic Learning ProgramsAlliance High School Program

Student Exchange Program

District A District B

New Vision Programs

½ year senior programIntegrates career and academic education2 CTE credits + senior year social studies and

English creditsProgram is immersed in the career fieldHealth, Law & Government, Education,

Environmental Science, Insurance & Banking

Thematic High SchoolsDistrict A’s Humanities High District B’s High Tech High

District C’s Health High District D’s Communications High

Electronic Learning

District A District B

District C District D

Alliance High School

4 year comprehensive high schoolCareer focused with contextualized learningMix of career awareness and academicsSame diploma requirements applyPriority for field experienceMight be located at BOCES

Regional High School Study Findings

Average decline in HS enrollment of 19.8% (2018-19)Larger HS = more opportunities for studentsBetter to add on to existing HS’s than build new HS’sSome HS students will have longer bus ridesAnnual cost savings of approximately 3% with 4

regional HS’sNeed for state legislation & financial incentivesNeed to amend rules for athleticsNeed for more community dialogThe public likes their HS’s very much!

School District Reorganization

Why Consider Merger?Increase course offerings for studentsTeachers teach only in their area of

specializationUpgrade facilities and equipment More cost effective administrative structureEliminate duplication of facilities, equipment,

staff and support functionsReduce taxes

Why Merger May be Difficult

Fear of losing local identityPerception that the communities are

incompatibleUncertainty over board representationLess personal attention for studentsBusing time for students will be

increasedFear of losing job security by staffNatural resistance to change

Two Steps in the Merger ProcessThe 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 ProjectionsInstructional and Extra-curricular ProgramFinanceFacilitiesTransportationStaffing

Contract analysisSuperintendents’ contracts

The Merger StudyProvides information for school district officials, the

communities, and the CommissionerDescribes the other district…..AND what a merged

district might look likeFacilitated by consultantsOverseen by school/community advisory committee

of 18-24 peopleBoth boards of education decide how to proceed with

the final studyState 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 UsCurriculum opportunities for students will be

enhancedExtra-curricular opportunities for students will be

enhancedSchool buildings will be enhancedSome students will have a longer bus ride Class sizes tend to get largerTax rates on true value declineSchool district spending increasesStudent achievement will not

necessarily change

The Finances of Merger-Part 1

Incentive Operating Aid

Combined operating/foundation aid (GEN Report-Part VII-2006-07) 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 AidAdditional 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 RatiosDistrict 2006-07 Operating Aid Building Aid Ratio

Cincinnatus $3,008,784 94.1%

Cortland $9,310,225 93.5%

DeRuyter $2,285,848 90.1%

Fabius-Pompey $2,984,156 89.2%

Homer $7,555,285 88.8%

LaFayette $2,819,376 88.3%

Marathon $4,496,606 98.0%

McGraw $2,257,953 97.7%

Onondaga $2,805,987 90.2%

Solvay $4,985,132 87.6%

Tully $3,513,182 86.9%

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 stability1/3 to reduce taxes

History of School District Reorganization in New York State

Year Number of Districts Decrease1870 11,3721890 11,216 1561910 10,565 6511930 9,118 1,4471940 6,397 2,7211950 3,189 3,2081960 1,293 1,8961970 760 5331980 739 211990 720 192000 704 162010 697 7

What Will the SED/Legislature Do???

NothingUpdate 1958 Master PlanDiscover the 1992 DS Reorganization PlansIncrease Incentives/DisincentivesCreate a Commission for School District

ReorganizationMandate ChangesOther

The Past………The FutureThe structure of school districts has changed

dramatically in the past centurySchool enrollments are projected to continue

to decline for at least the next 10 yearsMore will be required of our students in order

for our state and country to be leadersThe financial support for public schools will be

challenged in new and different waysBusiness 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

educationAnnexation-One district takes over the

other district with the annexing board of education, administration, contracts,

policies, etc. remaining in place

Summary FindingsNeed for State legislationNeed for financial incentivesNeed for community dialog about the futureNeed for more compatible high school

schedulesNeed for more collaboration/new rules for

inter-scholastic athleticsNeed for more sharingNeed for follow up to study

K-12 School Districts in New York State-2010

Size of District Number Enrollment Below 300 21 4,295 300-599 66 29,919 600-899 58 43,154 900-1199 88 91,388 1200-1499 59 78,395 1500-1999 78 135,092 2000-4999 182 590,078 5000-9999 70 474,394 10000 + 17 1,279,383

Shared Superintendent…..+/-

Saves moneyPromotes sharing in other areasTwice as many board meetings, concerts and athletic

eventsExisting superintendent contracts/differing perceptions

of the superintendent’s effectivenessReduced superintendent longevitySplit community allegiancesImpact on studentsPresence when a crisis occurs