Association of Metropolitan School DistrictsDecember 19, 2008
Dr. Mark Bezek
Superintendent
Minnesota’s fastest growing school district
Exploding to Imploding
Area
• Five counties
• 16 municipalities
• 174.3 square miles
Size
• Ninth largest district in state
• 12,500+ Pre-K12 learners
• 62,000+ total learners
Who we are…
Community demographics
• Average age: 31
• 27 percent under 18-years-old
• Average income: $68,008
• 70 percent are commuters
• 90 percent have a high school education
Who we are…
Where we’ve been…
Elk River Area School District K-12 October 1 Student Enrollment
Historic and Projected*
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
199
6-9
7
199
7-9
8
199
8-9
9
199
9-0
0
200
0-0
1
200
1-0
2
200
2-0
3
200
3-0
4
200
4-0
5
200
5-0
6
200
6-0
7
200
7-0
8
200
8-0
9*
200
9-1
0*
201
0-1
1*
201
1-1
2*
• From 2002 to 2007, district enrollment increased by 2,583 students.
• No district in the state added more students during this period. • The increase is more than the total enrollment of almost 80 percent of all school districts in Minnesota.
• Growth equivalent to FOUR LARGE ELEMENTAY schools.
• Voters did not support bond in 2007.
• Outlook for future bond is not optimistic
Where we’ve been…explosive growth
Where we are…Elk River Area School District
K-12 October 1 Student EnrollmentHistoric and Projected*
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
12000
13000
14000
15000
199
6-9
7
199
7-9
8
199
8-9
9
199
9-0
0
200
0-0
1
200
1-0
2
200
2-0
3
200
3-0
4
200
4-0
5
200
5-0
6
200
6-0
7
200
7-0
8
200
8-0
9*
200
9-1
0*
201
0-1
1*
201
1-1
2*
Where we are…
• Current average class sizes
Average MaxKindergarten: 24 (24)Grades 1 – 5: 26 (35)Grades 6 – 8: 32 (37)Grades 9 – 12: 32 (39)
• With “Leveled Growth”• We will still need to spend $1.2 million annually to avoid increasing our current class sizes.
• Current average class sizes
Average MaxKindergarten: 24 (24)Grades 1 – 5: 26 (35)Grades 6 – 8: 32 (37)Grades 9 – 12: 32 (39)
• With “Leveled Growth”• We will still need to spend $1.2 million annually to avoid increasing our current class sizes.
Where we are…
Budget challenges
• Flat enrollment and faltering economy equals cuts of up to $5 million (4.67 percent) next FY.
• Preliminary analysis…if trend continues $12 million will need to be cut in the next two years.
• Levy renewal passed in 2008…next is 2011…voter tolerance?
• Bond and referenda unlikely in the next three to five years.
Budget challenges
• Flat enrollment and faltering economy equals cuts of up to $5 million (4.67 percent) next FY.
• Preliminary analysis…if trend continues $12 million will need to be cut in the next two years.
• Levy renewal passed in 2008…next is 2011…voter tolerance?
• Bond and referenda unlikely in the next three to five years.
Where we are…
Sherburne and Wright County Housing Trends: 2003 - 2008
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Homes Built Foreclosures
Sherburne and Wright County Housing Trends: 2003 - 2008
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Homes Built Foreclosures
Where we are…
• We are near the bottom of the 25 largest school districts in Minnesota
in referendum funding.
• We are near the bottom of Metropolitan School Districts in excess levy referendum funding.
• Of the 25 largest school districts in the state, we receive the lowest amount of TOTAL Fund 01 dollars per student (ADM).
• Put another way, we receive $1,000 less (= $12.5 million) than large school districts and the state average.
• We are near the bottom of the 25 largest school districts in Minnesota
in referendum funding.
• We are near the bottom of Metropolitan School Districts in excess levy referendum funding.
• Of the 25 largest school districts in the state, we receive the lowest amount of TOTAL Fund 01 dollars per student (ADM).
• Put another way, we receive $1,000 less (= $12.5 million) than large school districts and the state average.
Where we are…
Of the 25 largest school districts in the state:
• We receive the lowest amount of Fund 01 (Excess Levy) dollars per student (ADM) from local sources.
• $750 less than the large district average and about $400 less than the state average.
• We rank second in the dollars per student spent on debt service.• $1,643 per student (ADM).
• More than $600 higher than the large district average and state average.
Of the 25 largest school districts in the state:
• We receive the lowest amount of Fund 01 (Excess Levy) dollars per student (ADM) from local sources.
• $750 less than the large district average and about $400 less than the state average.
• We rank second in the dollars per student spent on debt service.• $1,643 per student (ADM).
• More than $600 higher than the large district average and state average.
We’re heading for an implosionELK RIVER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROJECTED DEFICITS
($12,000,000)
($9,000,000)
($6,000,000)
($3,000,000)
$02008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Best Case Probable Case Worst Case
Don’t let us implode
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