The Future of Adair-Casey SchoolsCommunity Update & DiscussionJune 23, 2015
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is
success.” ~Henry Ford
Introduction
Purpose of tonight’s meeting: To review updated enrollment numbers and
financial impact To update our communities on the
exploration process for a long-term partner To share results of the community survey
“The Foundation for all success is a good education.” ~Author Unknown
Board Goals
The Board remains committed to: Putting kid’s and academics 1st Providing direction for the future of our
district - data based Maintaining a pre-K through 8th grade
facility Preserving local control over decisions
that impact our communities Listening to all constituents’ views
realizing that opinions vary broadly.
Community Activity
Lead by Harry Heiligenthal, Leadership Development Director
Iowa Association of School Boards
Can we wait?
ENROLLMENT: Next year, current
enrollment will not support a balanced budget.
8 of 13 classes - less than 20 students total
Adair-Casey Enrollment as of October 2014
Pre-K 15 students
Kindergarten 16 students
1st Grade 22 students
2nd Grade 18 students
3rd Grade 16 students
4th Grade 28 students
5th Grade 31 students
6th Grade 19 students
7th Grade 23 students
8th Grade 22 students
9th Grade 18 students
10th Grade 17 students
11th Grade 28 students
12th Grade 19 students
Can we wait?
October # Students Served
2007 378.2
2008 356.1
2009 349.1
2010 335.9
2011 327.4
2012 328.7
2013 293.8
2014 289.6
BEDS Enrollment HistoryBEDS enrollment = the number of kids in our seats on a daily
basis. We retain funding for these students. Down 88.6 students in 8
years.
Can we wait?
ENROLLMENT: High School class
offerings -32 classes with 5 students or less.
Impact:▪ Cost prohibitive ▪ Limits student
collaboration in the classroom
VariousClass
Offerings 2014-2015
Business Law 5 students
Psychology 5 students
Earth Science 4 students
English Lit 4 students
Practical English
3 students
Botany 3 students
Sculpture 2 students
Physics 2 students
Applied Art 1 student
Financial Literacy
1 student
Can we wait?
FINANCIAL IMPACT: 2015-2016 – approx. 15 students▪ Financial impact - $100,000 less revenue
2016-2017 -- additional 15 students (30 total)▪ Financial impact - $195,000 less revenue
Cash reserve & spending authority -
Can we wait?
Iowa Department of Education – 2012 Feasibility Study▪ 300 critical▪ 600+ healthy▪ Current A-C = 289
17% of Iowa Schools are currently in WGS arrangements 57 out of 338 district 26 districts did not offer high schools. In addition, 7 new districts merged in 2014-2015 (from 14
districts) 1 district dissolved
Since 1984, 101 fewer districts in Iowa
What have we done so far?
Personnel 6 teachers shared Superintendent shared Approx. $190,000 savings
Expenditures Fixed costs – transportation, salary &
benefits and technology Tightened without sacrificing quality
What have we done so far?
Open enrollment Letter sent to open OUT families in May
2013.
Facilities Updates to current facility:▪ sustain enrollment ▪ position district in best light
Daycare
Survey Results
Community ActivityHarry Heiligenthal
Community Input
Survey Results
THANK YOU!
200 surveys completed
Demographic: 65% Adair residents 27% Casey residents 8% Other
Community Input What themes do you see?
Survey Results - Themes
Largest Benefits?
Largest Challenges? Possible Ways to Work Around Them?
Community InputBoard Identified Themes
Benefits 1. District viability2. Increased opportunities3. Larger class sizes – stronger extra-
curriculars
Challenges 1. Logistics2. Keeping students & school open3. Impact on towns
Community Input
Important factors to consider:
Factors Ranked by Importance:1. Academic
Strength
2. Geographic Proximity
3. Future Longevity
4. Financial Health
4. Size of Shared District
Academic Strength
Geographic Proxim-ity
Size of Shared District
Financial Health
Future Longevity
Community Input
Personal Importance in order of preference:
Facility Placement Travel Distances Academic & extra-curricular
opportunities Preservation of jobs More convenient extra-curricular
conference“Hope is the foundational quality of all change, and encouragement is the fuel which keeps hope alive.”
~Zig Ziglar
Where do we go from here?
OPTIONS:
Whole-Grade Sharing
Reorganization
Dissolution
What does Reorganization mean?
Reorganization: New legal entity is formed Single board and combined finances Public election is required One new district emerges
What does Dissolution mean? Dissolution:
Ends the district as currently known Building no longer utilized Faculty and staff positions go away ALL children transported to another
district▪ Not just high school students
If we stay the same, dissolution is the end result.
What does WGS mean?
Whole-Grade Sharing: Districts remain legally separate ▪ Separate boards ▪ Separate finances▪ Do NOT assume tax or debt liabilities of partner district
Students share teachers and facilities for all or most of the day
WGS is NOT a permanent arrangement – can reassess
OUR CHOICE!
Advantages of WGS
1. District longevitya. Cost sharing
2. Additional class offerings
3. Attract & retain high quality staff & coaches
4. Expanded facilitiesa. Performing arts auditoriumsb. All-weather tracks
Advantages of WGS
5. Healthier extra-curriculars
6. Enhanced collaboration and socialization
7. Exposure to greater diversity in instruction
8. More communities to support school
9. Potentially closer athletic conferences – less travel
Who are our potential partners?
PARTNERS: CAM Community Schools Guthrie Center Community Schools West Central Valley Community
Schools
“Unity is strength . . . with teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be
achieved.” ~Mattie Stepanek
District Comparisons
Adair-Casey
CAM Guthrie Center
WCV
Oct. 2014 Enrollment
327.3 441.4 455.6 947.0
Open Enrollment
(37.7) (40.3) 53.1 (102.2)
Solvency 29.3% 18.9% 25.8% 25.6%
Cash Reserve
$1,040,000 $1,180,000 $1,310,000 $2,330,000
Spending Authority
$720,000 $840,000 $1,170,000 $3,726,000
Debt No general obligation
debt
No general obligation
debt
No general obligation
debt
$4.05/$1,000 valuation
Distance from A-C facility * HS * MS
13 miles25.9 miles
16.7 miles16.7 miles
16.2 miles27.7 miles
District Comparisons
Adair-Casey
CAM Guthrie Center
WCV
# of towns total w/ WGS
5 3 6
Mileage Spread
160 miles 279.4 miles 184 miles 234.8 miles
Achievement (11th grade) * Reading * Math
76.5%88.2%
67.6%85.3%
85.3%94.1%
87.5%90.6%
# of college courses (in-house)
5 24 12
Average class size w/ WGS
53 62 87
CAM
Strengths: Proximity to high
school facility (Anita)
Equal size – no disparity
Current athletic sharing – golf, cross country
Challenges: Longevity – size
Facility placement
Mileage spread
College level in-house offerings
Location
Guthrie Center
Strengths Likely facility Placement -
2-way sharing High School: Guthrie Center Junior High School: Adair-
Casey Ease of transition
Already sharing faculty, programs and initiatives
Academics Strong CTE program Most college-level classes in-
house Size & culture
Natural progression in size Resource selection
Challenges:
Longevity - size
Location
West Central Valley
Strengths: District longevity –
largest enrollment of options
High School facilities – new
Location – near interstate
Challenges: Facility Placement▪ Current MS in Redfield
Faculty Retention
Mileage spread
Curricular transition
Loss of identity - name
Comparison Summary
CAM Guthrie Center WCV
Facility Use – A-C Jr. High **
No(Not at this
time)
Yes(Tentative)
No(Not at this time)
Teacher/Staff Retention **
No(Time
sensitive)
Yes(Continue)
No(Demand
dependent)
Combined Size 690 798 1,134
Average Class Size 53 62 87
Achievement: 5 year reading average * 11th grade
77.2% 85.3% 81.3%
** Data obtained during information sharing at combined board meetings held in April 2015.
Community ActivityHarry Heiligenthal, IASB
Evening Take-a-waysThoughts for the Board
What are the next steps? Determine optimal partner district for A-C
Summer/Fall 2015
Determine timeline for implementing WGS Announcement of Intent - Nov. 1st Public hearing – 30 days prior to signing
agreement (no later than December 31st) Sign sharing agreement with WGS partner –
Feb. 1st
All things considered, here’s what I’m thinking or feeling now ……
QuestionsFacilitated by Harry
Comments
“Let us be bold. Let us be brave. Let us be together.” ~ Brad Henry
Board Focus: Every decision will be measured against the question:
What is in the best interest of all students in the Adair-Casey district?
“Where there is unity, there is always victory.” ~Publilius Syrus