Sharing, Regional High Schools, and School District Reorganization

1. Sharing, Regional High Schools, and School District Reorganization Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES January 31, 2011 Alan D. Pole Education Consultant 315-692-4615/polead@yahoo.com

2. 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

3. 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%)

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???

5. 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

6. Sharing Opportunities

7. Shared Administrators Instructional Leadership: • Special Education • Curriculum/Staff Development • Instructional Technology • Athletics • Business Official

8. 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

9. Shared Facilities • Fuel filling stations • Libraries • Fitness center • Records storage • Special education programs

10. Restructuring High Schools

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Student Exchange Program District A District B

15. 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

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

17. Electronic Learning District A District B District C District D

18. 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

19. Regional High School Study Findings • Average decline in HS enrollment of 19.8% (2018-19) • 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!

20. School District Reorganization

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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 18-24 people • Both boards of education decide how to proceed with the final study • State funding is available for studies

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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%

29. 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

30. Districts’ Operating Aid and Building Aid Ratios

31. 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

32. History of School District Reorganization in New York State Year Number of Districts Decrease 1870 11,372 1890 11,216 156 1910 10,565 651 1930 9,118 1,447 1940 6,397 2,721 1950 3,189 3,208 1960 1,293 1,896 1970 760 533 1980 739 21 1990 720 19 2000 704 16 2010 697 7

33. 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

34. 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

35. Questions???

36. Chenango County

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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