Feasibility Study

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Feasibility Study

• Overview

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The Process

• Then Now

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Donegal School DistrictSources of Enrollment
Projection
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District Enrollment
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By Grade - Enrollment
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Board Objectives

• Address over crowding future growth
• Bring facilities up to today's standards
• Keep the community schools we have
• Make room for future Full Day Kindergarten
• Try to create equality across the district
• Include Athletic fields in overall plan
• Fiscally Responsible but Do it Right
• input from many community members

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Task Force Created

• Mission
• To review the options presented
• Ask questions, do homework, talk to others
• Present other options if they were not included
  in the original 6
• Liaison/spokesperson to the community
• Bring back 1 or 2 recommendations to the board

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Task Force Members

• Scott Albert
• Steve Doutrich
• Faithe Oberholtzer
• Mike Guinivan
• Bob Flanagan
• Barbara Stoner
• Peg Floyd
• Pat Vogel
• Dave Trigg
• Dave Christian
• Judy Sammet

• Linda Good
• Deb Ault
• Jeff Fuhrman
• Ronna Gall
• John Felix
• Sue Ursprung
• Shelly Riedel
• Terry Hackman
• Charles Glessner
• Larry Forrey
• Chris Miller
• Jodie Parkinson

Board Members John Coleman, Steve Cafrelli,
Oliver Overlander
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Meetings

• March 18, 2008
• April 1, 2008
• April 15, 2008
• April 29, 2008
• Meetings lasted 2 3 hours each
• Open to the public, but no public comment

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Options Presented

• Board sent 6 options to consider
• Option 1 was the preferred
• Option 3 created a new middle school
• Option 6 closed Maytown
• Past plan
• Square footage needs to be added
• Other options could be added

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Additional Options Explored

• Create a Plan 1B
• Different grade alignment
• Tried to keep K-4 together instead of K-3
• Drawbacks
• Elementary schools became too large
• gt 1000 children
• Would require DSE expansion

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Topics Discussed

• History
• Existing Building Assessment
• Plancon Process
• Grade Levels
• Financing Options
• State Reimbursement
• Sequencing/Time Lines
• Athletic Fields

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Topics Not Discussed

• Central Office Needs
• Maintenance Needs
• Central Receiving
• Board is now reviewing these items

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Donegal School DistrictRecommended Option
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Costs
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Pros

• Sequencing minimal impact on the schools
• Keeps a community school
• Keeps size of elementary schoolless than 1000
• Addresses the needs of the district instead of
  just a building
• Addresses the needs of the district for the
  future
• Improve the opportunities for all of the students
  across the district
• Doing it correctly---comprehensive

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Pros - Continued

• Keeps the sixth graders with 4-5 graders
• More community friendlyathletic fields
  community pride more equity across the district
• Provides Donegal students with similar
  opportunities with the surrounding districts
• Designed with future growth in mind
• ADA standards getting rid of unfavorable
  health/environmental conditions
• All students in the district will have a good
  healthy learning environment

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Cons

• Big price tag
• Tough sell for voters

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Two Major Reminders

• The recommended option takes all of our assets
  into consideration
• Meaning In a perfect world with no other rules
  or barriers we might not have chosen option 1
• If you move students you must move the square
  footage that goes with them

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Donegal School DistrictNew Donegal High School
(9-12)
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Donegal School DistrictDonegal Junior High
School (7-8)
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Donegal School DistrictRiverview (K-3) / Donegal
Intermediate (4-6)
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Donegal School DistrictMaytown Elementary (K-3)
New Building
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Donegal School DistrictDonegal Athletic Fields
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Donegal School DistrictDonegal Athletic Fields
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Donegal School DistrictProject Time Line
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How we got to this meeting

• May 6th Board Meeting
• Information Presented
• May 15th Board Meeting
• Board voted 9-0 to move forward

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How much is it going to cost
• All we have is a range at this time
• It is the boards job to finalize the number
  through the design phase
• The exact amount will be on the referendum
  question!
• Once approved the amount can not be increased!

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Cost Example 117,000 Assessment - 110
million in debt
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Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens if it does not pass?
• Board must decide how to change the plan to get
  it approved
• Must wait 155 days before we have another vote
• Board will work on short term plans to handle
  growth
• This will incur more cost

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Why now the economy is so bad
• We agree!
• We still need to plan for the growth
• Bonds are lower so borrowing is cheaper
• Companies are looking for work
• Better prices
• It will never get cheaper period

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Next Steps

• Public Meetings
• Now and in every step
• Design Phase - Started
• Board defines exact plan costs
• Referendum Question

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More Information

• Fact Sheet
• As you leave tonight
• Hand in survey
• Web Site
• www.donegal.k12.pa.us
• Now and more coming
• Newsletter
• Coming Soon to your homes