Strong Schools Strong Communities

1
Strong Schools
Strong Communities
2008 District 742 Operation Levy For Excellence
and Accountability
2

• A strength of our communities rests on the
  foundation of excellent and accountable schools

3
Excellent and Accountable Schools Are Essential
for

• A well-educated community workforce
• Strong per capita income
• Sustained local economic growth
• Community attractiveness, prosperity and property
  value
• A legacy for our children
• A democratic society
• Center for International Competitiveness Robert
  Huggins Associates
• State Competitiveness Report Beacon Hill
  Institute

4
Indicators of Excellence in 742 Creating
Our Future Citizens and Workforce

• Advanced Placement Test Scores 70 of students
  who tested receive college credit (earned a 3 or
  better on a scale of 5). State average 65.
  2006-2007
• ACT Scores Average student score was higher than
  the State average 06-07 (Mn remains first in the
  nation for ACT scores)

5
Indicators of Excellencein 742Creating Our
Future Citizens and Workforce

• PSAT Test (the most academically challenging high
  school test) scores were substantially higher
  than state and national scores 2006-2007
• Area District State Nation
• Math 58 52 49
• Critical Reading 54 51 48
• Writing 51 48 46
• Graduation Rates Met or exceeded State target
  rates including an outstanding 97.76 of student
  living in poverty (2006 data)

6
Indicators of Excellent and AccountableManagement
in 742

• District and school administration only 3.9 of
  total expenditure budget average cost per
  student is 21 lower than state average
• Avoidance of 1.2 million in energy costs since
  2004 implemented Schools for Energy Efficiency
• External efficiency studies in Special Ed,
  Business Services and Human Resources resulted
  in more efficient and cost saving operations

7
Indicators of Excellent and Accountable
Management in 742

• Re-organization of Transportation Services
  estimated savings of 495,000-540,000
• Revenue enhancements through grants received
  Improving Access for All 2.2 million/two years
  Integration Plan for Equity Services 1.2
  million/year
• Accountability and transparency for 2003 Levy
  (fund balance, 35 teachers, transportation,
  student activities/fine arts)

8
Economic Realities Straight Talk

• Underfunded State and Federal mandates i.e.
  Special Education estimated 625/student for
  2008-09
• 88 (306 out of 340) of districts to levy
  additional property taxes at a State average of
  696/student (2008-2009)
• 2003 expired levy and 1998 levy set to expire at
  a loss of 551/student to 742 resulting in
  decreased revenues for our students

9
Demographic Realities Straight Talk

• Centralization of high needs students in regional
  centers like St. Cloud
• English Language Learners (10)
• 41 Languages. (State 8)
• Special Education (18 )
• (State 13)
• Free/Reduced Lunch (41)
• (State 32)
• Some students factor in more than one category

10
Comparison District Demographics
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Realities Inequities in levy funding to
traditional comparison districts/by
size and state average 2008-2009

Districts Shown are Commonly Used for Comparison
with ISD 742 Based on Enrollment, Budget and
Other Factors
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Realities

• Compared to similar sized districts, 742 is
• 9th out of 10 in regular instruction
  expenditures
• 7th out of 10 in student activities/athletic
  expenditures
• 9th out of 10 in expenditures for District
  Administrators
• 7th out of 10 in expenditures for School Level
  Administrators
• 9th out of 10 in operations/maintenance
  expenditures

13
Regional Demographics
14
Realities (regional graph)
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Realities

• Compared to regional districts, 742 is
• 7th (tied) out of 9 in regular instruction
• expenditures
• 8th out of 9 in student activities/athletic
• expenditures
• 7th out of 9 in expenditures for district
• administration
• 7th out of 9 in expenditures for school
• administration
• 9th out of 9 in operations/maintenance
• expenditures

16
Impact to School and Community

• 2002-2004 10.8 million in cuts
• Increase in class ratios
• Cuts in activities
• Cuts in programs, services, and district
  infrastructure including
• gifted talented, student
  assistance, instructional
• materials, curriculum development, staff
  training, special education,
  teacher leaders, district planning,
  assessment, media specialists,
  transportation, custodians, food
  service, clerical personnel.
• Cuts in administration
• Cuts in parent involvement/ community relations
• Increased fees

17
Impact to School and Community

• 2005 2008 7.9 Million in cuts
• Cuts in assessment, gifted programming,
• curriculum and instruction
• Cuts in parent communication
• Cuts in alternative programming for
  troubled students
• Cuts in physical education (pools)
• Cuts in transportation, safety, and security
• Positions
• Cuts in activities administration
• Cuts in regular education administration
• Cuts in business services personnel
• Cuts in special education

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Impact to School and Community

• 2008-2009
• 1.5 million in cuts because of failure to renew
  expired 2003 levy
• Curriculum/instruction
• Transportation to 2 miles
• Extra-curricular activities
• Business Services and Special
• Education
• Media
• Increase in rental fees
• 2.2 million spent from the districts fund
  balance
• as a one-time expenditure due to the failure
  to
• renew the expired 2003 levy

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Impact to School and Community

• 2009 2010 Failed levy will result
  in
• 4.3 Million in additional cuts
• Potential Reductions
• Close two buildings
• Cut up to 55 teachers
• Cut junior high activities
• Cut clerical staff and paraprofessionals
• Cut administration
• Cut special education
• Cut secondary supervisors/monitors

20
Excellent and Accountable Schools Commit To

• 1. Provide high quality teaching for all
  students and set
• measurable improvement standards to challenge
  each student to excellence
• 2. Measure student progress regularly to guide
  teaching and report to parents and
  community
• 3. Provide high quality programs, instructional
  materials and activities to increase
  student participation and success for
  graduation
• 4. Expect students to come prepared to school
  and hold families and the community
  accountable to support students
• 5.Continue to improve financial efficiencies and
  transparency

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Question 1 Approval of Revenue Increase for
Teachers, Activities, Transportation and
Operations

• This will avoid 4.3 million in cuts in 2008-09
  and allow the district to
• Maintain class size
• Increase the fund balance
• Maintain operations (energy, fuel, supplies,
  safety security, and general operating
  expenses)
• Maintain extra-curricular activities
• Restore 1 mile transportation limit
• 555/student for 6 years.

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Question 2 Approval of Revenue Increase for
Funding Equal to Minnesota Average

• Increase music in the curriculum
• Enhance extra-curricular activities
• Maintain elementary counselors
• Expand early childhood education opportunities
  
• Provide gifted and talented instruction
• 160/student for 6 years

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Question 3 Approval of Revenue Increase for
Additional Student Curriculum and Services

• Provide All Day Every Day Kindergarten for all 5
  year olds
• Provide full-time library/media specialist in
  every school
• Provide instructional materials
• Upgrade science and math programs for elementary
  students
• 255/student for 6 years

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The Cost Of Excellence

• Question 1 555/student
• Home Value Increased Cost
  Year Month Day
• 100,000 73.03 6.08 .20
• 182,326 133.16 11.09 .36
• 250,000 182.59 15.21 .50

(2008 Market Value)
(average in St. Cloud area)
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The Cost Of Excellence

• Question 2 160 per student
• Home Value Increased Cost
  Year Month Day
• 100,000 25.73 2.14 .07
• 182,326 46.92 3.91 .12
• 250,000 64.33 5.36 .17

(2008 Market Value)
(average in St. Cloud area)
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The Cost Of Excellence

• Question 3 255 per student
• Home Value Increased Cost
  Year Month Day
• 100,000 41.01 3.41 .11
  
• 182,326 74.77 6.23 .20
  
• 250,000 102.53 8.54 .28
  

(2008 Market Value)
(average in St. Cloud area)
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The Cost Of Excellence

• All questions 970/student
• Home Value Increased Cost
  Year Month Day
• 100,000 139.77 11.64 .38
• 182,326 254.85 21.23
  .69
• 250,000 349.45 29.12
  .95

(2008 Market Value)
(average in St. Cloud area)
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• Respond on the Districts web site
  www.isd742.org
• You 2 Discuss the referendum with two other
  people
• Vote on November 4

Vote