GrotonDunstable Regional School District

1
Groton-DunstableRegional School District

• School Committee Meeting
• Wednesday February 6, 2008

2
District Vision

• The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District in
  cooperation with the community is committed to
  excellence and high academic achievement. We are
  an educational community dedicated to an
  environment of collaboration, trust, mutual
  respect and appreciation of all individuals. We
  promote in each student a spirit of inquiry and
  instill a self-sustaining desire for continuous
  growth and service to self, family and community.

3
Essential Question

• Can we utilize staff and facilities in a more
  efficient manner in delivering programs and
  services to students and save money while doing
  so?

4
Activity to Date

• 4 Meetings with the Administrative Team
• 3 Meetings with the Elementary Principals
• 3 Meetings with the Prescott Staff
• 1 Meeting with Prescott Parents
• 1 Meeting with Flo Ro Staff
• 1 Meeting with Flo Ro Parents
• 1 Meeting with SU Staff
• 1 Meeting with SU Parents
• Review with School Committee 2/6/08

5
Present Situation

• Retiring Principal
• Declining Enrollment FTF III
• Financial Limitations
• Obligation to Operate Efficiently
• Empty Classrooms
• Updating and Reorganizing the Shared School Zone

6
Elementary Enrollment History
7
Declining Enrollment
8
Projected Elementary Enrollment
9
Financial Limitations
10

• to stop defending the status quo and find ways
  to bring outsized budget increases back into line
  with realistic town revenue growth projections.
• The Groton Finance Committee, Jay M. Prager, Ann
  F. Walsh, Peter DiFranco, Michael Flynn,
  Gerogiana Cochran, Thomas Sangiolo, Heidi Collins

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• these discussions, the FY08 budget maintain the
  organizational status quo without adding any
  fundamental new academic or cost saving
  initiatives.
• The Groton Finance Committee, Jay M. Prager, Ann
  F. Walsh, Peter DiFranco, Michael Flynn,
  Gerogiana Cochran, Thomas Sangiolo, Heidi Collins

12

• Control our own destiny
• Look at doing things differently
• Obligation to utilize staff and facilities
  efficiently

13
Prescott History

• Built in 1927 to serve as town high school
• Housed administrative offices
• Junior high school
• Various ranges of elementary grades
• Some years single grade levels

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Future Uses

• Administrative Offices
• Maintenance Area
• GDYBL After School Basketball Programs
• Special Education Collaborative
• Conference Center
• Community College/University Satellite
• Employee Day Care
• After School Programs

15
Inefficiency in Student Services
(continued)
16
Inefficiency in Student Services(continued)
17
Efficiency in Student Services
18
Savings in Staff by Reallocating Students

• .8 Principal 77,000
• .2 Guidance 19,100
• .85 Secretary (benefits) 45,000
• .86 Nurse (benefits) 58,415
• 1.5 Custodians ( benefits) 72,214
• Crossing Guard 3,500
• 1.0 Library/Computer 22,100
• Total estimated savings is 297,329 35,000 in
  utilities 332,329

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• Some Ideas Explored..

20
Moving the Early Childhood Ctr. to

• Prescott, Florence Roche or the High School
• Any move has the following
• Benefit
• Close the Boutwell Building to save 20,000 in
  the cost of utilities and a ½ Time custodian
• Issues
• No other staff savings as all other staff are
  required by DOE regulation or are related to
  services being delivered through IEPs
• Potential Loss of Revenue
• Relocation of District-wide Summer Program Site

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Moving ECC to the High School

• Benefits
• Availability of student volunteers/interns
• Issues
• Cost of reconfiguring building grounds
• Facilities are designed for adults, no outdoor
  area
• There in little space currently available due to
  enrollment projection increases
• Less central location Less desirable for
  tuition paying families

22
Moving ECC to Florence Roche

• Benefits
• Program would be in a building with Kindergarten
  (Transitions)
• Issues
• Bathrooms location and size of facilities (see
  DOE Early Childhood Program Standards, Area 3
  Physical Environment, Section H pg.16)
• Space needed for community based programs
  (Parent-Child Group current revenue stream)

23
Moving ECC to Prescott

• Benefits
• Central location ease for tuition paying families
  to access (Marketing)
• Issues
• Accessibility of 1st floor presently steep
  stairs
• Outdoor equipment not designed for 3 and 4 year
  old children (see DOE Early Childhood Program
  Standards, Area 3 Physical Environment, Section
  A pg.13)

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Move Tarbell to Prescott

• Benefits
• Save 35,000 in utilities
• Centralized location for Administrative Offices
• More space available for files, records, storage
• Centralize Maintenance Area and bulk supplies
  (school, custodial, maintenance and van supplies)
• Maintenance workshop
• Move/relocate District staff to same space
• Issues
• Time factor (amount of time to move contents to
  other area schools)
• Rewiring of phones (using in house staff)
• Rewiring of computers (using in house staff)
• Initial 10,000 - 15,000 one time costs

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Possible Deferred Maintenance Expenditures

• Acoustical café tiles 8,000
• Emergency stair replc 38,000
• Security system 4,000
• Replace bubblers 1,000
• Air balancing 3,000
• Lighting replacement 35,000
• Total estimated savings is 89,000

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Possible Deferred Capital Improvements

• Replacement of HVAC, ventilation supply and
  exhaust system 450,000
• Architects Fee 120,000
• Total estimated savings 570,000

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Additional Factors to be Considered

• Deferred Capital Expenditures
• Bussing Efficiency
• Prescott Debt Assessment
• Groton 17,000 until retired on 11/15/2015
• SU Debt Assessments
• Groton 13,000
• Dunstable 13,000

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• Florence Roche Available Space

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Florence Roche Elementary Current Enrollment 07-08

• Total Enrollment 531 Sections
• Kindergarten 96 5
• 1st Grade 96 4
• 2nd Grade 99 4
• 3rd Grade 124 5
• 4th Grade 116 5

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Florence Roche Elementary Projected Enrollment
08-09

• Projected Enrollment 510 Sections
• Kindergarten 94 5
• 1st Grade 99 (5 private) 4
• 2nd Grade 96 4
• 3rd Grade 99 4 (
  decreased)
• 4th Grade 122 5

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FR ENROLLMENT HISTORYFY02 FY09

• FY 02 640 29 Sections
• FY 03 662 29 Sections
• FY 04 701 31 Sections
• FY 05 552 25 Sections
• FY 06 577 26 Sections
• FY 07 552 26 Sections
• FY 08 530 23 Sections
• FY 09 510 22 Sections (projected)
• 5th grade moved to Middle School

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Cafeteria Auditorium Capacity

• Total Building Capacity with Modular's 650
• Cafeteria max. 175
• Current highest class size 124 ( room for 51
  more )
• Currently 4 lunch periods
• Grade 1, 2, Multi _at_ 1120 - Total 121
  students
• Grade K 1 _at_ 1145 - Total 113
  students
• Grade 3 _at_ 1220 - Total 124
• Grade 4 _at_ 1245 - Total 116
• Gymnasium/Auditorium max. 300
• Playground current largest group 124 outside /
  max.250

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Specials and Space

• Library max. 2 classes at a time
• Computer Lab max. 26 students
• Physical Education to accommodate 2 classes at
  one time, the current OT room could be modified
  to incorporate a heath/fitness component into
  our P.E. classes, also exploring using the MS gym
  or PTYC gym
• Music 1 class at a time
• Art 1 class at a time
• Spanish Teacher will instruct in classrooms

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Florence Roche Potential Available Space

• Total 5 rooms available
• Room 111- Old Spanish Room
• Room 116- New Spanish Room
• 1 Portable / 1 Portable for New Special Education
  Program
• Room 132 Reading room
• Room 131 Shared Literature Room

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Potential Space Available
36
Potential Reconfiguration of Classrooms for 08-09
K
K
1
1
K
4
1
4
4
3
4
4
3
2
1/2
2
2
3
1/2
3
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• Swallow Union Space Available

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SU CURRENT ENROLLMENT 07-08

• Total Enrollment 294 13 Sections
• Kindergarten 39 2 Sections
• 1st Grade 50 2 Sections
• 2nd Grade 74 3 Sections
• 3rd Grade 69 3 Sections
• 4th Grade 62 3 sections

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SU PROJECTED ENROLLMENT 08-09

• Projected Enrollment 274 12 Sections
• Kindergarten 40 2 Sections
• 1st Grade 45 2 Sections
• 2nd Grade 49 2 Sections
• 3rd Grade 72 3 Sections
• 4th Grade 68 3 Sections

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SU ENROLLMENT HISTORYFY02 FY09

• FY 02 395 19 Sections
• FY 03 416 18 Sections
• FY 04 407 18 Sections
• FY 05 340 15 Sections
• FY 06 331 15 Sections
• FY 07 317 15 Sections
• FY 08 289 13 Sections
• FY 09 274 12 Sections (projected)
• 5th Grade Moved To Middle School

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SU AVAILABLE SPACE FOR FIVE NEW SECTIONS

• Five Rooms Available
• 1. Current K classroom ( lost section last
  year)
• 2. 1st Grade Classroom ( lost section last
  year)
• 3. 2nd Grade Classroom ( open due to projected
  low enrollment)
• 4. Spanish Classroom ( will share with
  music or art room)
• 5. Conference Room ( will use literacy
  room or room in Union Building for meetings)

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SU Upper Level
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SU Lower Level
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Union Building Lower Level
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District Unity

• We are one school district
• We have talented staff and wonderful students in
  all of our schools
• The parent support in the district is phenomenal
• Staff share their talents with each other

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Elementary Programs and Opportunities

• Cultural Programs
• PTA Activities
• MCAS Afterschool Tutoring
• In-house Field Trips
• Leadership Opportunities
• Before and After School Programs
• Enrichment Programs
• Plays
• Outreach Opportunities

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Elementary Programs and Opportunities (Continued)

• Multi- age Program A combination of 1st and 2nd
  graders stay with the same teacher for 2 years.
  The multi-age teachers work as a team with all
  students.
• Looping Looping provides students the
  opportunity to stay with the same teacher for 2
  grade levels.
• PTA sponsored Cultural Programs Enrichment
  programs and performance that adhere to the
  Massachusetts Frameworks and curriculum. These
  programs provide the students the opportunity to
  experience live performances and theatre in an
  interactive format. Felix Peitre, Ben Franklin,
  Afro Brazilian Martial Arts, Music and Dance,
  Gizmo Guys, Capoeira Program.
• PTA sponsored Book Fairs PTA sponsored
  Scholastic Book Fairs are brought to our schools
  to promote the love of reading.
• MCAS Before and Afterschool Tutoring Title one
  funded after-school program.
• In-house Field Trips Teacher developed in house
  field trips to enhance curriculum.
  Kindergarten Bubble Program/Discovery Museum,
  Nashua River Watershed Program. Grade1
  Drawbridge Theatre, Safety Complex Visit. Grade
  3 Starlab, Boutwell House Visit ,Grade 4 Mad
  about Math, Weatherman Barry Burbank, Author Jana
  Dillion.

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(Continued)

• Student Council for 4th Graders Peer leadership
  program monitored through the Guidance Counselor
  to promote positive school culture and empower
  all our students to communicate and implement
  their ideas.
• Kids Helping Kids Program A new middle school
  mentor program established to give 8th graders
  the opportunity to work with an Elementary
  Teacher one day a week in a classroom.
• GDRHS Internship Program GDRHS students intern
  with Elementary School Teachers in a variety of
  capacities.
• Elementary Plays A theatrical performance for
  the Groton Community.
• The Groton School Internship Program High School
  students from the Groton School work in
  classrooms with Teacher supervision.
• Field Days Fun filled outside activities to
  support the physical education program and team
  building experiences.
• Musical Grade Level Concerts Musical
  performances guided by our Music Teacher at each
  grade level.
• Art Show Student Art work displayed for the
  public.
• Students Contribute to Senior Citizens Student
  design placemats for the Senior center as well as
  make Holiday Baskets for the elderly

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(Continued)

• Loaves and Fishes Students donate money,
  non-perishable foods and toys for Loaves and
  Fishes
• PTA sponsored events Welcome Back Picnic,
  Holiday Fair, Have a Heart Fundraiser to
  benefit the Community Childrens Fund, Square One
  Art, Turn off your TV week, Used Book Fair, Bike
  Rodeo and Ice Cream Social, Community Reading
  Day, Winter Carnival
• Field Trips Many field and events are sponsored
  by GDEF and The Groton Trust Funds Lecture Fund
• After School Ski Program
• After School Enrichment Programs sports,
  cooking, arts and crafts, karate
• Extended Day Programs Both before and after
  school programs.

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Events for Parents

• Monthly Principal Coffee Hours
• Sped Pac Round table discussions
• Open House Parent Teacher Conferences
• Specialist Open House
• PTA Sponsored Teacher Appreciation Week, Bus
  Driver, Cafeteria Workers, and Custodian
  Breakfasts
• Volunteer Opportunities in classrooms recess
• PTA organized Daily Greeting Committee
• PTA Welcoming Committee

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Percent of Elementary Students Above Proficient
or Proficient
52
Current Shared Zone
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Proposed Shared Zone
54
Shared School Zone
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Next Steps

• Additional meeting with parents
• Additional meetings with Administrative Team
• Additional meetings with Elementary Principals
• Meetings with Groton Town Officials
• Meetings with Dunstable Town Officials
• School Committee Discussions
• Decision Superintendent? School Committee?

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Summary

• Attrition of Principal
• Declining Enrollment
• Empty Classrooms
• Better Utilization of Staff and Facilities
• Financial Limitations
• Ability to Defer Some Capital and Maintenance
  Costs

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Thank You!

• If you would like to offer a suggestions or
  comment please email to
• agenovese_at_gdrsd.org
• Subject Parent Comment
• Or you may write to us at the following
• Dr. Alan D. Genovese, Superintendent
• Groton-Dunstable Regional School Dist.
• P. O. Box 729
• Groton, MA 01450