Connecticut River Collaborative Committee Committee Mission Statement “ To increase educational offerings for all area students at a reasonable cost to taxpayers”
Agenda 1. Welcome - Opening Statement 2. Review of Committee Work over last 9 months - 20 minutes 3. Questions/Feedback specific to proposed plan - 30 minutes 4. Questions/Feedback about Future Work – 30 minutes
Agenda Tonight is not about questions being answered – tonight is about the committee listening to you. Questions that can be answered may be answered at future meetings after the collaborative committee has had a chance to discuss.
Definitions CTE - Career and Technical Education • STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math • Model 11 – The proposed plan supported by the committee • SAU7 – School Administrative Unit 7 (Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, • Pittsburg, Stewartstown School Districts) ENSU - Essex North Supervisory Union (Canaan & NEK Choice School • Districts, Unified Towns and Gores of Essex County) NEK Choice School District – Bloomfield, Brunswick, East Haven, Granby, • Guildhall, Kirby, Lemington, Maidstone, Norton, Victory
March 2018 – School Meetings All local towns voted in favor of being part of a regional conversation to discuss the future of education.
Timeline April - June 2018 • Board chairs and boards worked to create a committee of 21 members to include one board, one community and one optional member from each of the SAU7 towns, Canaan and NEK Choice districts • The newly formed committee began meeting on the first Thursday of each month • A project manager / meeting facilitator, Carole Martin, was hired and paid for with the assistance of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Timeline July – August 2018 • Set committee primary goals: 1. Student opportunity 2. Taxpayer consideration • Created list of information needs and areas requiring research • Gathered and distributed information • Selected initial topics for exploration Student opportunities 1. Buildings and transportation 2. • Created sub-committees to work on these two topics
Timeline September - December • To date, over 30 meetings have been convened • All school facilities were toured, evaluated and critiqued • Feedback was received from students, teachers and staff • Possible curriculum opportunities were explored • Areas of duplication between schools were identified • Models were developed and analyzed
Student Opportunities This sub-committee was tasked to look at: • Common curriculum • Variety of classes • Programs/Trade • Extracurricular activities • Student schedules • What is currently offered and what could be offered
Student Opportunities • There is keen interest in STEAM offerings • Students recognized that it is difficult to maximize the potential of arts and music with such small class sizes • Some students emphasized that their recommendations may not benefit them but it ensures future generations the best possible education • Students do not see a specific need for additional extracurricular activities, instead they are interested in consolidating existing offerings • Teachers see the value of collaboration and are already working to embrace the opportunities it provides
Student Opportunities Through shared resources and expanded offerings, we will better prepare our students for the future.
Buildings and Transportation • Buildings • Created a list of criteria for building reviews • All school buildings were visited • An inventory of the building spaces was created • Debrief of the building conditions • Transportation • Measured the travel distances to our four existing schools for our current student population
Modeling Process • Committee members developed over 20 models • Discussed the benefits and challenges of each model • We are suggesting that a single high school with two middle schools will best serve the needs of our region and utilize existing school facilities • We recommend a single location High School / CTE Center to best serve our High School population • There was strong consensus that the Canaan facility provided the best opportunity for a comprehensive CTE program
Student / Building Numbers Change Total students Grades Students per grade Model # % Model Model Current Current Current 11 change change 11 11 Pittsburg 87 81 -6 -7% P-12 P-8 6 8 Colebrook 341 317 -24 -7% P-12 P-8 24 32 Stewartstown 72 77 5 7% P-8 P-4 7 13 Canaan 182 208 26 14% P-12 9-12 13 52
PROPOSED MODEL Pittsburg Canaan Stewartstown Pre-K – Grade 8 Pre-K – Grade 4 Pre-K - Grade 4 High School / CTE Colebrook Grades 9-12 Pre-K - Grade 8
High school – 77% within 10 miles
High School – 99% 20 miles
Middle School – 90% within 10 miles
Elementary – 95% within 10 miles
Model 11 - Benefits Goals from prior community forum and school boards • Expanded offerings – provides opportunity by with a single High School location and two middle schools • Focus on class size – more students per grade in every building • Increased Running Start for college credits & CTE – provides opportunity • Alignment of curriculum – committee feels is will be easier to align the curriculum with fewer locations, 4 to 3 elementary schools, 4 to 2 middle schools 3 to 1 High School • Financial responsibility & manage taxes – We anticipate, after further review, there will be potential for savings • Scheduling concerns – A single high school location reduces the limitations imposed on students
Model 11 - Benefits • All towns continue to have a school • Student populations remain the same while condensing grade levels, which means larger class sizes • Provides Pre-K to all students • No segregation of academic and CTE students – Single Campus • CTE more accessible, expandable and flexible • Merging populations increases the potential for stronger, healthier extra curricular activities such as Key Club, drama, band, chorus, robotics, sports, clubs, etc. Potential for dedicated spaces (rooms) for these groups
Model 11 - Benefits • Less competition to fill positions with highly qualified staff • Opportunity to align staff development • Sharing of administrative responsibilities • Single contact and larger pool for school-to-work • Potential for a local alternative learning pathway
Why W e “ B elieve” There are Potential Savings Current Model Proposed Model 4 Elementary Schools 3 Elementary Schools 4 Middle Schools 2 Middle Schools 3 High Schools 1 High School TOTAL - 52 Grades TOTAL - 30 Grades 680 Students – Avg. of 13 Students/Grade 680 students – Avg. 23 Students/Grade 2017-2018 Average Cost per Pupil $19,262 TOTAL Budget - ??? Bussing Expenses = Approximately 3-4% Building Expenses = Approximately 11% Staffing Cost = Approximately 70-75%
Next Steps The committee will review what we heard from you tonight and work to provide any answers possible at upcoming forums. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Stewartstown - Thursday, January 24 th – 6:30PM “Shall the voters of ________ School District vote to support the continued study and development of a regional education plan known as Model 11 and the formation of any necessary committees to continue the study and development of a regional education plan; and further authorize the School Board to take the actions necessary to bring a plan forward for discussion and possible approval at a future School District meeting?”
Questions What most excites you about Model 11? 1. What questions do you have about Model 11 or future work if 2. Model 11 is approved?
Individual Cards Green – Something you personally are excited about with this model Yellow – A question or concern you specifically have about the model or future work
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