Merger Study Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport Central School - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Merger Study

Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport Central School Districts

Why Consider Reorganization?

❖Increase course offerings for students ❖Upgrade facilities and equipment ❖More cost effective administrative structure ❖Eliminate duplication of facilities, equipment, and staff ❖Reduce taxes

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Why Reorganization May be Difficult

❖Fear of losing local identity ❖Perception the communities are incompatible ❖Uncertainty over board representation ❖Less personal attention for students ❖Busing time for some students may be increased ❖Fear of losing job security by employees ❖Natural resistance to change

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The Merger Study Process Begins

❖Both Boards of Education have passed a resolution to do a merger study with each other ❖Advisory committee has been appointed ❖Consulting firm has been engaged to conduct the study

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Purpose of the Merger Study

❖ To paint a clear picture of each district so that its neighbor has a good understanding of the assets and liabilities it brings to the merger ❖ To develop a set of recommendations for the new board of education to consider regarding district

• rganization, facilities, staffing,

finances, transportation, and educational programming should a merger occur

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The Merger Study

❖ Provides information for school district

• fficials, the communities, and the

Commissioner on enrollments, staffing, program, transportation, facilities, and finances ❖ Facilitated by consultants ❖ Overseen by school/community advisory committee of 20 people ❖ Report is the responsibility of the consultants ❖ Both Boards of Education decide how to proceed with the final study

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Parameters for the Study

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Scope of the Study: Use data to provide objective information on:

• Adding classes/reducing staff
• Creating building configurations by grade level
• Adding bus runs/drivers
• Calculating potential staffing savings
• Assessing financial impact of the merger

Outside the Study Scope: Make decisions for the merged district:

• Name, colors, or mascot for the new district
• Identifying classes to be added/staff reduced
• Developing bus routes with stops
• Deciding when staff savings might be realized
• Deciding how financial decisions will be made

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The School/Community Advisory Committee

❖ 10 people from each school community

❖5 community members ❖2 teachers ❖1 building administrator ❖1 support staff ❖1 student

❖Superintendents serve as resources to the committee ❖Function is to advise the Boards and the consultants, and to communicate with the public

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Expectations of Committee Members

❖Attend all committee meetings ❖Freely express their points of view ❖Be a key communicator with stakeholder groups ❖Be respectful of the committee and and the study process ❖Be a positive contributing member in

• ther related committee activities

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The Consultants

❖ Bring an outside, unbiased perspective ❖ Have no local stake in the outcome ❖ Will conduct the study in a fair manner ❖ Will ensure that the process is open ❖ Will use 2016-17 and 2017-18 as the school years from which data will be used ❖ Will maintain contact with the State Education Department and the District Superintendent ❖ Will produce meeting notes after each committee meeting ❖ Will be responsible for the final report

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Recommendations in the Report

❖ Will benefit student learning ❖ Will be sensitive to the unique cultural contexts of the school districts ❖ Will be independent of special interest groups ❖ Will be educationally sound ❖ Will be fiscally responsible and realistic ❖ Will not recommend whether or not a merger should occur

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Common Reactions About the Study Process

❖ The consultants are here to sell a merger ❖ The consultants favor one district…..or the

• ther

❖ This is all happening too quickly ❖ There is not enough information on which to make a decision ❖ The advisory committee meetings are too long…..or too short

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Committee Meeting Schedule


(6:00 meetings; 5:15 tours in September & October)

❖ August 23-Overview & Enrollments (Westport) ❖ September 27-Program (E-L) ❖ October 25-Facilities (Westport) ❖ December 6-Transportation (E-L) ❖ January 24-Staffing (Westport) ❖ February 28-Finances (E-L) ❖ April 25-Review of Draft Report (Westport)

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Time Line for the Study/Merger
 (Draft)

❖ May 2017-Boards meet to begin study ❖ May 2018-Study completed ❖ June 2018-Study reviewed by S.E.D. ❖ August 2018-Study presented to Boards ❖ September 2018-Public information and discussion ❖ October 2018-Boards decide to go forth ❖ November 2018-Advisory referendum ❖ January 2019-Final referendum ❖ April 2019-Vote for new Board members ❖ May 2019-Budget vote ❖ July 1, 2019-New district begins operation

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Informing the Public

❖ District newsletters ❖ Newspaper articles ❖ District web sites ❖ Notes from advisory committee meetings ❖ PowerPoint presentations from advisory committee meetings ❖ Open advisory committee meetings-for

• bservation and limited comment only

❖ Joint press release announcing the study and the advisory committee

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Enrollment History and Projections

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Live Births by School District

Table ?? Live Births 2002-2015 Year E-L Westport Total 2002 9 10 19 2003 19 13 32 2004 18 10 28 2005 15 9 24 2006 17 12 29 2007 21 9 30 2008 12 13 25 2009 21 8 29 2010 20 3 23 2011 16 8 24 2012 23 10 34 2013 16 10 26 2014 12 11 23 2015 18 10 28

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18 Table ??: Elizabethtown-Lewis Enrollment History and Projections

Grade

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

Birth 21 12 21 20 16 23 16 12 18 17 17 17 17 K 20 20 16 17 19 24 18 18 13 20 19 19 19 1 18 20 19 16 17 14 18 17 17 12 19 18 18 2 19 19 16 17 18 17 17 17 16 16 12 18 17 3 24 18 17 16 18 22 18 17 18 17 17 12 19 4 18 21 16 16 14 18 16 17 16 16 15 15 11 5 17 16 24 16 15 11 13 16 16 15 16 14 14 6 16 14 15 23 18 16 15 13 15 16 15 15 14 7 28 18 14 14 24 18 18 15 13 16 16 15 16 8 20 26 18 16 14 27 25 19 16 14 16 17 15 9 28 20 24 20 17 11 14 24 19 15 14 16 16 10 36 26 21 28 16 13 16 13 23 18 14 13 15 11 32 30 29 24 25 17 16 16 13 23 18 15 13 12 30 27 27 29 22 23 23 15 15 12 21 16 13 K-12 306 275 256 252 237 231 227 217 210 210 212 203 200 K-6 132 128 123 121 119 122 115 115 111 112 113 111 112 7-12 174 147 133 131 118 109 112 102 99 98 99 92 88

NOTES: From 2020-21 to 2023-24 births are the average of the previous five years. Consequently, from to 2020-21 to 2023-24 the early grades are quite speculative.

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19 Table ??: Westport Enrollment History and Projections

Grade

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

Birth 9 13 8 3 8 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 K 17 10 20 12 13 13 20 20 22 20 20 20 20 1 15 17 16 22 10 18 14 24 24 26 24 24 24 2 16 14 12 14 24 11 21 13 23 23 25 23 23 3 23 15 14 12 17 25 15 22 14 23 23 26 23 4 13 23 16 15 12 19 13 15 23 15 25 25 27 5 16 13 24 17 15 17 17 14 17 25 16 27 27 6 17 17 14 25 17 15 18 17 14 17 26 17 28 7 19 18 16 15 24 19 26 18 18 15 18 27 17 8 23 19 15 16 15 22 14 24 17 17 14 17 25 9 18 24 18 14 16 17 16 14 25 17 17 14 17 10 23 15 21 17 15 16 13 15 14 23 16 16 13 11 11 19 17 22 18 13 17 13 15 13 23 16 16 12 21 10 20 14 20 19 21 16 12 14 13 22 15 K-12 232 214 223 215 216 224 225 225 238 248 260 274 275 K-6 117 109 116 117 108 118 118 125 137 149 159 162 172 7-12 115 105 107 98 108 106 107 100 101 99 101 112 103

NOTES: From 2020-21 to 2023-24 births are the average of the previous five years. Consequently, from to 2020-21 to 2023-24 the early grades are quite speculative.

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20 Table ??: Combined Enrollment History and Projections

Grade

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

Birth 30 25 29 23 24 33 26 23 28 27 27 27 27 K 37 30 36 29 32 37 38 38 35 40 39 39 39 1 33 37 35 38 27 32 32 41 41 38 43 42 42 2 35 33 28 31 42 28 38 30 39 39 37 41 40 3 47 33 31 28 35 47 33 39 32 40 40 38 42 4 31 44 32 31 26 37 29 32 39 31 40 40 38 5 33 29 48 33 30 28 30 30 33 40 32 41 41 6 33 31 29 48 35 31 33 30 29 33 41 32 42 7 47 36 30 29 48 37 44 33 31 31 34 42 33 8 43 45 33 32 29 49 39 43 33 31 30 34 40 9 46 44 42 34 33 28 30 38 44 32 31 30 33 10 59 41 42 45 31 29 29 28 37 41 30 29 28 11 43 49 46 46 43 30 33 29 28 36 41 31 29 12 51 37 47 43 42 42 44 31 27 26 34 38 28 K-12 538 489 479 467 453 455 452 442 448 458 472 477 475 K-6 249 237 239 238 227 240 233 240 248 261 272 273 284 7-12 289 252 240 229 226 215 219 202 200 197 200 204 191

NOTES: From 2020-21 to 2023-24 births are the average of the previous five years. Consequently, from to 2020-21 to 2023-24 the early grades are quite speculative.

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More New Yorkers Moving Out Than In

United Van Lines 2016 Survey

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Essex County Population Trend & Projections

County Population 34,000 35,500 37,000 38,500 40,000 Year 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 36390 38051 39014 39370 38851 37152 36176 34601 35300

County Population History & Projection

Source: U.S. Census

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Source: 2017 NYS ASBO report

Population Change 2010-2016{

Loss of >4% Loss of 2%-4% Loss of 0% to 2% Gain of 0% to 2% Gain of 2%-4% Gain of >4%

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2004-05 to 2014-15

Source: 2017 NYS ASBO report

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Essex County Population Trend by Age Group

Total Residents in Age Range 3250 6500 9750 13000 Years 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Age 25-44 Age 45-64 Age 65+

Childbirth Cohort in the County is Getting Smaller

Source: U.S. Census

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Essex Median County Age: 2000-2015

Years 39 41 43 45 47 Years 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Residents of Essex County Are Getting Older

Source: U. S. Census

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Number of Resident Students Home Schooled 2012-13 to 2016-17

School Year Elizabethtown- Lewis Westport Total 2012-13 5 8 13 2013-14 5 5 10 2014-15 5 6 11 2015-16 6 7 13 2016-17 6 7 13

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Number of Resident Students Attending Elsewhere 2012-13 to 2016-17

School Year Elizabethtown- Lewis Westport Total 2012-13 14 1 15 2013-14 14 4 18 2014-15 17 8 25 2015-16 21 10 31 2016-17 18 9 27

NOTE: These numbers include students for both districts that attend either private schools (Lake Side School at Black Kettle Farm) or other area public school districts.

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Number of Non-Resident Students Attending Each District 2012-13 to 2016-17

School Year Elizabethtown- Lewis Westport Total 2012-13 3 38 41 2013-14 3 40 43 2014-15 3 34 37 2015-16 3 40 43 2016-17 3 42 45

NOTE: The three Elizabethtown-Lewis students are children of district employees that attend the district pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement with the Teachers’ Association. Some of Westport’s non-resident students are those of teachers in the district while most others are from tuition paying families.

Questions???

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