morristown central school district alternatives. reorganization – reasons for reorganization...

Morristown Central School District

Alternatives

Alternatives

Reorganization– Reasons for Reorganization

Extend Subject offerings Teachers serve in specialized fields Upgrade facilities and equipment

– Why Reorganization is Difficult Fear of losing local identity Incompatible communities Larger student enrollment More time spent on buses Fear of losing jobs

Forms of Reorganization

Centralization Annexation Consolidation Tuitioning

Other Alternatives

Sharing of Resources Do Nothing

Morristown Central School District

Qualitative Studies

Board of Education Member Profile

Member 1 – Male, Member for 5 years Member 2 – Male, Member for 8 years Member 3 – Male, Member for 7 years Member 4 – Male, Member for 3 years Member 5 – Female, Member for 5 years

Q1 Awareness of Prior Studies

Board Member 1– Talk of a merger with Hammond– Shared services with Hammond – 1 year– Open discussion - merging Morristown,

Heuvelton, and Lisbon

Board Member 2– Possible talks considering consolidation

No study conducted

Q1 Awareness of Prior Studies

Board Member 3– Talks of studies in past, conducted before tenure

Board Member 4– Believes no studies have been conducted

Board Member 5– Merger study with OFA (already acquired)

Q2 Impact on Students, Staff, and Community

Board Member 1– Students would merge tomorrow– Staff is against any change – Community is aware of possible future options

No bias towards any decision

Q2 Impact on Students, Staff, and Community

Board Member 2– Students do not want closing, merging, or

consolidation Would adjust and manage any change

– Staff content with current situation– Community supports a merger with a similar

school

Q2 Impact on Students, Staff, and Community

Board Member 3– Students will be affected by any option– Staff open to any positive changes– Community (Parents) not as open to changes for

their children Close minded mentalities

Q2 Impact on Students, Staff, and Community

Board Member 4– Students affected immediately by any change– Staff will be against any changes– Community would be for any changes

Tax base would decrease

Q2 Impact on Students, Staff, and Community

Board Member 5– Pro-merger

Increase pool of teachers & students

– Currently a general feeling of instability 3 or 4 principals in 5 years

– Reorganization could increase stability and consistency

Q3 Most Important Goals

Board Member 1– Raise standards of the school and drop “school of

need” title– Remain independent– Increase number of jobs

Q3 Most Important Goals

Board Member 2– Raise standards of school– Justify costs

Board Member 3– Give students the best opportunity possible

Q3 Most Important Goals

Board Member 4– Change public perceptions to a more positive

view– Improve scores and standards

Lose the “school of need” title

– More curriculum introduced

Q3 Most Important Goals

Board Member 5– Financial survival– Raise standardized test scores– Increase public relations

Create interest so parents want to send students

Q4 Future Alternatives

Board Member 1– Consolidation is the best option, but won’t happen

State would have to force consolidation

– Sharing services is feasible– Tuitioning is an option

Morristown to OFA

Q4 Future Alternatives

Board Member 2– Merger with Lisbon and Heuvelton is best option– Sharing of resources as much as possible– Against consolidation

Board Member 3– In favor of consolidation – Centralized high school is best option– Sharing of resources as much as possible

Q4 Future Alternatives

Board Member 4– A merger would be beneficial to students

Rivalry among students

– Sharing of resources as much as possible– Consolidation is not an option

Loss of Morristown School District

Q4 Future Alternatives

Board Member 5– A merger is the best option– Sharing of resources provides financial benefits

and is a good option– Annexation is not as appealing

Loss of identity

Focus Groups

Summary– Strengths– Weaknesses

Important Features of the School Principles for Future Decisions Alternatives Discussions

Strengths of Morristown

Strong Community Few Discipline Problems Generations of Families Close Relationships Small Classes Dedicated Teachers Tight Group

Weaknesses of Morristown

Narrow Minded Cliques Poor Area Coarse Parental Support Money

Principles for Future Decisions

Students Money Time

Alternatives

Centralization Annexation Tuitioning Resource Sharing

Centralization

For– Increased Funds– More Resources– Consolidation of Professional Resources– Diversity– Easier Transition to College

Against– Loss of Identity– Limited Sport Opportunities– BOCES– Student Opposition

Annexation

For– (Centralization)

Against– Increased Student Anxiety– No Change in Taxes– Jobs

Tuitioning

For– Special Needs Students

Against– Costly– Transportation– Student Anxiety– Student Isolation

Resource Sharing

For– Savings to District– Increase Access to Resources– Increased inter-scholastic Communication– More extra-curricular Activities

Against– Time Constraints on Teachers– Job Security– Communication Difficulty– Possible Inconsistencies in Policies

Morristown Central School District

Future Demand

Forecasting & Cohort Survival Ratios

As each class moves through their school career the number of students in the class changes yearly at an observable rate.

The average of this rate for several years is then used to estimate enrollment for following years.

Projections of Cohort Survival Study

Enrollment projections by Cohort ratios

98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06Kindergarten 38 36 36 26 32 20 25 24First 32 40 35 37 29 39 33 38Second 37 29 37 31 38 32 37 36Third 33 35 27 36 29 39 36 37Fourth 36 35 33 32 36 27 40 40Fifth 26 35 34 34 33 36 25 41Sixth 28 29 36 33 37 33 35 23Seventh 42 30 32 42 37 37 34 35Eighth 31 38 33 28 44 38 37 34Ninth 28 30 37 31 32 46 39 37Tenth 31 20 27 36 31 34 49 41Eleventh 24 29 17 27 32 32 36 51Twelfth 28 24 26 21 37 30 33 38

Total 414 447 410 420 447 443 459 476

Total Enrollment

Total Enrollment Projections by Cohort ratio

97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06Total Enrollment 396 414 447 410 420 447 443 447 476

% Change 4.35% 7.38% -9.02% 2.38% 6.04%

Average % change: 2.23%

Total Enrollment

396414

447

410 420447 443 447

476

y = 7.4967x + 395.92

300

350

400

450

500

'97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05

# o

f S

tud

en

ts

Vital Statistics for Morristown

Projected Kindergarten Enrollment

Births Kindergarteners % Enrolled

1993 11 98-99 38 245.45%1994 19 99-00 36 89.47%1995 21 00-01 36 71.43%1996 19 01-02 26 36.84%1997 24 02-03 32 33.33%1998 10 03-04 201999 13 04-05 252000 24 05-06 24

Average 17.6 95.31%

Projections by Linear Ratios

Enrollment projections by Linear ratios

98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06Kindergarten 38 36 36 26 32 29 39 32First 32 40 35 37 29 39 33 38Second 37 29 37 31 38 32 37 36Third 33 35 27 36 29 34 33 37Fourth 36 35 33 32 36 36 40 36Fifth 26 35 34 34 33 37 34 44Sixth 28 29 36 33 37 34 44 35Seventh 42 30 32 42 37 48 39 43Eighth 31 38 33 28 44 35 39 47Ninth 28 30 37 31 32 35 43 48Tenth 31 20 27 36 31 38 42 38Eleventh 24 29 17 27 32 36 32 36Twelfth 28 24 26 21 37 33 37 33

Total 414 447 410 420 447 464 490 503