district presentation tuesday, september 4, 2012

District Presentation Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Southern Tioga School DistrictSection 780 Hearing

Addressing the closure of either the North Penn High School or the Liberty Elementary School

which would move students to Liberty HS.Mr. Keith Yarger Stephanie DiVittoreSuperintendent Moderator/Solicitor

Agenda• Opening Remarks• Format for Public Participation• Critical Issues

1. Key Points Considered2. Program Considerations3. Transportation4. Financial Considerations

• Timeline• Public Testimony• Adjournment

Southern Tioga School District

Mission Statement:• The Southern Tioga School District, together with

parents and the community, our mission is to develop successful learners who are productive, innovative, and responsible global citizens.

Vision Statement:• The Southern Tioga School District is an empowered

learning community where the curriculum is standards based, rigorous, relevant, and evolving. Our students will learn in a safe environment where unity and diversity are valued. As cornerstones of the communities, our schools will inspire students to be responsible and interdependent global citizens.

Opening Remarks

LFS – Essential Question…• What is the most cost effective and

instructionally sound way to provide a high quality education to our children from Kindergarten through their senior year in high school?

Mr. Keith Yarger Ms. Stephanie DiVittoreSuperintendent Moderator/Solicitor

Format For Participation

Speakers will have up to 3 minutes and must be signed in to share concerns.

Please begin your comments with your full name and current address and state if you are a resident of the school district.

You may not defer your 3 minutes of time to someone else to speak on your behalf.

To email a letter, please send to [email protected]

Critical Issues

Key Points Considered

Program Considerations

Transportation

Financial Considerations

Reference the Feasibility Studies (CRA) 2012 and (Quad 3) 2009

Decline in enrollment district wide through the direction of both studies. (PDE 2020 projections for the district is 1941 students, K-8 = 1,351 & 9-12 = 590. Currently we have 1939 students, K-8 = 1,326 & 9-12 = 615.)

Original Construction on NPHS – 1935, LES – 1960, renovations and updates performed on both.

Overall Building Evaluations by CRA is NPHS – 2.4, LES – 2.9

Both buildings fall between Poor to Fair on the scale

15 Year Decline in Enrollment: 579 Students

1998 = 2518 Students 1999 = 2401 Students 2000 = 2377 Students 2001 = 2420 Students 2002 = 2355 Students 2003 = 2298 Students 2004 = 2314 Students 2005 = 2277 Students 2006 = 2244 Students 2007 = 2169 Students 2008 = 2156 Students 2009 = 2078 Students 2010 = 2035 Students 2011 = 1992 Students 2012 = 1939 StudentsDistrict 3rd Day Enrollments

Educational Opportunities

Current Conditions1. Classrooms in the high schools do not

have enough students for the classes to run.

2. Inequality in the high schools.3. Limitations on what is being offered to

students.4. Lower expectations.5. Lower number of AP classes.

Educational Opportunities

Future Conditions1. Classrooms that will have enough

students in them to run the class.2. Equality across the district for high

school students.3. More offerings to students.4. Higher Expectations.5. Higher number of AP classes.

K-8 Advantages

How does a K-8 Work? Sharing of resources, teachers would not need to

travel. Building sectioned off so that students are grouped

as K-4 (primary) and 5-8 (middle school theory). Shared spaces scheduled so the two groups will not

mix. Keeps students in community for a longer period of

time than a K-6 would accomplish. Allows communities to keep extra-curricular

activities.

Transportation Ride Times July 18, 2012 survey

Athens 70 Minutes Muncy 45 Minutes

Canton 50 Minutes Northeast Bradford

60 Minutes

Central Columbia 60 Minutes Northern Tioga 90 Minutes

East Lycoming 100 Minutes Southern Tioga 70 Minutes

Jersey Shore 90 Minutes Shamokin 90 Minutes

Keystone Central 60 Minutes Sullivan County 50 Minutes

Line Mountain 70 Minutes Towanda 90 Minutes

Mid-West 60 Minutes Warrior Run 60 Minutes

Mifflinburg 55 Minutes Wellsboro 70 Minutes

Millville 70 Minutes Wyalusing 80 Minutes

Transportation Possible Cost Increases

LES moves to LHS and LHS (9-12) is transported to North Penn High School

158 Students Impacted 158 HS from LHS to NPHS

Building Capacity CRA 527, Quad 3 over 550421 Students in building = 79% to 82% capacity(MHS capacity 640, total student in building 404 = 63% capacity)

Anticipated Ride Times: 42 Minutes to 70 minutes Net Cost = $ 27,950

Transportation Possible Cost IncreasesMHS and LHS Remain Open and NPHS

Students are Transferred Out291 Students Impacted

90 HS from NPHS to MHS

(MHS capacity 640, total student in building 494 = 77% capacity)

33 Elem from BES to WLM

(WLM capacity 579, total student in building 523 = 90% capacity)

168 HS from NPHS to LHS

(LHS capacity 433, total student in building 401 = 93% capacity)

Anticipated Ride Times: 26 Minutes to 65 minutes

Net Cost = $ 38,624

Taxes

How does the District view taxes in years to come?

1. Taxes have been raised over the past three years to support the building project. Taxes will not be raised again for that purpose.

2. There is no knowledge of what the state will do for future years to support public education.

3. Taxes may be raised in future years for operational costs of the district.

Operational Costs? Retirement

– Districts are taking on more employee retirement responsibilities.

– 12.36% (12/13) $1,520,000– 16.75% (13/14) $2,053,722– 21.25% (14/15) $2,613,269– 25.56% (15/16) $3,143,301

Health Care Costs– Raise approximately 10% each year

Utilities– Rise in utility costs

Transportation– Rise in transportation costs

Revenue Challenges of the District

State Subsidy– 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13– $14,483,048 $13,419,313 $12,968,876 $13,459,324 $13,746,637

Federal Subsidy– 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13– $1,319,726 $2,836,002 $2,907,442 $943,653 $1,350.043

Current Budget = $300,000 more than the 2008/09 budget with rising operational costs.

Costs

What are the costs that Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates presented for all of the buildings to remain in operation? Let’s take a look at their analysis. WLM is not on this list as they are a new building and CRA stated there was no need for improvements to this building.– These costs do not all need to be completed at

once, but rather should be examined and taken care of over time.

Breakdown of Costs Site Development = parking lot development, site work,

walks, ramps, curbs. General Construction = Exterior energy envelope, roof,

window, storefront, Interior acoustical ceilings, interior doors, wall and floors, code upgrades, classroom casework, library furnishings.

HVAC Construction = Upgrade heating system, upgrade ventilation system, install DDC controls.

Plumbing Construction = Upgrade piping and valves, underground piping, ADA compliant toilets, fixture upgrades.

Electrical Construction = Lighting fixtures and sensors, power, service, fire alarms.

Technology Construction = Wireless clock system, phone, data, paging, security system installation.

Liberty High School

Renovations Low High1. Site Development $200,000 $300,000

2. General Construction $1,442,000 $1,802,500

3. HVAC Construction $1,730,400 $2,163,000

4. Plumbing Construction $576,800 $721,000

5. Electrical Construction $865,200 $1,009,400

6. Technology Construction $288,400 $432,600

Potential Total Project Cost$6,428,528 $8,099,910 Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%

contingency.

http://www.cra-architects.com/client_projects/clientWebsites.asp?Loc=websites&subLoc

Mansfield High School


2. General Construction $832,580 $1,189,400

3. HVAC Construction $118,940 $237,880


5. Electrical Construction $1,427,280 $1,665,160


Potential Total Project Cost $3,549,017 $4,873,932 Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%

contingency.


North Penn High School





5. Electrical Construction $957,960 $1,117,620



contingency.


Blossburg Elementary

Renovations Low High1. Site Development This would tie in with the NPHS


3. HVAC Construction $445,200 $593,600


5. Electrical Construction $371,000 $445,200



contingency.


Liberty Elementary





5. Electrical Construction $596,280 $695,660



contingency.


Financial Sustainability How can what we do now, make us financially

sustainable for years to come?1. By closing a building and reducing staff, the board

would be making sustainable cuts to our expenditures. The sustainable cuts would help the district make budget. In closing a building, we would make sustainable cuts of approximately $750,000.

2. HOWEVER! We never know what Harrisburg will do with the State budget. If further cuts happen to the State budget, it is possible that even making these cuts will not sustain our budget in years to come. Factors that come into play is State Funding, Federal Funding, PSERS, Health Care, Utility Costs, and Transportation.

Timelines

What timelines do we need to follow moving forward for closing a building to allow time for our preliminary budget?

1. August 20 – Legal Advertisement re: Public Hearing for School Closure.

2. September 4 – Public Hearing re: School Closure for the 2013/14 School Year.

3. October 4 – Deadline to Submit Written Comments re: School Closure (30 days post hearing).

4. December 3 – Vote for School Closure for the 2013/14 School Year (90 days post hearing).

Timelines When do we need to go out for bid IF we decide that we

want to continue to explore the Blossburg building project?

IF the board would like to continue with the option of closing Liberty Elementary School and doing the building project, the board would need to give Quad 3 permission to go out to bid at the August 13th board meeting. (Done)

WHY??? If the board decides to close Liberty Elementary School and move the students to the High School, Students from Liberty High School in grades 9-12 would need to move up to the new building. By going out to bid in August, this would be possible for the 2013/14 school year. By not going out to bid in August, it would not be a possibility for the students from Liberty High School to move up in 2013/14 to a new building. (Bids would need to be awarded at the beginning of October for the classroom section of the building to be in operation at the beginning of the 2013 school year.)

Referendum Details

Attorney’s Cox and Winfield were asked the question about referendum. This was their response to the question:

“We are not aware of any statutory power for a School District to conduct a referendum regarding a school closure.”

Public Testimony ReminderSpeakers will have up to 3 minutes and must be signed in to share concerns.Please begin your comments with your full name and current address and state if you are a resident of the school district.You may not defer your 3 minutes of time to someone else to speak on your behalf.To email a letter, please send to [email protected]

district presentation tuesday, september 4, 2012

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