Giants are difference-makers, ready to change the world!

P-12 is just the beginning …

GIANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2015• Mission-motivated faculty, staff,

and administration

• Two National Merit Finalists

• 80% of our 2015 graduates earned 3+ hours of college credit

• Over $5 million in scholarships

• AP scores well above national and state average

• Math state runners-up and 16th in the Nation

• Brain Game state Elite Eight

• MJH state music champions (only junior high in state)

• JROTC state and Midwest regional champions

• Athletic, academic, performing arts champions

• Little Giants, state and national recognition

• Career tech opportunities

• Ivy Tech, IWU, and Taylor University partnerships

• Marion alumni are difference-makers – locally and globally

• State-rated “A” high school and “B” district

WE ARE …

GIANTS BY CHOICE!MCS School Board meeting | Oct. 15, 2015

Phase II Timeline

Discussions& planning

• Feb. 17 Board work session

• March 11 Board meeting

• April 14 first Study Team meeting

Study Team brings progress report to Board

• July 8th

Board approves continued study • July 22nd

Board discussion &

approval• October

Planning with stakeholders for implementation

• Nov. ’15 –July ’16

Share what-if scenarios with

broad stakeholders• August

Communityforums &

online surveys

• September

• Centrality of student learning

Our focus:

• Equity and access for all stakeholders

• Better learning, better stewardship

Q: WHY are we recommending restructuring/consolidation?

A: Population

A look at total population of the city of Marion since 1900

*estimate

*

Source: U.S. Census

Marion population: A closer look at recent numbers

estimateSource:U.S. Census

A: Enrollment

A look at total MCS enrollment

since 2005

Decrease in per-pupil dollars! 2015 changes the Legislature approved to the “complexity index” means we are receiving less money from the state for the same number of at-risk Marion children:

- 2016: Our children get $909K less.

- Specific school communities will see increased funding, but children living in communities like ours receive less funding.

A: State funding (General Fund)

TAP grant

A: Budget constraints

General Fund Revenue vs. Expenses

-- projected --

Pension Debt Impact- Annual obligation of $1.3M thru 2024.

- Must come out of CPF, Transportation, Bus Replacement funds.

Property Tax Circuit Breaker- $1M loss for 2015 (expected to grow).

- Ours is by far the largest loss among local school districts.

A: State regulations (tax-based funds)

Examples: Local Impact of

Property Tax Circuit Breaker

Taxing Unit Est. 2015 Impact

City of Marion - $2,609,899

Marion Community Schools - $998,927

Eastbrook Schools - $11,169

Madison-Grant Schools - $9,060

Mississinewa Schools - $117,222

Oak Hill Schools - $52,078

All other taxing entities - $2,563,887

Grant Co. Total - $6,362,242

Local Property Tax Rate* HistoryGrant County Schools

2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Marion .8821 .8876 .9424 .7629 .8822

Oak Hill 1.2380 1.0900 1.2397 1.3730 1.3657

Eastbrook .6884 .7767 .7990 .6526 .9258

Mississinewa 1.3176 1.3977 1.4539 1.2904 1.3991

Madison-Grant .7196 .7499 .7915 .8131 .8802

*Tax rate = per $100 assessed property valuation

A: Budget constraints

Capital Projects spending since 2010

BOTTOM LINE:

• We will make better happenwith fewer buildings.

• Our expenditures will not exceed our revenue by the end of 2017.

School improvement

is a “WE” thing

We have considered many factors, including space and structure of each building, operational costs, and enhancing curricular and co-curricular opportunities for students.

We have offered what-if scenarios as conversation-starters.

We have listened and learned.

We have sought the best right solution that will create equal opportunity for our children.

We are making a recommendation this evening for discussion.

Now, we are making a responsive recommendation for the 2016-17 school year.

Major concerns we heard:Desire for neighborhood elementary schools.

Desire for longer span of years in same school.

Questions over seventh-graders in high school building.

Desire to slow the reconfiguration process down.

We’ve listened. We’ve learned.

Slocum

P-4

Kendall

P-4

Justice5-6 (+ P)

McCulloch

7-8

Allen

P-4

Riverview

P-4

CTE(+ district office)

Marion High School

9-12

Recommendation

is responsive to:Desire to have neighborhood elementary schools, and

to have a longer span of years in the same school.

Concern over seventh-graders in high school building.

Desire to slow reconfiguration process down. Reconfiguration will impact our schools and community for years to come. Breaking it into phases allows us to continue to gather essential information, so that we can make best right decisions for the future.

Plan to bring our expenditures in line with our revenues by the end of 2017.

We are recommending a second scenario to consider as we plan with our teachers, administrators, and parents for 2017-18.

A plan for the future:

We will continue to gather current and essential information and collaborate with broad stakeholders.

We envision this 2017-18 scenario will be necessary to provide best possible academic programming while ensuring our expenditures do not exceed our revenues.

The provision: We will not adopt this scenario if essential and current information (including enrollment and revenues) would inform us otherwise.

Justice5-7

CTEMarion High School

8-12

Slocum

P-4

Kendall

P-4

Allen

P-4

Riverview

P-4

McCulloch:

repurposing for curricular and co-curricular programs,

junior high athletics,district offices

This recommendation:Maintains neighborhood elementary schools.

Lengthens span of years in additional buildings (intermediate school and high school).

Continues to address concern over seventh-graders in high school building.

Provides opportunity for growth of co-curricular (art, music) and extra-curricular (athletics, clubs) offerings at intermediate level and at high school level.

Reduces number of building transitions to two!

Allows time for continued study; if forthcoming information would lead us to adjust plan, we could.

• Vertical articulation: Strong curriculum flow P through 12

In making better happen our key outcomes will be:

• Continuity of learning

• Consistency of opportunity, instruction, and assessment

We are determined to find the best possible way forward

to the benefit of the entire school community with our

CHILDREN being the Main Thing!

NEXT STEPS: We will plan and create together with our teachers, administrators, parents, community, and Board for reinvention,

improvement, and implementation of this reconfiguration plan.

We will plan today for a BRIGHTER TOMORROW!

Our Children, Our Community, Our Cause!

Giants are difference-makers, ready to change the world!

P-12 is just the beginning …