oconomowoc area school district annual report

Charting our Course

2014-15 ANNUAL REPORT

OASD Administrative Offices W360 N7077 Brown St., Oconomowoc, WI 53066

262-560-1115

www.oasd.org

COLLABORATION

TRUST Learning

Inclusion

QUALITY

Opportunity

Relationships

Integrity

Respect

Achievement

Innovation Diversity

ACCEPTANCE Perseverance

Responsibility

Safety

CHARTING OUR COURSE WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANThe OASD strategic plan is our roadmap on the journey to excellence,

as we seek to become an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom,

honoring the past, and shaping the future. In the pages ahead, you will

see the results of focused work on the five strategic directions. Our priority

work is guided by the strategic plan and we evaluate our progress annual-

ly. We invite you to learn how we are bringing this vision to life, working

together during the coming school year to help make that vision a reality

for our students and our community.

MISSION Empowering a community of learners and leaders

VISION To be an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom, honoring the past, and shaping the future.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS

CORE VALUES

1.Continuous Improvement in Academic Performance 2.Innovative

Instructional Programs 3.Creating a Great

Workplace with Highly Engaged Employees 4.High Quality

Facilities with 21st Century Learning Environments5.Respecting

the Diversity Among People and Cultures

5OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT4

SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGEWe are pleased to bring you our 2014-15 Annual Report. The long list of successes you will read here is

a celebration of the strength of our faculty, staff, building leadership, and the students in our schools. It

also reflects the support and thoughtful planning of our school board. Most importantly, it reflects the

strong support for the OASD by our parents and the greater Oconomowoc community. Strong schools

and healthy, vibrant communities are closely linked. As such, our quality schools are very much a

product of our community.

This past year was a busy one in the OASD. We implemented our strategic plan, approved by the

school board in July, which charts our course over the next three years in the district. This report

largely reflects our update to the community with regard to the district’s progress toward our desired

outcomes and improved processes across all schools and departments. Last year the district increased

the percentage of students in kindergarten through 8th grade who met or exceeded their projected

annual growth in Reading and Math on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment.

Oconomowoc High School once again administered their highest number of Advanced Placement (AP)

and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, with a record number of 33 students recognized as AP

Scholars for their performance. In addition to our growth in academic achievement, the district again

was a regional leader in the arts at all levels, culminating with a record 16 Tommy Awards for the OHS

production of Singing in the Rain. We also had our share of athletic success, winning the Wisconsin

Little Ten All Sports Award for the fourth year in a row. All of this done with a continued focus on

strong fiscal management and wise stewardship of the community’s resources.

On behalf of the school board and administration, we invite you to look inside our annual report. We

are confident that you will be impressed by what you see. It is our vision for the Oconomowoc Area

School District to become an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom, honoring the past, and

shaping the future. We look forward to continuing to work together during the 2015-16 school year to

help make that vision a reality for our students and our community.

STRATEGIC PLAN, MISSION, VISION

2015-16 SCHOOL BOARD

OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT

SUPERINTENDENT & SCHOOL BOARD MESSAGE

Back Row (Left to Right): Donald Wiemer (President), Dave Guckenberger

(Treasurer), Steve Zimmer, John Suttner, Mike Bickler (Clerk)

Front Row (Left to Right): Jessica Karnowski, Sandy Schick (Vice President)

Roger J. Rindo, Ed D.

Superintendent of Schools

TABLE OF CONTENTSAcademic Performance. . . . .4

Innovative Instructional Programs . . . . . . . . . . .8

A Great Workplace. . . . . . 10

High Quality Facilities . . . . 12

Diversity . . . . . . . . . . 14

Budget . . . . . . . . . . . 16

OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT6

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE1.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

7OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) Oconomowoc High School (OHS) became a certified International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in 2005. The IB Programme is designed as a challenging educational experience that prepares highly motivated juniors and seniors for college and life-long success. Participating students may pursue an IB Diploma, an IB Career Certificate, or take an IB course to supplement regular high school studies.

Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are scored by external IB examiners. All University of Wisconsin System campuses award college credit for scores of 4, 5, 6, or 7 on higher level IB examinations. Additional credit is awarded to students who complete the full diploma programme.

OHS has significantly increased its number of IB Exams taken since its implementation. OHS students took 219 IB exams in 2014-15. Seven IB Diplomas and eight IB Career Certificates were awarded in 2014-15.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)Advanced Placement® (AP) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. They give students a taste of what college is like and can help them stand out on college applications. Not only that, but scoring well on the AP® Exam can earn a student college credit, placement out of introductory courses or both, potentially saving thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.

A variety of AP classes are offered to OHS students including English Literature, Psychology, History, and Calculus, among others. AP Exams are administered each spring and represent the culmination of college-level work in a secondary school setting. Exams are scored on a 5-point scale. Success on an AP Exam is defined as an exam score of 3+, which represents the score point predictive of college success and college graduation.

OHS has significantly increased its number of AP Students and AP Exams Taken.

The Oconomowoc Area School District identified several student achievement performance objectives as part of its 2014-2017 strategic plan. Year 1 results are presented on the following pages, including district-level performance on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) and American College Test (ACT), among others. Additional performance data are also available via the Department of Public Instruction’s WISEdash.

0

50

100

150

200

250

7

116 109 115

164

130144

151

221 219

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

NUMBER OF IB EXAMS TAKEN BY OHS STUDENTS 2006–2015

TAKEN IN 2014-2015

219EXAMS

NUMBER OF OHS ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDENTS

NUMBER OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS TAKEN BY OHS STUDENTS

0

100

200

300

400

500

20112010

121155

2012

191

2013

237

2014

326

2015

417

20112010

142

194

2012

235

2013

309

2014

421

2015

562

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

28%INCREASE

AP Students with Exam Scores of 3+188 OHS students

earned an AP Exam

score of three or

higher in 2015.

Success on an AP

Exam is defined as

an exam score of

3+, which represents

the score point

predictive of college

success and college

graduation.

AP ScholarsAP Scholar status is

granted to students

who receive scores

of 3 or higher on

three or more AP

Exams.

Thirty-three (33)

OHS students earned

scholar status in 2015

with a mean score of

3.69. This represents

an increase of 30

students or +1,000%

over our baseline

level. AP began

reporting scholar

status in 2011.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

111

111

143

189

188

34%INCREASE

8 9OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT

ACT ASPIRE – GR. 9 AND 10 The Oconomowoc Area School District selected the ACT - Aspire at grades 9 and 10 to help assess college readiness. The ACT Aspire is a curriculum- and standards-based educational and career planning tool that assesses students’ academic readiness for college in four areas including English, mathematics, reading, and science.

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT’S THREE- YEAR PERFORMANCE TARGET?By the end of the 2016-17 school year, 55% of all students, and all student subgroups taking ACT or ACT Aspire will meet all four College Readiness benchmarks - English, Math, Reading, and Science.

ACT – GR. 11 The Oconomowoc Area School District selected the ACT at grade 11 to help assess college readiness. The ACT is a curriculum- and standards-based educational and career planning tool that assesses students’ academic readiness for college in four areas including English, mathematics, reading, and science.

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT’S THREE-YEAR PERFORMANCE TARGET?By the end of the 2016-17 school year, 55% of all students, and all student subgroups taking ACT will meet all four College Readiness benchmarks - English, Math, Reading, and Science.

ACT WORKKEYS – GR. 11 The Oconomowoc Area School District selected the ACT WorkKeys® at grade 11 to help assess career readiness. ACT WorkKeys® is a job skills assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain high-performance workers and measures foundational and soft skills.

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT’S THREE-YEAR PERFORMANCE TARGET?By the end of the 2016-17 school year, 90% of all students, and all student subgroups taking WorkKeys® will qualify for a ACT National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT NCRC) - Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze.

MAP GROWTH The Oconomowoc Area School District selected the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) to assess the academic growth of students in grades K - 8. Students are tested in the fall to establish an achievement baseline in math and reading. A mid-year test session gives students and teachers additional data to inform instruction. Students take an end-of-year MAP test to determine academic growth from fall to spring based on RIT score comparison. According to NWEA norms, 50% of test takers are expected to meet their growth targets.

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT’S THREE-YEAR GROWTH TARGET?By the end of the 2016-17 school year, the percentage of all K–8 OASD students, and all student subgroups who meet or exceed projected RIT growth in Reading and Math will be at or above the 80th percentile (approximately 65%-70%) on the MAP test, measured from Fall to Spring.

MAP results are reported in RIT scores (short for Rasch Unit). A RIT score is an estimation of a student’s instructional level and also measures student progress or growth in school, like a growth chart to show how much a student has grown in math and reading from one year to the next.

PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEY The Oconomowoc Area School District selected a Studer Group Survey to assess parent satisfaction with the District. The Studer Group Parent Satisfaction Survey is an online questionnaire comprise of 17 closed-ended items and three open-ended items related to student engagement, school learning environment and relationships with the principal and staff. The closed-ended items are rated on a 5-point scale: Strongly Agree (5), Agree (4), Neutral (3), Disagree (2), Strongly Disagree (1).

WHAT IS THE DISTRICT’S THREE-YEAR PERFORMANCE TARGET?By the end of the 2016-17 school year, the District mean score for parent satisfaction will improve from 3.93 to 4.25 with annual increases of at least .10 on the Studer Education Parent Satisfaction Survey.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCECONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

WHAT IS AN ACT NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE (NCRC)?The ACT NCRC is an assessment-based credential which measures and certifies the essential work skills needed for success in jobs across industries and occupations. The credential is widely used by employers, educators, and workforce developers. To earn an ACT NCRC, an examinee must successfully complete three ACT WorkKeys assessments: Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information.

9TH GRADERSTOOK ASPIRE EXAM

MET ALL 4 COLLEGE BENCHMARKS

PREDICTED ACT COMPOSITE SCORE FOR GRADE 9 = 18.8 TO 22.3

PREDICTED ACT COMPOSITE SCORE FOR GRADE 10 = 20.6 TO 23.9

AVG. ACT COMPOSITE SCORE = 21.0 WI AVG. COMPOSITE SCORE = 19.9

400

19.8%



370

25.6%



350

22.3%

11TH GRADERSTOOK WORKKEYS EXAM

EARNED A CAREER CERTIFICATE, EXCEEDING

NATIONAL AND STATE BENCHMARKS

350

96.6%

++++

STUDENTSTOOK MAP TEST

MET/EXCEED GROWTH TARGETS FOR MATH

MET/EXCEED GROWTH TARGETS FOR READING

HOW ARE WE DOING?

This represents an increase from the 2013-14 school year of +6.4% in math and +4.4% in reading.

3,300

70.1% 57.3%

+

HOW ARE WE DOING? 3.94 5OUT OF

2014-15 PARENT SATISFACTION RATING

HOW ARE WE DOING?


INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS2.

The OASD Teaching and Learning Department is proud of our 2014-2015 accomplishments relative to the first two district strategic directions. As a team, we’ve been careful to ensure that our second strategic direction, “innovative instructional programming,” doesn’t mean blindly following current trends in education. Instead, our department utilizes a continuous improvement framework when developing and implementing instructional plans for staff. Innovation in instructional practices is explained by the “Four Pillars” graphic at right:

In April 2015, the school board approved the recommendations of our Technology Task Force following nine months of analysis and planning with students, teachers and administrators. Beginning in August of 2015, all 9-12 students will be provided Chromebooks to support their learning, while all 7th and 8th grade students will become part of the 1:1 initiative beginning in 2016-2017. The primary reason for change came from a need to provide consistent access for all students, while allowing teachers to embed the components of college and career readiness (collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking) through the use of digital tools. While our district will never maintain that technology alone provides innovation or improved student outcomes, we recognized that our schools’ limited or inequitable access to technology was impeding teachers’ ability to maximize learning tools. We are excited to move forward with the 1:1 initiative in OASD.

Building the Foundation for Student-Centered Learning

Using evidence-based research and current achievement data to drive change.

Outlining clear, concise actions steps that involve all staff in the learning.

Establishing success criteria to gauge the effectiveness of instructional practices.

Analyzing results and adjusting implementation support based on formative data or achievement results.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR

LEARNING

StudentCenteredPlanning

Understandingby Design &ActionableFeedback

ClassroomDesign

DevelopingCulture forLearning

USING THE ABOVE COMPONENTS AS OUR GUIDING FRAMEWORK, THE TEACHING AND LEARNING TEAM IDENTIFIED THREE GOALS FOR THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR:

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY - Study the effectiveness of our current technology plan and the resulting impact on student learning and achievement

This past year, all 35 of our secondary mathematics instructors (grades 7-12) spent 60 hours in professional development sessions centered on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Eight High Leverage Teaching Practices. Following an intense year of professional learning, our teachers and administrators then evaluated multiple math curriculum solutions which culminated with the OASD Board of Education approving “College Preparatory Mathematics” as our curriculum resource beginning in 7th grade and extending through Algebra II beginning next school year. Our staff and administrators unanimously found increased value in this curriculum compared to current curriculum. Ultimately, our goal is to increase achievement scores in mathematics, as well as observe improvement in the number of students who complete four years of mathematics courses at OHS.

Our district’s most important goal within our “innovative instructional programming” strategic direction remains our commitment to creating instructional opportunities using a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework UDL is an essential component of modern learning environments. The principles of UDL influence our instructional practice.

While the district has some pilot modern learning environments established, such as in the Greenland 4th grade and in the Summit Maker Space, district residents should be proud of our commitment to root best practice research in our definition of student centered learning.

Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that all OASD students find engagement in our learning opportunities and we are committed to developing teacher practice to meet our students’ academic, social and emotional needs.

IMPROVE MATH CURRICULUM - Improve consistency and effectiveness within our mathematics teaching practices at the secondary Level (7-12)

MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS – Using the instructional framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as the lens to view lesson design and student achievement.

INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS

Teacher planning that

begins by understanding

the composition of his/

her class before focusing

exclusively on the content.

Creating a learning

environment that is built

on positive relationships

with all students, while

promoting a sense of value

for all learners.

Establishing learning

intentions and success

criteria for students before

and during units. This

practice allows accelerated

and struggling learners to

find value in the content

instructed and activities

planned.

Classroom design in

which the form meets the

function of the activity. We

strive to create classrooms

that are student-centered,

or built with student needs

in mind. This flexibility

allows for learning to

occur in multiple manners

depending on the activity

or lesson.

MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Greenland 4th grade classroom, Summit Maker Space


GREAT WORKPLACE3.OASD believes that to ensure student success, we must maintain our ability to attract and retain the highest quality staff. Last year we collaborated to create a new competitive strategic compensation program for certified staff. To create a Great Workplace with Highly Engaged Employees, the new compensation model provides an opportunity for individual career growth driven by the employee. The model is intended to inject optimism into OASD’s environment and promote collaboration across the District.

In addition, OASD provides staff with a robust wellness program. Not only does this strategic initiative help to control health insurance costs, it has created an active workplace culture with rewards for healthy behaviors.

Initial Educator

Developing Educator

Professional Educator

Exemplary Educator

Master Educator

5 KEY EDUCATOR CAREER BANDS

EDUCATOR COMPENSATION MODELIn alignment with the strategic goal of creating a great workplace with highly engaged employees, the School Board approved a new educator compensation model, which is effective for the 2015-16 school year. The compensation model provides an opportunity for individual career growth driven by the employee, wrapped with numerous opportunities to invest in learning at a level comfortable for each individual. This strategic compensation model allows the District to ‘think outside the box,’ breaking away from the traditionally bargained step and lane salary matrix. The new compensation model reflects a career banding approach with five key educator career levels, and rewards staff for career growth over time. It allows the District to appropriately compensate its most important resources - teacher educators - for creating positive outcomes with children.

CAREER PATHWAYS AND EDUCATOR CAREER BANDS

GREAT WORKPLACE

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS OFFERINGSEmployees are eligible for a health reimbursement arrangement funded by the district to offset the health insurance deductible with completion of wellness activities, including a health risk assessment questionnaire and screening (spouses included), preventive annual exam (spouses included), benefits survey, and wellness program participation. Employees and spouses track their progress on individual scorecard accounts. Highlights from 2014–15 include:

FITBIT RUNNING /WALKING PROGRAMOne popular wellness program offered was “School Tours,” a fitBit running/walking program. Here is a picture of a group of dedicated runners who ran to each of the district’s eight schools.

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENTSThe district said farewell to 10 teachers

and two paraprofessionals at the end of

the 2014-15 school year at the annual

retirement reception at the Golden Mast.

FRONT ROW: Carol Transon, District

Occupational Therapist, Mary Woytych, OHS

Learning Strategist, Cynthia Sisulak, District

Physical Therapist

BACK ROW: Sherman Leatherberry, OHS Vocal

Music teacher, Roger Lemke, OHS Social Studies

teacher, Marilyn Capperino, OHS Science teacher

NOT PICTURED: Virginia Lord, PKL 2nd grade

teacher, Kathii Naramore, SUM Special Education

Paraprofessional, Dan Raasch, PKL 3rd grade

teacher, Charles Sherry, OHS English teacher,

Barbara Torgerson, GRN Library Paraprofessional,

Mary Margaret Wacker, MDV 3rd grade teacher

95% PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE SCORECARD

Of the 322 enrolled employees met the goal of completing the 4 required items and 2 additional activities

87%

220 SPOUSE PARTICIPANTS96% MET WELLNESS GOAL

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS

Educators from building leadership teams worked

together over the summer


HIGH QUALITY FACILITIES/ 21ST LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS4.The Buildings and Grounds Department includes custodial operations and building maintenance. The first responsibility of the department is the health, safety and welfare of the approximately 5,000 persons who learn, work and visit OASD schools each day. Services associated with the department include general maintenance, custodial, grounds, athletic set ups, plumbing, painting, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, flooring, deliveries, fire safety, general building safety, signage, parking lot maintenance, roofing, building envelope, energy management and coordinates community use of facilities.

THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS; • Over 1 million square feet of buildings on 418 acres of land

• Eight active school sites, as well as a grounds maintenance facility,

school farm and nature center

The Department supports the District’s strategic plan by assuring that all facilities are safe, clean and

properly maintained for student learning.

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS 2014-15 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Completion of Athletic Fields Forever project

• West Fields fencing and scoreboard upgrades

• Assisting in the creation of the Park Lawn outdoor classroom

• Completion of OHS Cafeteria improvements

• OHS freight elevator modernization phase 1 improvements

• Upgraded burners on Meadow View boilers

• Additional security cameras at OHS

• Greenland pilot UDL classroom renovations

• OAC LED lighting retrofit

• Remodel of OHS Electronics/ Robotics Room

• Creation of the Mud Lake nature area at Silver Lake

QUALITY FACILITIES / LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

The school district began long range facilities planning discussions in the fall of 2014 to address three key challenges facing our community:

In addition to establishing a Facilities Vision Statement, the school board identified specific criteria for long-range planning:

OASD SCHOOL BOARD VISION FOR FACILITIESWe will provide flexible, safe, healthy spaces where students, teachers and technology work together in modern, energy-efficient facilities benefiting the entire community.

LONG-TERM FACILITIES PLANNING

1. Aging buildings with deferred maintenance needs

2. School buildings that are over capacity at the Elementary and High School levels

3. The need for modern learning environments in all school buildings that accommodate all learners

Data Driven Decisions

Equity

Community Support

Universal Design for Learning

Flexible & Adaptable Facilities for Future Use

Cost-Benefit & Energy Efficiency

Safety & Security Impact on Operational Budget

SCHOOL BOARD PROJECT DRIVERS

THE PROCESS

The Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC), a volunteer citizen group composed of residents, parents, seniors, staff, business and municipal leaders formed in January 2015. The FAC’s objective is to review, assess, and prioritize identified facility needs throughout the district using the criteria defined above as a guide. Ultimately, the FAC will provide input on the development of a community-wide survey to gather broad feedback and will present advisory recommendations to the administration, school board, and the OASD community in the fall of 2015.

From January through June 2015, the FAC and school board met twice a month and learned from experts both inside and outside

of the school district, including staff, administrators, educators, researchers, architects and construction managers. Each learning session helped committee members understand deferred maintenance, population growth and projections, building capacities, modern learning environments (Universal Design for Learning) and budget implications.

A potential target for bringing a referendum question to the community is Spring 2016. A decision if and when to bring a referendum question forward is dependent on the outcome of a community-wide survey indicating community support, as well as school board approval.

CapacityAging

Facilities

Modern Learning

Environments

NEEDS

COMMUNITY

SUPPORT

Top to bottom: Park

Lawn Elementary outdoor

classroom. New OHS football

field at Rux Stadium. Mud

Lake outdoor classroom at

Silver Lake Intermediate

IXONIA ELEMENTARY

16OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2014-2015 ANNUAL REPORT17

RESPECTING DIVERSITY AMONG PEOPLE & CULTURE5.PBISAll elementary schools received Schools of Distinction Awards from DPI. This award is recognition that all of our schools are implementing the components of PBIS and have data that indicates that it is making a difference in behavior and/or academic achievement. All five schools received recognition awards for their work: four schools at the distinction level (Ixonia, Meadow View, Greenland, and Summit) and one school at merit level (Park Lawn). Schools implementing PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) are schools that focus on teaching student expectations regarding behavior and monitoring their success with data. Schools take time to include families, recognize good behavior and celebrate successes school-wide!

DIVERSITY COMMITTEEThe Diversity Committee was expanded from an employee diversity committee to include issues of diversity faced by students, staff and families. The strategic direction is to expand on student opportunities to learn about diversity. The committee focused this year on identifying the current opportunities for students to establish a baseline to expand from. This work with continue through next year and will include Building Leadership Team feedback.

SERVICE LEARNINGThe Service Learning program is grounded in the District’s strategic direction to “Respect the Diversity Among People and Cultures.” Through this strategic direction, the District has made a commitment to expose our students to different cultures and customs. In an ever more globalized environment, we must make it a priority to build a sense of understanding, respect and appreciation for people and cultures beyond our own. The Service Learning Program creates a safe, comfortable and structured environment for students to be introduced to economic and cultural diversity. Through these learning opportunities students will have the ability to immerse themselves in experiences that will instill the values of commitment, service and compassion into their identity.

The Service Learning Program is not just a one-time community service project. The program goal is to develop a sense of service and cultural awareness in our students. The expectation is that all students participate in various pre-travel learning experiences, in which they will learn about other people and cultures to better prepare them to become compassionate, open minded global citizens. On the trip, through our partner EF Tours, students will immerse themselves in the daily routines and traditions of the host country. Upon their return, students will share their experiences and will bring their learning to the forefront of classroom discussion and academic projects.

OHS junior Brett Sampson placed 2nd at the State Wrestling Tournament.

“Singing in the Rain” earned 16 TOMMY Awards, including Outstanding Musical in the state! This is the fifth time in six years OHS earned Outstanding Musical in the state of Wisconsin.

Park Lawn Elementary 2nd grade teacher Rebecca Beck received the Kohl Fellowship Award and a $3000 grant for her school.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

More than 1,500 middle school students were at the OHS Field House in March for the MLFA State Forensics Meet. Nature Hill and Silver Lake combined had 28 students participate.

Ixonia Elementary end of the year PTO Color Run celebrated school spirit.

OHS Student, Ryleigh Chase listens as 2nd grader Katherine Skumatz explains how to make magic mud as part of her science fair project. More than 90 kids participated in the Greenland Elementary School Science Fair. OHS students volunteered their time as science judges. (Photo credit: Rebecca Seymour)

The 2nd annual Nature Hill Fun Run raised $10,000 for school projects.

OHS Baseball team made it to state playoffs.

Silver Lake students gave a stellar performance of Mulan, Jr. the musical.

Meadow View Elementary School hosted “Stories Around the Campfire” in June. The library was transformed into a campsite complete with a tent, campfire, forest noises, marshmallows, bug spray and more! “Stories Around the Campfire” is the kick off to the all-school summer reading challenge.

OHS band performs at Ixonia elementary for PBIS celebration


BUDGET OVERVIEW BUDGET OVERVIEW

A LOOK BACK: FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 2014-15

HIGHLIGHTS

A LOOK AHEAD: 2015-16 BUDGET OVERVIEW

FUND 46 ESTABLISHEDIn May 2015, the Board authorized the creation of Fund

46: Long Term Capital Improvement Trust to provide a

flexible means for the district to save for long-range capital

maintenance and improvements. Administration recommends

that $500,000 of the current year operating surplus be

transferred to establish Fund 46. Considering this transaction,

the fund balance will improve by a $1 million increment. The

district’s general fund balance remains at a level consistent

with sound financial practice and school board policy.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT EFFICIENCIESThe 2014-15 health insurance renewal was negotiated at

a 1.5% increase primarily the result of taxes, fees, and plan

requirements mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Implementing a 50/50 employer and employee premium share

for vision insurance, and securing a 17% premium reduction

for dental insurance through plan design changes offset the

increased health insurance renewal.

DEBT REFINANCINGDuring 2014-15, OASD completed two debt refinancing

transactions to take advantage of low interest rates. The debt

refinancings generated more than $3 million in present value

savings to the district and its taxpayers.

OPERATIONAL SAVINGSFavorable outcomes in several expenditure categories offset

expenditure over-runs and fund balance utilization for the

Athletic Fields Forever project, generating the projected

increase to OASD’s financial reserves. Positive operating

results were achieved in the following major expenditure

items:

• A potential land purchase in Ixonia, budgeted at

$500,000, was not finalized as of June 30, 2015.

• The local cost share of the Special Education

program was $140,000 under budget due to higher

aids combined with strategic cost containment.

• Personnel costs were $349,000 under budget

representing a reasonable margin of 1.4% on the

$25.6 million budgeted salaries.

• Employee benefits were $480,000 under budget

including WRS, FICA, 403(b) employer match

contributions, pension, and health/dental/life

insurance expenditures.

• General supplies were $200,000 under budget as a

result of reduced grant spending and savings in the

Buildings & Grounds department.

• Student transportation and fuel were under budget

by $62,000 and $98,000, respectively. Planned

additional route mileage and routes were not

necessary and diesel fuel prices were significantly

less than budgeted.

• Lower than anticipated unemployment

compensation and worker’s compensation insurances

resulted in $81,000 and $47,000 in cost savings,

respectively.

TAX LEVYThe November 2014 property tax levy increased by .4%. The

equalized tax rate decreased by 5.1%, as a result of increasing

equalized property values.

In conclusion, we are pleased that OASD continues to adapt

to state-wide changes and to adjust without compromising

the instructional mission of the district. Each site and

department utilizes its budget wisely with every effort to

maximize the results of spending.

We are pleased to report that preliminary General Fund financial results for the year ended June 30, 2015 appear to be favorable. In addition, the District’s bond rating was reaffirmed as “Aa2’ in March 2015, reflecting consistently positive budget results and improving financial strength.

OASD 2014-15 revenues slightly outperformed the budget. While line item revenue performance varied (being both over and under budget), the key contributors to additional revenue collections

included prior year Medicaid cost reimbursements, additional facility rentals, and increased transportation aid.

General Fund expenditures are anticipated to outperform the budget by approximately $1.5 million. Resource reallocation and expenditure discipline continued to be as important as ever during 2014-15. An efficient staffing plan, realistic labor costs, and cautious capital expenditures were required to meet or exceed budget expectations.

The district’s budgetary financial framework is determined primarily by the State of Wisconsin’s budget. During OASD’s budget development, the state’s 2015-17 budget was still pending in the legislature, making many key revenue variables uncertain. The District expects severely limited General Fund revenue growth next year. A zero-increase in the revenue-per-pupil proposed in the State’s budget is a significant constraint on revenue.

State Equalization Aid, which is OASD’s largest funding source other than local property taxes, is expected to decrease by 15%. A decrease in state aid shifts more of the funding burden to the local property tax levy.

The only major factor generating additional revenue for OASD is modest enrollment growth. We expect General Fund revenue to increase by .52% next year based primarily on tight controls by the State.

The full version of the 2015-16 OASD budget is available on the District website at www.oasd.org.

GENERAL FUND REVENUES & EXPENDITURES

A BALANCED BUDGET!

PROPERTY TAXES

General Fund Summary 2014-15 Budget Proposed 2015-16 Budget

Beginning Fund Balance $12,254,170 $12,254,170

Revenues

Local $43,886,316 $46,389,057

State & Interdistrict $12,143,277 $9,941,036

Federal & Other $925,407 $923,907

Land Sales — —

TOTAL $56,955,000 $57,254,000

Expenditures

Instruction $26,367,073 $26,691,969

Support Services $21,762,295 $21,355,444

Transfer to other funds & other Non-Program Transactions

$8,825,632 $9,206,587

TOTAL $56,955,000 $57,254,000

ENDING FUND BALANCE $12,254,170 $12,254,170

Property Tax Levy Summary 2014-15 Actual May Budget 2015-16

General Fund $42,979,614 $45,486,301

Debt Service Fund 39 $4,898,138 $4,649,329

Community Service Fund 80 $562,000 $562,000

Total Levy $48,439,752 $50,697,630

Equalized Tax Base 4,836,984,968 4,919,213,712

Equalized Tax Rate Per $1000 $10.014 $10.306

REFLECT A .52% INCREASE OVER 2014-2015

The budget will be adjusted as necessary before final Board approval in November 2015. By

that time, the District will have final student enrollment, equalized property values, and state

aid information.

2015-16 MILL RATE The tax levy is set using a Mill Rate or Equalized Tax Rate per $1,000. Our mill rate will increase by about $0.30 for 2015-16 due to a 15% loss in state equalization aid. Mill rate is the amount per $1,000 of property value that is used to calculate taxes. For an average Oconomowoc home valued at $250,000, using a mill rate of $10.31 results in the school portion of property taxes to be $2,578.

$250,000AVERAGE OCONOMOWOC HOME

$10.31 PER $1,000

2015-16 Budget Proposal Snapshot

Factor Trend Budget Impact Student

Enrollment IncreasingIncreasing FTE count .7%. This is a conservative enrollment estimate of approximately 40 additional students next year. The 'three-year-rolling-average' increases by 82 students.

General Fund Revenues Increasing Increasing .52%. Revenues will increase primarily as a result of moderate enrollment growth.

State Equalization Aid Decreasing Decreasing 15%. This is the 'worst case', yet realistic, reduction scenario. Decreasing aid will increase the local property tax levy.Local Property

Taxes Increasing Increasing 4.66%. This increase is driven by three factors: (1) loss of state aid (2) enrollment growth, and (3) modest expenditure increases.

Equalized Tax Rate Increasing

Increasing 2.91%. A slight increase of 1.7% was considered to estimate OASD's equalized tax base. Last year was the first time since 2008-09 that OASD's tax base experienced growth. This growth helps to offset the increased tax levy.

General Fund Expenditures Increasing

Increasing .52%. A majority of the District's expenditures increase annually. Compensation, benefits, utilities, insurance, and transportation are driven by increased enrollment and inflation. Resources were reallocated and budget reserves were eliminated to fund OASD's current year operational needs.

Wages & Salary Allowances Increasing

Varied %. A 'pool' of funds equal to 1.5% of base wages was created to allow for salary increases (including steps) for support staff. A pool of 3.1% was created for certified staff to implement a new compensation model.

Staffing Level (Overall) Increasing

Increase 2.07 FTE for all staffing categories. Staffing levels are driven by class size guidelines, enrollment growth, program selection at OHS, and contingency planning. Various staffing shifts and natural attrition are used to match OASD's staffing plan with enrollment needs. The increase in administrators represents position classification changes from other employment categories.

Student Fees Increasing

Increasing 1%. Various changes were made to OASD's fee structure and amounts. See detailed scheduled in Addendum. Overall impact was a modest increase in revenue of $6,000. In addition, course fees may be adjusted based on actual cost of consumables.

Health / Vision / Dental Insurance No Change

No Change. The overall impact of health, vision, dental and long-term disability (ltd) renewals is neutral. The health insurance renewal was brought to a decrease of .8% as a result of provider negotiations and plan design changes. The medical plan decrease offset a 7% dental plan increase and a 5% increase in ltd. Open Enrollment

Expense No ChangeNo Change. Open enrollment estimate for 2015-16 assumes a consistent financial impact with 2014-15, approximately $1.45M in net open enrollment out expenditure.

General Fund Balance (6/30/16) No Change No Change. The budget as presented is balanced with expenditures equal to revenues.

Bond Rating No Change Holding at AA2 as of March 2015. This is a favorable rating.

CLICK HERETO VIEW THE 2015-16 BUDGET PROPOSAL SNAPSHOT.

Thanks to the support of the Oconomowoc Sports Booster Club, community members and alumni, the

“Athletic Fields Forever” fundraising effort resulted in the expansion and renovation of all outdoor athletic

facilities at Oconomowoc High School. Facilities for football, soccer, track, baseball, softball and tennis

were upgraded and improved, resulting in the premier high school athletic complex in southeastern

Wisconsin. Oconomowoc High School is now the only high school in the state of Wisconsin with state-

of-the-art video scoreboards for both the soccer stadium and the football field. We are grateful to the

community for their unwavering support of our students and athletes. THANK YOU!

• Wisconsin Little Ten All-Sport Champions – 4th year in a row• Hosted 13 WIAA regionals, sectionals or Wisconsin Little Ten conference championships• 238 Scholar Athlete recipients - most in school history

2014-15 Highlights

OASD ATHLETICS

ABOUT THE OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTOur district has five 4K–4 elementary schools, two 5–8 intermediate schools and one 9-12 high school. The Oconomowoc Area School District reaches into 13 municipalities in Jefferson, Dodge and Waukesha Counties over 120 square miles. Oconomowoc High School offers both Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, in addition to Project Lead the Way (PLTW), more than 50 clubs and activities, and 27 boys and girls athletic teams.

Summit Elementary Grades 4K-4th 1680 Valley Rd. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-560-8300

Nature Hill Intermediate Grades 5-8 850 Lake Dr. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-569-4940

Silver Lake Intermediate Grades 5-8 555 Oconomowoc Parkway Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-560-4300

Oconomowoc High School Grades 9-12 641 E. Forest St. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-560-3100

Greenland Elementary Grades 4K-4th 440 Coolidge St. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-560-8100

Ixonia Elementary Grades 4K-4th N8425 North Rd. Ixonia, WI 53036 262-560-8400

Meadow View Elementary Grades 4K-4th W360 N7077 Brown St. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-560-8000

Park Lawn Elementary Grades 4K-4th 300 Park Lawn St. Oconomowoc WI 53066 262-560-8200

CONTACT

OASD Administrative Offices W360 N7077 Brown St., Oconomowoc, WI 53066 262-560-1115 www.oasd.org

SUMMIT ELEMENTARY

oconomowoc area school district annual report

Documents