solutions in sustainability presented by : long-range planning committee a special committee of the...

Solutions in Sustainability

Presented By:Long-Range Planning Committee

A Special Committee of the Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee

Comprised of Select Board Representatives from; Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, Shelburne, Rowe

January 21st, 2015

How to Insure the Long-Term Sustainability for Public Education Within the Mohawk Trail Regional School District

Mohawk Trail Regional School District Long-Range Planning Committee

Members

Bob Aeschback, MTRSD School Committee Susan Gleason, Rowe Select Board Beth Bandy, Charlemont Select Board Joe Judd, Shelburne Select Board, ChairRon Coler, Ashfield Select Board Sheila Litchfield, Heath Select BoardRobert Dean, Buckland Select Board John Sears, Hawley Select BoardJudy Feeley, Plainfield Select Board, Alt. Larry Shearer, ColrainDonald Freeman, Heath Finance Com Chris Stockman, Plainfield

Mission Statement

Mohawk District member towns partnering to explore and communicate to stakeholders the options for a financially sustainable, quality public education

for the next 20 years.

Presentation Note(s)

1. White Paper – This PowerPoint presentation is to be considered a supplemental resource and is intended to be viewed in conjunction with a detailed white paper entitled “Sustainable Schools: Recommendations for the Mohawk Trail Regional School District”, dated January 21, 2015.

2. Regional School District Comparisons: Pioneer Valley School District - Bernardston, Northfield, Leyden, and Warwick Nashoba School District - Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow

3. Dates and Date Ranges Vary – Although some of the data varies with respect to date ranges, this committee has focused primarily on analysis of data trends.

4. Data Hot Links – Dynamic in nature & located at bottom of each slide.5. District-Wide – Presentation focuses on district-wide data.

Today’s PresentationUnderstanding the Sustainability of the

Mohawk Trail Regional School District (MTRSD)

Sustainable Solution

Social• Students• Community support• Regional Agreement

Economic• School buildings• Financial support

from towns• Financial support

from state• Transportation

Education• School culture• Qualified staff• Standards• High Academic

Performance

Three Components• Social • Economic• Education

Elements of the Social Component

The Concept of a Local School

Enrollment

Population Demographics

Community Support

Regional Agreement

Economic Education

Social

The Concept of a Local School – A Sense of PlaceSocial

• Pride• Reflection of the Community• A Gathering Place• Innovation – Increase Community Involvement

The Mohawk Trail Regional K-12 School DistrictSocial

An Overlying Perspective;

• Of the 322 operating public school districts in MA, 35 are K-12 regional districts

• At 253 square miles, the MTRSD constitutes the largest school district in the State.

• With current, low student enrollment, we are the least-dense in terms of students per square mile.

Rowe Heath Colrain

BucklandHawley

Ashfield

http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/regional/

Bound together by an 8-Town, Regional Agreement with special consideration with regard to the town of Rowe.

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 20307,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

9,500

10,000

10,500

11,000

7,201

8,213

9,212

10,265

http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/node/40717

Social

1958 Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School Opens

1952 Colrain Central School Opens

Population of the Regional Communities (1940 – 1990)

A Snapshot of the Development of our School Infrastructure

1967 Mohawk Trail Regional High School Opens

April, 1988 NESDEC Report –” A Statement of Needs”New England School Development Council

Social(NESDEC) April, 1988 Report – A Statement of Needs

District Wide 1613 1774 1949 2192

Study Team: NESDEC Exec. Dir. John R. Sullivan, & Sally Von Benken, Admin. Asst. Consultants Bedros Kamitian & Corridon R. Trask

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 20307,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

9,500

10,000

10,500

11,000

7,201

8,213

9,212

10,265

10,750

http://www.massschoolbuildings.org/node/40717

Social

1958 Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School Opens

1998 Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School Last Renovation

1952 Colrain Central School Opens

1997 Colrain Central School Last Renovation1997 Heath Elementary School Opens

Population of the Regional Communities (1950 – 2000)

A Snapshot of the Development of our School Infrastructure

1967 Mohawk Trail Regional High School Opens

1998 Mohawk Trail Regional High School Last Renovation

April, 1988 NESDEC Report –” A Statement of Needs”New England School Development Council

1997 Sanderson Academy Opens

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 20304,000,000

4,500,000

5,000,000

5,500,000

6,000,000

6,500,000

7,000,000

4,316,721

4,690,514

5,148,578

5,689,170

5,737,037

6,016,425

6,349,097

6,547,629

6,757,574

6,838,254MTRS District Population (15.7% Increase over 1940 Population)(1.4% Increase over 1970 Population)

http://pep.donahue-institute.org/ & http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents

MA State Population (58.4% Increase over 1940 Population)(20.2% Increase over 1970 Population)

Social

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 20307,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

9,500

10,000

10,500

11,000

7,201

7,516

7,649

8,213

9,212

10,265

10,750

10,160

9,466

8,329

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

-15.00%

-10.00%

-5.00%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

9.8%10.5%

0.8%

4.9% 5.5%

3.1% 3.2%

1.2%

1.8%

7.4%

12.2%11.4%

4.7%

-5.5%

-6.8%

-12.0%

MA % GrowthDistrict % Growth

http://pep.donahue-institute.org/ & http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents

The Regional CommunitiesSix Decades of Population Growth

Decade to Decade - Percent Change in Population

Social

Projected

MTRSD Enrollment Trends (1995 – 2013)

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

900Primary

19951996

19971998

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

900

Secondary

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=07170000&orgtypecode=5&&fycode=2013

Social

PreK-12 Enrollment (1998 – 2013)A Comparison of Growth Rates With State & Other Regional School Districts

http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/statistics/

State EnrollmentPioneer Regional

Nashoba Regional

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

-0.18%

-6.66%

21.44%

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Total Period

Mohawk Regional

-45.0%

-40.0%

-35.0%

-30.0%

-25.0%

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

-40.09%

Social

Enrollment Data for Students Living Within Our Towns

2010 Through 2014

Social

MTRSD Superintendent’s Office

Note - Out-of District Public = School Choice or SPED

Instructional Capacity vs. Actual Enrollment – 2015


Social

Totals - 1,715 975 56.8%

Instructional Capacity: The maximum number of students that can be educated within the school building using current instructional methods. This number has been provided by current school administrators (principals).

Design Capacity: The maximum number of students that can be educated within the school building according to the Massachusetts School Building Authority at the time the building was constructed.

Period From 2005 – 2013 Student/Teacher Ratio

A Comparison With State & Other Regional School Districts

http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/teacher.aspx?orgcode=07170000&orgtypecode=5&&fycode=2004

State Mohawk Pioneer Valley

Nashoba Valley

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

13.53

11.5312.26

13.83

Mohawk

Pioneer Valle

y

Nashoba Valle

y

-16.00%

-14.00%

-12.00%

-10.00%

-8.00%

-6.00%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

-14.78%

-9.39%

2.22%

Percent Variance From State Avg.Average Students/Teacher Ratio

Social

Complications Present in a Regional SchoolGovernance by Regional Agreement

Social

To implement measures that would improve education in the Mohawk Trail Regional School District will require that changes be made to the current regional agreement.

Amending the regional agreement requires unanimous approval by all member towns.

Complications Present in a Regional School Governance by Regional Agreement

Social

For example;

1. Certain sections that define the rights and responsibilities of the Town of Rowe and the Mohawk District need to be updated.

2. Another section of the regional agreement that speaks to Mohawk’s role with the four towns with non-operating vocational school departments is outmoded and ignored, leaving that role entirely undefined.

3. The existing agreement does not empower member towns to pursue, on their own or in collaboration with other member towns, cost-saving solutions to problems of student enrollment and educational efficiency.

Elements of the Economic Component

Education

Social

Economic

School Buildings

Financial Support From Towns

Financial Support From State

Transportation

The Mohawk Trail Regional School District

Economic

A Large Institution;

• Employing a staff of 232 (fte) persons• Overseeing a budget with expenses in excess of 17 million dollars

Rowe Heath Colrain

BucklandHawley

Ashfield


Education as a Function of General Fund Expense

http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/municipal-data-and-financial-management/data-bank-reports/municipal-actual-revenues-and-expenditures.html

Economic

Note – includes all educational expenses

Massachusetts Department of RevenueDivision of Local Services

Municipal Databank/Local Aid SectionGeneral Fund Expenditures

http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/municipal-data-and-financial-management/data-bank-reports/municipal-actual-revenues-and-expenditures.html

Economic

40.00%

42.00%

44.00%

46.00%

48.00%

50.00%

52.00%

54.00%

56.00%

47.39%

49.47%

54.11%

52.82%

51.07%

54.11%

41.52%42.22%

44.47%

48.28%

46.45%

48.65%

On average, the MTRSD participating towns pay

4.78% more as a function of their total town expense than do other MA towns.

With the total expense of all 8 member towns being

$20,047,832, 4.78% is equivalent to

$957,318

Education as a Function of General Fund Expense

Regional Transportation ReimbursementThe Law – MGL Title Xll Chapter 71 Section 16C

Economic

Title Xll Chapter 71 Section 16C. The regional school district shall be subject to all laws pertaining to school transportation; and when the agreement provides for the furnishing of transportation by the regional school district, the regional school district shall be obliged to provide transportation for all school children in grades kindergarten through twelve and the commonwealth shall reimburse such district to the full extent of the amounts expended for such transportation; provided, however, that no reimbursement for transportation between school and home shall be made on account of any pupil who resides less than one and one-half miles from the school of attendance, measured by a commonly traveled route. The commonwealth shall further reimburse such district to the full extent of the amounts expended for the transportation of pupils between school and a child care center licensed or approved by the department of early education and care or a child care facility which is part of a public school system or a private, organized educational system, in accordance with standards approved by the school committee; provided, however, that no reimbursement shall be made if the distance between the school and said facility is less than one and one-half miles, measured by a commonly traveled route, nor shall reimbursement be provided for transportation to a day care facility located outside the boundaries of the regional school district. The state treasurer shall annually, on or before November twentieth, pay to the regional school districts, subject to appropriation, the sums required for such reimbursement and approved by the commissioner of education.

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter71/Section16C

TransportationA Comparison of Public Road Miles Within Regional School Districts (K-12)

Mohawk District Public Road Miles

Ashfield 83.19 Buckland 50.5 Charlemont 57.55 Colrain 86.32 Hawley 48.53 Heath 59.53 Plainfield 48.78 Rowe 36.24 Shelburne 59.18 TOTAL 529.82

Pioneer Valley DistrictPublic Road Miles

Bernardston 58.07 Northfield 83.73 Leyden 38.08 Warwick 64.49TOTAL 244.37

Nashoba Valley DistrictPublic Road Miles

Bolton 64.81 Lancaster 71.15 Stow 59.94 TOTAL 195.9

2013 Student Enrollment3,399



http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=07170000&orgtypecode=5&2013-2014 Massachusetts Municipal Directory

Economic

Transportation ReimbursementAn Expense Comparison Within Regional School Districts (K-12)

Nashoba District Pioneer Valley District Mohawk District0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

17.4

4.3

1.9

Number of Students Per Road Mile


http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/transportation/

Economic

Regional Transportation ReimbursementState Reimbursement to Our Regional District - A Six Year Perspective

Had we been reimbursed the full 100%, over the same period,

an additional $1,574, 738

would have flowed into the district


http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/transportation/

Economic

Note – Does not include vocational

School Expense as Compared with Enrollment

Economic

717 MOHAWK TRAIL

expenditures pupils

FY05 18,409,000 1,524.6

FY06 18,940,981 1,418.9

FY07 18,943,261 1,371.1

FY08 19,042,899 1,211.2

FY09 18,543,863 1,248.6

FY10 18,666,463 1,151.2

FY11 18,363,640 1,209.1

FY12 17,882,986 1,181.5

FY13 18,216,806 1,119.5

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY130

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

16,000,000

18,000,000

20,000,000

0.0

200.0

400.0

600.0

800.0

1,000.0

1,200.0

1,400.0

1,600.0

1,800.0

Trends in Total Membership and Expenditures

expenditures pupils

http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/statistics/ppx13.html

School Expense Represented on a Per Pupil Basis

Economic

717 MOHAWK TRAIL

Per Pupil Expenditure

District MA Average

FY05 $12,075 $10,600

FY06 $13,349 $11,210

FY07 $13,816 $11,858

FY08 $15,722 $12,448

FY09 $14,852 $13,006

FY10 $16,215 $13,047

FY11 $15,188 $13,354

FY12 $15,136 $13,652

FY13 $16,272 $14,000

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY130

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

Per Pupil Expenditure Trends District and Massachusetts Average

district MA average


Period From 2005 – 2013 Total Cost Per Pupil



Percent Variance From State Avg.Period Average

State

Mohawk

Pioneer V

alley

Nashoba V

alley

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

$12,577

$14,736

$13,344$12,030

Mohawk Pioneer Valley Nashoba Valley

-5.00%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00% 17.17%

6.10%

-4.35%

Economic


Economic

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Total Expenditure Per Pupil, All Funds, By Function, FY13

717 MOHAWK TRAIL 319 of 324 districts reporting

In-District FTE Average Membership = 999.6

Out-of-District FTE Average Membership = 119.9 grants, total function as expend- state

Total FTE Average Membership = 1,119.5 general fund revolving and expenditures percentage iture per average

appropriations other funds all funds of total pupil per pupil

Administration 539,217 5,760 544,977 2.99 545.20 482.10 Instructional Leadership 1,165,721 176,068 1,341,789 7.37 1,342.33 878.51 Classroom and Specialist Teachers 4,444,676 927,874 5,372,550 29.49 5,374.70 5,287.36 Other Teaching Services 1,531,323 105,940 1,637,263 8.99 1,637.92 1,084.86 Professional Development 97,325 21,615 118,940 0.65 118.99 224.88 Instructional Materials, Equipment and Technology 269,873 126,930 396,803 2.18 396.96 410.28 Guidance, Counseling and Testing 439,520 0 439,520 2.41 439.70 402.53 Pupil Services 1,426,787 647,700 2,074,487 11.39 2,075.32 1,296.64 Operations and Maintenance 1,627,900 7,265 1,635,165 8.98 1,635.82 1,061.04 Insurance, Retirement Programs and Other 3,136,792 56,646 3,193,438 17.53 3,194.72 2,360.06

Expenditures Within The District 14,679,134 2,075,798 16,754,932 16,762 13,488 Expenditures Outside the District 1,350,474 111,400 1,461,874 8.02 12,192.44 21,378.71

TOTAL EXPENDITURES 16,029,608 2,187,198 18,216,806 100.00 16,272.27 13,999.20

percentage of overall spending from the general fund 88.0%

District 2013 ExpendituresComparison to State Averages

Period From 2005 – 2013 Maintenance & Operation Expense Per Pupil


http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/finance.aspx?orgcode=07170000&orgtypecode=5&

Percent Variance From State Avg.Period Average

State Mohawk Pioneer Valley Nashoba Valley$900

$950

$1,000

$1,050

$1,100

$1,150

$1,200

$1,250

$1,021

$1,212

$1,036

$981

Mohawk Pioneer Valley Nashoba Valley

-5.00%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%18.71%

1.54%

-3.93%

Economic

Capital Expense – Current


Economic

Capital Expense – Future


Economic

Elements of the Education Component

Social

Economic

School Culture

Qualified Staff

Standards

Academic Performance

Education

Our Regional Towns – Having Signed The Recently Developed Non-Binding Broadband Initiative

Alford

AshfieldBecketBlandfordCharlemontChesterfieldColrainCummingtonEgremontGoshenHawley

HeathLeydenMiddlefieldMontereyMontgomeryNew AshfordNew MarlboroughNew SalemPeruPlainfieldRowe

RoyalstonSandisfieldShutesburyTollandTyringhamWarwickWashingtonWendellWest StockbridgeWindsorWorthington

Educational

The School Administration, School Committee, and the Regional Towns need to be more vocal and support an affordable broadband initiative that keeps pace with the expectations of parents interested in providing their children with a quality education.

1. Share School Buildings2. Produce Alternative Energy for Heating, Electricity, and Revenue Generation3. Pursue Full Reimbursement of Regional Transportation Costs from the State4. Conduct Student Exit Surveys5. Incorporate a “Rurality” Factor in Chapter 70 State Aid Formula6. Enhance On-The-Ground Familiarity of School Committee Members with the District’s Operations7. Support the Drive for High-Speed Internet8. Proposed Changes to the Regional Agreement

A. Section XIV – AmendmentsB. Section IIIB - Pupils Entitled to Attend the Regional Elementary SchoolsC. Section IIIE - Vocational and Trade School Pupils D. Section II – Type of Regional District - Pre-K District-Wide UniformityE. Section X – Local Education Councils

Recommendations

Social

Economic Education

Seeking Sustainable Solutions

Solutions

Reduce Operating Expenses (Heating)Through a Transition to Wood Heat

Solutions


Transition from Fossil Fuels ($387,000 ± /yr)to Wood Chips or Pellets

• Environmentally sustainable• Benefits the local economy• Feasibility rpts. done for three schools

Mohawk Regional High School Buckland Shelburne Elementary School Colrain Central School

• In VT, one out of every three students attend public schools heated with renewable fuels.

Dollar Savings inOperating Costs over

Current Fuel Consumption

CO2 Offset from Conversion to Wood

30 Years after Conversion

Mohawk Trail Regional School 78,142 Gal. Propane 437 Tons $1,700,000 Buckland Shelburne Elementary School 26,951 Gal. of Oil 272 Tons $2,400,000 Colrain Elementary School 14,384 Gal. of Oil 145 Tons $1,200,000

Total Savings $5,300,000

Reduce Operating Expenses (Electricity) Through a Transition to Solar Energy

Solutions

http://www.621energy.com/case-studies/hoosac-valley-middlehigh-school/

• 621 Energy reported that the school saved $30,000 last year in electricity costs and is expected to save more in 2015.

• Mohawk High School is a perfect site for roof-mounted solar panels because of its south-facing orientation and metal roof.

• The LRPC recommends that a) the District ask 621 Energy to do a free assessment of the Mohawk building and make a proposal as soon as possible; b) the District explore the cost of owning a solar array outright.

Substantially Reduce Today’s Electricity Expenses

($248,000 ± /yr)

Mission Statement

Mohawk District member towns partnering to explore and communicate to stakeholders the options for financially sustainable, quality public education for the next 20 years.Questions?

Mohawk Trail Regional School District Long-Range Planning Committee

A Special Committee of the Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee

Members

Bob Aeschback, MTRSD School Committee Susan Gleason, Rowe Select Board Beth Bandy, Charlemont Select Board Joe Judd, Shelburne Select Board, ChairRon Coler, Ashfield Select Board Sheila Litchfield, Heath Select BoardRobert Dean, Buckland Select Board John Sears, Hawley Select BoardJudy Feeley, Plainfield Select Board, Alt. Larry Shearer, ColrainDonald Freeman, Heath Finance Com Chris Stockman, Plainfield

solutions in sustainability presented by : long-range planning committee a special committee of the...

Documents

school district social

largest school district

regional districts

districtwide presentation

districtwide data

social component

board representatives

special committee