Your $11 Million Investment

What the expiration of the 2007 levy would mean for our schools

Purpose of Meeting

• Discuss the process for decision making• Understand the history and purpose of the

2007 levy• Share the impact of the potential loss of revenue• Collect input from you

Four Key Decision Making Steps

Current Levy Investment$11M

• Understand how existing funds are being used

• Identify what would be lost if levy is not renewed

Four Key Decision Making Steps

Current Levy Investment$11M

Strategic Five Year Plan

• Support and plan for the need of different student learning styles

• Help each student identify and pursue their passions

• Build a bridge to each students’ future

• Partner with the community

• Having the best teacher in every classroom

Four Key Decision Making Steps

Current Levy Investment $11M

• Control accessibility to buildings and classrooms

• Increase emergency response

• Support students’ psychological well-being

Strategic Five Year Plan

SafetyNeeds

Four Key Decision Making Steps

Current Levy Investment 11M

• Identifying needed resources, i.e. classroom materials, learning devices, media support, etc.

• Ensuring equity among schools

Strategic Five Year Plan

SafetyNeeds

LearningNeeds

*Over 90% of Minnesota school districts have levies in place.

Reasons We Need A RenewalA lot has changed since

November 2007:

Flat state funding/revenue

Increased costs

More unfunded mandates

More student and family

needs

History of State Funding

Fiscal YearFormula Per Pupil % Increase

2006 $4,783 4

2007 $4,974 4

2008 $5,074 2

2009 $5,124 1

2010 $5,124 0

2011 $5,124 0

2012 $5,174 1

2013 $5,224 1

= $4 to $6 million funding shortfall each year

State has capped local levies at $1,604

per pupil

*State-authorized alternative levy cap

School District 2012 Operating Levy $ per pupil

Minnetonka $1,950*

Edina $1,887*

Hopkins $1,755*

Wayzata $1,680*

Roseville $1,575

Mounds View $1,522

White Bear Lake $1,484

Burnsville $1,476

Average $1,360.84

Hastings $1,300

Eden Prairie $1,200

Mahtomedi $1,100

Stillwater $996.57

South Washington County $929

North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale

$833

Forest Lake $725

Operating Levy

Budget cuts totaling

$22.4 million

Additional $11-$17 million budget adjustments

necessary if levy is not renewed in

2014

Budget Reductions = $6.4 millionSpring 2012 and Fall 2012

• Decreased two days from calendar

• Changed school hours• Reduced shuttle buses• Increased fees • Delayed curriculum

purchase• Delayed technology

purchases• Sell advertising space

in schools/grounds

• Reduced staff– Teaching staff– Support staff– Administration/Central

Services staff– Custodial– Paraprofessionals

• Hiring freeze• One-time fund balance

transfers

What would $11 million look like?

Without A Levy Renewal

Beginning in 2014-2015 school year:•Loss of $11 million in revenue •Additional $4-6 million annual shortfall

Total reduction of $15-17 million (approximately 20 percent)

Solutions To Our Budget Challenges

Increase Efficiency

Focus on Sustainability

Re-allocation of Resources

Increase Support at State Level

Levy Request

All of the above

Reflection: Turn and Talk (Two Minutes)

What are your general reactions to the information

shared to this point?

Current $11 Million InvestmentThe Process:• 11 Cost Center teams • Representing all areas of

district budget, such as:– Elementary schools– Junior Highs– High School– Central Services– Transportation– Operations

• Made up of staff with parent representation (over 65 people)

• Feedback from stakeholders

The Charge:• Clarify how the $11 million

is currently being used• Develop a list of potential

adjustments that would need to be made if levy is not renewed

The Cost Center Process

= $11 Million Investment

=68% of investment=68% of investmentClass Size

Student ProgrammingLearning Interventions

Class SizeStudent ProgrammingLearning Interventions

Be Thinking About…

• What things on the list are of greatest concern to you?

• What things do you believe are missing from this list?

• What things do you believe should remain on this list?

Class Size (32%)• Increase elementary class sizes by 3 students• Increase junior high and high school class sizes

by 5-10 students– In reality, because of class scheduling, this could mean as

many as 12 additional students per class

Result: Eliminate as many as 50 teaching positions

Additional teacher cuts included in other categories

Student Programming (24%)• Reduce support for kindergarten program

(currently all day, free; state only funds half day)• Restructure or close an elementary school• Shorten media, vocal music, and physical

education times at the elementary schools• Decrease resources for gifted and talented

program• Reduce elective courses at junior highs and high

school• Eliminate elementary band/orchestra (grade 5-6)

Result: Cut approximately five teachers

Learning Interventions (12%)• Eliminate as many as 25 student support positions,

including:– Paraprofessionals– Reading specialists– Special Education teachers– Building administrators– Counselors– Nurses– Clerical staff

• Reduce reading and math support for struggling students

Facilities/Operations (8%)

• Reduce cleaning and supply budgets• Close Oak-Land Junior High pool• Increase rental costs of district facilities, and

decrease availability of facilities to public• Eliminate as many as 15 custodians and

groundskeepers

Learning Environments (6%)

• Reduce the instructional time students are in school (i.e. less student days or four day school week)

• Decrease daytime building temperatures

Curriculum and Instruction (6%)

• Decrease budget for new initiatives• Decrease budget for curriculum• Reduce support staff• Delay technology replacement cycle

General Administrative Services (5%)

• Reduce services, equipment, and other business functions of the district– Auditing– Communications– Professional memberships– Training opportunities– Hiring

Student Transportation (3%)• Reduce transportation service to the state

minimum (All elementary, secondary for public and nonpublic schools)– No transportation for all students living within two miles of

their school– Earlier bus pick up times and later drop off times for all

students– No special consideration for hazardous conditions

(i.e. highways, railroad tracks, etc.) or fee for service options

• Eliminate transportation to St. Croix Valley Area Learning Center

Co-Curricular (3%)• Eliminate funding for 7-8th grade sports• Eliminate some junior high and high school

clubs• Increase activity fees ($70 or more per sport)• Increase ticket prices to attend high school

concerts• Eliminate athletic equipment budgets for all

sports (made up through fundraising/booster clubs)

Security (2%)• Eliminate contracts for school resource officers at

both junior high schools• Eliminate contract for private security at Stillwater

Area High School

NOTE: Staff would be assigned

supervision duties Board is currently

considering other building safety measures (ie. entrance access, etc.)

Supplies and Materials (1%)

• Reduce classroom and office resources– Printing– Copying – Supplies– Materials

Professional Development (Less than 1%)

• Reduce professional development and training opportunities for all staff

• Reduce and/or eliminate consulting services and external training

• Reduce dues and memberships

= $11 Million Investment

=68% of investment=68% of investmentClass Size

Student ProgrammingLearning Interventions

Class SizeStudent ProgrammingLearning Interventions

What’s at Stake if Levy Expires• More students per class

– Fewer teachers– Higher class sizes– Fewer school buildings

• Less time students are in school– Fewer school days

• Fewer opportunities for students– Less support for struggling

students– Fewer elective classes– Fewer activities

• Less care/maintenance of schools– Cleanliness decreased– Pool closure– Delayed repairs

• More expenses for families– Higher activity fees– Fees for kindergarten

Your Feedback

• What things on the list are of greatest concern to you?

• What things do you believe are missing from this list?

• What things do you believe should remain on this list?

Making Levy Decisions

Current Levy Investment 11M

Levy Request

School BoardDecision

Strategic 5 Year Plan

SafetyNeeds

LearningNeeds

Next Steps:

• School board considers budget cut list– Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m.,

Central Services

• Community Town Hall Meetings– Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m.

at Oak-Land– Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m.

at Stillwater Junior High

• Special school board meeting– All day Saturday, March 2

• School board to approve budget cut list– March 7 at 7 p.m.,

Stillwater City Hall

• School board to make levy decision– April 11 at 7 p.m.,

Stillwater City HallInvite your friends and

neighbors, whether they have kids or not!

Thank You!