FHSD Proposition Howell Information About Francis Howell FHSD
FHSD Proposition Howell Information
About Francis Howell FHSD is one of the largest employers in St. Charles County, covering over 150 square miles with more than 2, 200 employees serving over 18, 000 students in 23 buildings.
Background and Information
Revenue Background 6 years of voluntary rollbacks (2004 – 2010) 6 years of declining assessed values (2009 – 2015) • >$30 million not collected • Loss of approximately $2 million every reassessment cycle State Aid • State Formula not fully funded since 2009 Loss of Special Purpose Levy in 2014 • No longer generates over $4 million annually
Expenditure Background • Reductions • Decreased 190 staff positions since 2008 • Made $8. 2 million in reductions last fiscal year • Made an additional $4 million in cuts this year • Additions • Added three days to teacher contract for professional development • Gave salary increases commensurate with increased contract days
Reduction Examples • Supports for struggling learners including tutoring programs, interventionists, and online practice materials • Staff including classroom teachers, counselors, special education staff, and alternative high school staffing • Aging technology devices not replaced • Aging textbooks and materials not replaced • Sports and extra-curricular offerings, random drug testing program, AP course offerings, parent involvement budgets, and new teacher supports
Why? ST. CHARLES COUNTY MAP PERFORMANCE 2014 -15 MPI (MAP Performance Index) 390 380 370 360 350 340 330 St. Charles Orchard Wentzville Fort Farm Zumwalt Francis Howell In 2015, a random phone survey of hundreds of District patrons indicated that 99% felt that it was “very important” or “somewhat important” that FHSD continue to be the highest achieving school district in St. Charles County.
Why? According to research by the Wall Street Journal, buyers are willing to pay more for a property if it’s in a good school district. That’s because even if they do not have children, buyers know a good school district helps a home remain attractive.
What? • 60 cent operating levy • November 8 ballot • Simple majority required to pass • 2004 last approved tax levy increase
Costs? For the owners of a $200, 000 home, the cost of Prop Howell would be approximately $19 per month.
What’s Different than August 2015? Amount: 60 Cents Timing: November Large Voter Turnout Communication: Increased methods to inform community Cuts: $8 Million in 2015 -2016 Cuts: $4 Million in 2016 -2017 Salary Freeze: 2016 -2017
The Future Without Prop Howell • Cuts will remain in place • Additional cuts will be necessary to balance the budget and account for typical increases in expenditures (utilities, fees, liability insurance, increasing required state initiatives such as dyslexia testing, anti-bullying training, CPR, etc. ) • Future cuts will have direct impact on classrooms; no longer an option to cut “away from students” • Difficulty maintaining academic excellence will affect property values and community
The Future With Prop Howell: Funding Priorities • Technology • Restore cycle of device replacement • Upgrade firewall to protect district data • Update wireless speeds and reliability • Staffing • Restore some classroom teaching positions • Restore teacher assistant positions to support struggling students • Increase counselors for students in crisis • Add staff to support English as Second Language students • Continue focus on attracting and maintaining the most qualified staff
The Future With Prop Howell: Funding Priorities • Curriculum • Reinstate textbook replacement cycle • Provide additional online/Advanced Placement courses • Restore academic tutoring • Maintenance and Capital Projects • • • Update HVAC Replace school roofs Repair parking lots Increase security at building entrances Update security camera systems
Ballot Language “Shall the Board of Education of the Francis Howell School District be authorized to increase the operating tax levy for the purpose of providing funds to maintain high student academic performance; reduce class size; attract and retain high quality teachers; improve student and staff safety and security; increase technology for students and staff; improve and maintain District facilities; maintain transportation; and fund ongoing operating expenses by $0. 60 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the school district is estimated to be $4. 9472 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation. ”
Upcoming Election Information November 8, 2016 • Expecting 80 -85% voter turnout • Approximately 88, 000 registered voters in our district • Large ballot will include many candidates and issues, Prop Howell will be at or near the end of the ballot • School will not be in session that day, nine different District buildings will be used as polling places
More Prop Howell Information
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