School District Reorganization Options Inlet Common School District

School District Reorganization Options Inlet Common School District January 21, 2015 Alan D. Pole 4514 Whistler Circle, Manlius, NY 13104 (315. 692. 4615/polead@yahoo. com) 1

Greater Expectations for Students v. Common core requirements to be college and career ready v. Passing 5 Regents exams v. More math, more science, more credits v. Focus on increasing graduation rates v. Significant local support for students 2

Declining Enrollments v. Most school districts across New York State are experiencing student enrollment declines 2001 -02 2014 -15 Difference % Difference Inlet 29 26 -3 -10% Old Forge 396 270 -126 -32% 3

Financial Crisis v. Fringe benefit costs continue to increase v. Districts spending down fund balances and reserves v. Utility costs are increasing v. Property tax caps 4

The Perfect Storm v. Greater expectations and opportunities for all students v. Declining student enrollment in many districts v. Precarious financial condition 77% of Superintendents say they will not be able to fund mandates in 4 years; 18% says it will occur in two years. Business as usual will not be an option 5

Reorganization Options ü Tuitioning ü School District Mergers 6

Tuitioning Students to Other Districts 7

Why Do Districts Tuition Students? v. To provide opportunities for students that are not feasible to offer in their home school district. v. To reduce cost. The cost of running a high school is the most expensive operation in the K-12 sequence of grades. 8

Current Tuitioning Arrangement v. Inlet currently has 27 students in Pre-K-6…. . and 1 kindergarten student who is tuitioned to Old Forge v. Inlet currently has 36 students in 7 -12 who are tuitioned to Old Forge v. Rate for tuitioning Pre-K-6: $15, 000/student v. Rate for tuitioning 7 -12: $17, 200/student 9

Distribution of Secondary Students v. Grade 7…… 3 v. Grade 8…… 8 v. Grade 9…… 8 v. Grade 10…. 4 v. Grade 11…. 8 v. Grade 12…. 5 TOTAL……. . 36 10

Cost for Current Tuitioning Arrangement v 1 kindergarten student…………$15, 000 v 36 secondary students…………………. … 619, 200 v. Transportation………………. . … 10, 200 v. TOTAL…………………. . $644, 400 Plus: School Psychologist: $58. 77/hr (4 -12 hrs/mo) Speech Therapist: $108. 38/hr (12 -25 hrs/mo) Secretarial Services: $20. 75/hr (1 hr/mo) Bus repairs & maintenance: $150/month 11

Tuitioning Guidelines v. After a public vote, a district can contract for: -All or part of the elementary students -All or some of the 7 -12 students for a period of 2 -5 years v. Contract may be with one or more school districts 12

Tuitioning Support v. Receiving district cannot charge more than the difference between the cost of educating the student and the amount of state aid received for that student v. Sending district must provide transportation for the tuitioned students 13

Rights of Teachers in Tuitioning v. Sending district teachers are considered employees of the receiving district v. If fewer teachers are needed, teachers cannot bump receiving district teachers v. If laid off, teachers are placed on a preferred eligible list for 7 years v. Length of service carries over for salary, sick leave, and other purposes 14

School District Mergers 15

Why Consider Merger? v. Increase course offerings for students v. Upgrade facilities and equipment v. More cost effective v. Reduce taxes 16

Why Merger May be Difficult v. Fear of losing local identity v. Uncertainty over board representation v. Busing time for students will be increased v. Fear of losing job security by staff v. Natural resistance to change 17

Mergers-What Research Tells Us v. Curriculum opportunities for students will be enhanced v. Extra-curricular opportunities for students will be enhanced v. Tax rates on true value decline v. School district spending increases 18

Types of Reorganization v. Centralization-New district created with a new name and a new board of education v. Annexation-One district takes over the other district with the annexing board of education, administration, contracts, policies, etc. remaining in place 19

Contiguous Districts for Inlet v. Old Forge v. Poland v. Piseco* v. Raquette Lake* *Non-operating Districts 20

The Finances of Merger-Part 1 Incentive Operating Aid Combined operating/foundation aid (GEN Report-Part VII 2006 -07) for both districts is increased as follows: Year 1 -40% Year 2 -40% Year 3 -40% Year 4 -40% Year 5 -40% Year 6 -36% Year 7 -32% Year 8 -28% Year 9 - 24% Year 10 -20% However, a merger of Inlet and Old Forge would not generate any incentive operating aid. Year 11 -16% Year 12 -12% Year 13 -8% Year 14 -4% Year 15 -0% 21

Components of Tuitioning or Merger Study v. Enrollment History and Projections v. Instructional and Extracurricular Program v. Facilities v. Transportation v. Staffing v. Finances 22

Inlet History v. Consultant study in 2000 examined: üStay as is üAnnexation to Old Forge üBecome a non-operating district üChange to a Pre-K-3 school Consultant recommended that Inlet become a non-operating district 23

Non-Operating School Districts v. South Mountain v. Raquette Lake v. Hopevale v. Piseco 24

Future Options v. Remain as currently organized v. Invite Old Forge to discuss options v. Engage in a study to define a non-operating district v. Other 25

Questions? ? ? 26