Transcript Town Hall Presentation - Elizabeth School District

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Welcome and Introduction
Board President, Deb Spenceley
Statement of Purpose – To provide the
community with information and answer the
public’s questions concerning the history,
current status, and pending issues regarding
district finance.
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Presentations
Legislative Impact and Our Efforts - Board Vice President, Chip Swan
The Past, Present, Future - Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Dee Lindsey
Key Challenges and Strategic Opportunities - Superintendent, Douglas Bissonette
Current Financial Status - Chief Financial Officer, Ron Patera
Comments – Teacher, Parent, Student
Q&A (via notecards)
with the Panel Presenters
One on One Q&A and Informal Discussions
with Board Members, District Administration, ESD 101 Members, & Committees
Closing Comments
Why did you come to tonight’s session?
A. I am concerned about the level of funding at our
schools.
B. I am concerned about how my tax dollars are spent.
C. I have specific questions about district finances.
D. I have no concerns, but want to learn more about the
district.
Do you have children that attend Elizabeth
Schools?
A. Yes I have children that attend Elizabeth Schools.
B. Yes I have grandchildren that attend Elizabeth Schools.
C. No I do not have children or grandchildren who do (or
will) attend Elizabeth Schools.
D. I have children or grandchildren who will attend
Elizabeth Schools in the future.
How long have you lived in the Elizabeth
School District?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Less than 2 years
Between 2-5 years
Between 6-10 years
More than 10 years
How involved are you in Elizabeth Schools?
A.
B.
C.
D.
I am extremely involved and volunteer all the time.
I sometimes volunteer.
I am not really involved.
Not at all.
Household value goes up with high quality
schools.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Disagree
Who is the largest employer in Elizabeth?
A. Walmart
B. Safeway
C. Elizabeth School District
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Legislative Impact and Our Efforts
Board Vice President, Chip Swan
How many bills (changes to regulation)
were introduced in the 2014 legislative
session?
A.
B.
C.
D.
0-40
41-80
81-100
100 or more
What is the “Negative Factor”?
A. The percentage that enrollment declines from one year
to the next.
B. That person who is always pointing out problems.
C. A simple factor in about a 5 page equation that reduces
funding to a school district.
D. The impact of unfunded mandates on the ability of
districts to educate students.
Legislative Impact and Our Efforts
• The negative factor decreased Elizabeth Schools
funding by $3.1 million this year alone.
• Over a 4 year period the negative factor
decreased funding to our district by over $10
million.
• This legislative session the legislators said they
would make a substantial step in paying back the
negative factor.
How much of the $3.1 million lost to our
school district will be paid back because of
legislation this year?
A.
B.
C.
D.
$300,000 to $600,000
$1.5 to $1.8 million
$2 million to $2.5 million
$3.1 million
Legislative Impact and Our Efforts
A Resolution in Support of our Colorado Superintendents’
Shared Concerns Regarding the Extremely Inadequate Funding
of our Public Schools and the Colorado Association of School
Board’s call to Eliminate the Negative Factor
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we will individually and
collectively, and in cooperation with other like-minded boards of
education, professional associations and citizen organizations,
support all efforts to restore the funding, without mandates, as
called for by CASB and our state’s Superintendents by engaging
and informing our community of fiscal effects of the “negative
factor” and ensuring our legislators are aware of the impacts of
funding constraints on our ability to provide a fair and high
quality education in our district.
Legislative Impact and Our Efforts
A Resolution Concerning the Growing and Alarming Pace of State
Acquiescence to Federal Intrusion into State Educational Priorities and
Operations, and State Intrusion into Local Control of Education, Specifically but
Not Limited to the Use of Common Core Standards and PARCC Assessments
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we must act to limit unwarranted intrusion
by state and federal agencies which encroaches upon the community’s
constitutional authority to set educational standards and priorities for our
students and which creates unintended consequences that degrade our ability
to serve our students; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we will individually and
collectively, and in cooperation with other like-minded boards of education,
professional associations and citizen organizations, take action to narrow
pathways for state and federal intrusion into our local educational priorities. In
addition, we will support legislation that will seek to delay and reexamine the
implementation of PARCC assessments. Furthermore, we support adoption of
the highest possible academic standards for our state.
Legislative Impact and Our Efforts
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
The Past, The Present, The Future
Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Dee Lindsey
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Fund Balance Analysis of C-1
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
$3,000,000
$2,000,000
$1,000,000
$0
-$1,000,000
-$2,000,000
-$3,000,000
Should school district finances be more
transparent?
A. Yes
B. No
How does Elizabeth High School compare
academically with neighboring schools?
A. About the same
B. EHS is inferior
C. EHS excels
What should we do with increased
funding?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Improve our buildings
Attract and retain quality teachers
Upgrade technology
All of the above
What is the Elizabeth School District’s rank
in state per pupil funding?
A. Bottom 5%
B. Top 25%
C. Top 50%
What was the percentage of teacher turnover last year?
A. Below 5%
B. Between 10%-15%
C. Above 20%
What is the district’s biggest expense?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Transportation
Salaries and Benefits
Buildings and Facilities
Technology
Approximately how large is the Elizabeth
School District annual operating budget?
A.
B.
C.
D.
$10,000,000
$20,000,000
$50,000,000
$80,000,000
In your opinion, do you feel the school
district is heading in the right direction.
A. Yes, headed in the right direction.
B. No, off on the wrong track.
What is your willingness to increase taxes
to pay for a bond to address critical
infrastructure needs.
A. Very willing
B. Somewhat willing
C. Not willing
What is your willingness to increase taxes
for Mill Levy to attract and retain high
quality staff, for safety resources, and to
improve technology in our schools.
A. Very willing
B. Somewhat willing
C. Not very willing
What is your opinion on allowing the
district to opt out of burdensome federal
regulations, having adequate resources,
without accepting money from the Federal
Department Of Education
A. Strongly agree that it is a good idea.
B. Somewhat agree that it is a good idea.
C. Disagree, that is a crazy idea.
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
The Challenges and Strategic
Opportunities
Superintendent, Douglas Bissonette
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Current Financial Status
Chief Financial Officer, Ron Patera
Ada ms 12
27.460
Aurora
26.898
Cherry Creek
27.049
Littleton
25.846
St. Vrain
25.306
J effco
26.827
Denv er
26.861
Dougc o
Eng lewood
Eliz abeth
22.765
16.25
26.915
20.682
11.26
8.497
18.133
20.777
14.8
7.489
10.913
26.236
22.185
20.377
13.394
16.300
12.714
15.128
13.208
10.248
7.365
11.326
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Teacher Perspective
Marilyn Travis
- 2nd grade teacher
- District employee
25 years
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Parent Perspective
Andrea Hei
- RCE PTCO President
- Citizen Impact Committee
Co- Chair & Founder
Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting
Student Perspective
Gav Houston
- EHS Senior
- Track and Wrestling
- Attending Air Force Academy
Fall 2014