Transcript District Presentation - Southern Tioga School District

District Presentation
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Southern Tioga School District
Section 780 Hearing
Addressing the closure of either the North Penn
High School or the Liberty Elementary School
which would move students to Liberty HS.
Mr. Keith Yarger
Stephanie DiVittore
Superintendent
Moderator/Solicitor
Agenda
•
•
•
Opening Remarks
Format for Public Participation
Critical Issues
1. Key Points Considered
2. Program Considerations
3. Transportation
4. Financial Considerations
• Timeline
• Public Testimony
• Adjournment
Southern Tioga School District

Mission Statement:
• The Southern Tioga School District, together with
parents and the community, our mission is to develop
successful learners who are productive, innovative, and
responsible global citizens.

Vision Statement:
• The Southern Tioga School District is an empowered
learning community where the curriculum is standards
based, rigorous, relevant, and evolving. Our students
will learn in a safe environment where unity and
diversity are valued. As cornerstones of the
communities, our schools will inspire students to be
responsible and interdependent global citizens.
Opening Remarks

LFS – Essential Question…
• What is the most cost effective and
instructionally sound way to provide a
high quality education to our children
from Kindergarten through their senior
year in high school?
Mr. Keith Yarger
Superintendent
Ms. Stephanie DiVittore
Moderator/Solicitor
Format For Participation




Speakers will have up to 3 minutes and
must be signed in to share concerns.
Please begin your comments with your full
name and current address and state if you
are a resident of the school district.
You may not defer your 3 minutes of time
to someone else to speak on your behalf.
To email a letter, please send to
[email protected]
Critical Issues

Key Points Considered

Program Considerations

Transportation

Financial Considerations
Reference the Feasibility Studies
(CRA) 2012 and (Quad 3) 2009

Decline in enrollment district wide through
the direction of both studies. (PDE 2020
projections for the district is 1941 students, K-8 = 1,351 &
9-12 = 590. Currently we have 1939 students, K-8 =
1,326 & 9-12 = 615.)



Original Construction on NPHS – 1935,
LES – 1960, renovations and updates
performed on both.
Overall Building Evaluations by CRA is
NPHS – 2.4, LES – 2.9
Both buildings fall between Poor to Fair on
the scale
15 Year Decline in Enrollment:
579 Students
1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012
District

= 2518 Students
= 2401 Students
= 2377 Students
= 2420 Students
= 2355 Students
= 2298 Students
= 2314 Students
= 2277 Students
= 2244 Students
= 2169 Students
= 2156 Students
= 2078 Students
= 2035 Students
= 1992 Students
= 1939 Students
3rd Day Enrollments
Educational Opportunities

Current Conditions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Classrooms in the high schools do not have
enough students for the classes to run.
Inequality in the high schools.
Limitations on what is being offered to
students.
Lower expectations.
Lower number of AP classes.
Educational Opportunities

Future Conditions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Classrooms that will have enough students
in them to run the class.
Equality across the district for high school
students.
More offerings to students.
Higher Expectations.
Higher number of AP classes.
K-8 Advantages
 How does a K-8 Work?
 Sharing of resources, teachers would not need to
travel.
 Building sectioned off so that students are grouped
as K-4 (primary) and 5-8 (middle school theory).
 Shared spaces scheduled so the two groups will not
mix.
 Keeps students in community for a longer period of
time than a K-6 would accomplish.
 Allows communities to keep extra-curricular
activities.
Transportation Ride Times July 18 2012 survey
,
Athens
70 Minutes
Muncy
45 Minutes
Canton
50 Minutes
Northeast
Bradford
60 Minutes
Central Columbia
60 Minutes
Northern Tioga
90 Minutes
East Lycoming
100 Minutes
Southern Tioga
70 Minutes
Jersey Shore
90 Minutes
Shamokin
90 Minutes
Keystone Central
60 Minutes
Sullivan County
50 Minutes
Line Mountain
70 Minutes
Towanda
90 Minutes
Mid-West
60 Minutes
Warrior Run
60 Minutes
Mifflinburg
55 Minutes
Wellsboro
70 Minutes
Millville
70 Minutes
Wyalusing
80 Minutes
Transportation Possible Cost Increases
LES moves to LHS and LHS (9-12) is
transported to North Penn High School
 158 Students Impacted
158 HS from LHS to NPHS
Building Capacity CRA 527, Quad 3 over 550
421 Students in building = 79% to 82% capacity
(MHS capacity 640, total student in building 404 =
63% capacity)
 Anticipated Ride Times:
42 Minutes to 70 minutes
 Net Cost = $ 27,950
Transportation Possible Cost Increases
MHS and LHS Remain Open and NPHS
Students are Transferred Out
291 Students Impacted
90 HS from NPHS to MHS
(MHS capacity 640, total student in building 494 = 77% capacity)
33 Elem from BES to WLM
(WLM capacity 579, total student in building 523 = 90% capacity)
168 HS from NPHS to LHS
(LHS capacity 433, total student in building 401 = 93% capacity)
 Anticipated Ride Times:
26 Minutes to 65 minutes
 Net Cost = $ 38,624
Taxes

How does the District view taxes in years
to come?
1. Taxes have been raised over the past three
years to support the building project. Taxes
will not be raised again for that purpose.
2. There is no knowledge of what the state will
do for future years to support public
education.
3. Taxes may be raised in future years for
operational costs of the district.
Operational Costs?

Retirement
–
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
–
–
–
–
Districts are taking on more employee retirement
responsibilities.
12.36% (12/13) $1,520,000
16.75% (13/14) $2,053,722
21.25% (14/15) $2,613,269
25.56% (15/16) $3,143,301
–
Raise approximately 10% each year
–
Rise in utility costs
–
Rise in transportation costs
Health Care Costs
Utilities
Transportation
Revenue Challenges of the District

State Subsidy
–
08/09
– $14,483,048

10/11
11/12
$13,419,313
$12,968,876
$13,459,324
09/10
10/11
11/12
$2,836,002
$2,907,442
$943,653
12/13
$13,746,637
Federal Subsidy
–
08/09
– $1,319,726

09/10
12/13
$1,350.043
Current Budget = $300,000 more than the
2008/09 budget with rising operational
costs.
Costs

What are the costs that Crabtree,
Rohrbaugh & Associates presented for all
of the buildings to remain in operation?
Let’s take a look at their analysis. WLM is
not on this list as they are a new building
and CRA stated there was no need for
improvements to this building.
– These costs do not all need to be completed at
once, but rather should be examined and
taken care of over time.
Breakdown of Costs
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Site Development = parking lot development, site work, walks,
ramps, curbs.
General Construction = Exterior energy envelope, roof, window,
storefront, Interior acoustical ceilings, interior doors, wall and floors,
code upgrades, classroom casework, library furnishings.
HVAC Construction = Upgrade heating system, upgrade
ventilation system, install DDC controls.
Plumbing Construction = Upgrade piping and valves,
underground piping, ADA compliant toilets, fixture upgrades.
Electrical Construction = Lighting fixtures and sensors, power,
service, fire alarms.
Technology Construction = Wireless clock system, phone, data,
paging, security system installation.
Liberty High School

Renovations
Low
High
1.
Site Development
General Construction
HVAC Construction
Plumbing Construction
Electrical Construction
Technology Construction
$200,000
$1,442,000
$1,730,400
$576,800
$865,200
$288,400
$300,000
$1,802,500
$2,163,000
$721,000
$1,009,400
$432,600
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


Potential Total Project Cost$6,428,528
$8,099,910
Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%
contingency.
Mansfield High School

Renovations
Low
High
1.
Site Development
General Construction
HVAC Construction
Plumbing Construction
Electrical Construction
Technology Construction
$200,000
$832,580
$118,940
$118,940
$1,427,280
$118,940
$300,000
$1,189,400
$237,880
$237,880
$1,665,160
$237,880
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


Potential Total Project Cost $3,549,017
$4,873,932
Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%
contingency.
North Penn High School

Renovations
Low
High
1.
Site Development
General Construction
HVAC Construction
Plumbing Construction
Electrical Construction
Technology Construction
$250,000
$2,394,900
$1,915,920
$638,640
$957,960
$478,980
$350,000
$3,193,200
$2,394,900
$798,300
$1,117,620
$638,640
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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Potential Total Project Cost $8,361,864
$10,700,752
Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%
contingency.
Blossburg Elementary

Renovations
Low
1.
Site Development
General Construction
HVAC Construction
Plumbing Construction
Electrical Construction
Technology Construction
This would tie in with the NPHS
$1,484,000
$1,855,000
$445,200
$593,600
$222,600
$296,800
$371,000
$445,200
$222,600
$296,800
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


High
Potential Total Project Cost $3,459,204
$4,394,124
Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%
contingency.
Liberty Elementary

Renovations
Low
High
1.
Site Development
General Construction
HVAC Construction
Plumbing Construction
Electrical Construction
Technology Construction
$250,000
$1,490,700
$1,391,320
$397,520
$596,280
$397,520
$350,000
$2,236,050
$1,490,700
$496,900
$695,660
$496,900
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Potential Total Project Cost $5,699,408
$7,265,425
Added to the potential project costs have been the 20% project soft costs and the 5%
contingency.
Financial Sustainability
How can what we do now, make us financially
sustainable for years to come?

1.
2.
By closing a building and reducing staff, the board would be
making sustainable cuts to our expenditures. The sustainable
cuts would help the district make budget. In closing a
building, we would make sustainable cuts of approximately
$750,000.
HOWEVER! We never know what Harrisburg will do with the
State budget. If further cuts happen to the State budget, it is
possible that even making these cuts will not sustain our
budget in years to come. Factors that come into play is State
Funding, Federal Funding, PSERS, Health Care, Utility Costs,
and Transportation.
Timelines

What timelines do we need to follow moving
forward for closing a building to allow time for
our preliminary budget?
1.
2.
3.
4.
August 20 – Legal Advertisement re: Public Hearing
for School Closure.
September 4 – Public Hearing re: School Closure for
the 2013/14 School Year.
October 4 – Deadline to Submit Written Comments
re: School Closure (30 days post hearing).
December 3 – Vote for School Closure for the
2013/14 School Year (90 days post hearing).
Timelines
When do we need to go out for bid IF we decide that we want to
continue to explore the Blossburg building project?


IF the board would like to continue with the option of closing Liberty
Elementary School and doing the building project, the board would
need to give Quad 3 permission to go out to bid at the August 13th
board meeting. (Done)

WHY??? If the board decides to close Liberty Elementary School
and move the students to the High School, Students from Liberty
High School in grades 9-12 would need to move up to the new
building. By going out to bid in August, this would be possible for
the 2013/14 school year. By not going out to bid in August, it would
not be a possibility for the students from Liberty High School to move
up in 2013/14 to a new building. (Bids would need to be
awarded at the beginning of October for the classroom
section of the building to be in operation at the beginning of
the 2013 school year.)
Referendum Details
Attorney’s Cox and Winfield were
asked the question about
referendum. This was their response
to the question:
“We are not aware of any statutory
power for a School District to
conduct a referendum regarding a
school closure.”
Public Testimony Reminder
Speakers will have up to 3 minutes and
must be signed in to share concerns.
Please begin your comments with your full
name and current address and state if you
are a resident of the school district.
You may not defer your 3 minutes of time
to someone else to speak on your behalf.
To email a letter, please send to
[email protected]