“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” ~Henry Ford.

The Future of Adair-Casey SchoolsCommunity Update & DiscussionJune 23, 2015

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is

success.” ~Henry Ford

Introduction

Purpose of tonight’s meeting: To review updated enrollment numbers and

financial impact To update our communities on the

exploration process for a long-term partner To share results of the community survey

“The Foundation for all success is a good education.” ~Author Unknown

Board Goals

The Board remains committed to: Putting kid’s and academics 1st Providing direction for the future of our

district - data based Maintaining a pre-K through 8th grade

facility Preserving local control over decisions

that impact our communities Listening to all constituents’ views

realizing that opinions vary broadly.

Community Activity

Lead by Harry Heiligenthal, Leadership Development Director

Iowa Association of School Boards

Can we wait?

ENROLLMENT: Next year, current

enrollment will not support a balanced budget.

8 of 13 classes - less than 20 students total

Adair-Casey Enrollment as of October 2014

Pre-K 15 students

Kindergarten 16 students

1st Grade 22 students

2nd Grade 18 students

3rd Grade 16 students

4th Grade 28 students









Can we wait?

October # Students Served

2007 378.2

2008 356.1

2009 349.1

2010 335.9

2011 327.4

2012 328.7

2013 293.8

2014 289.6

BEDS Enrollment HistoryBEDS enrollment = the number of kids in our seats on a daily

basis. We retain funding for these students. Down 88.6 students in 8

years.

Can we wait?

ENROLLMENT: High School class

offerings -32 classes with 5 students or less.

Impact:▪ Cost prohibitive ▪ Limits student

collaboration in the classroom

VariousClass

Offerings 2014-2015

Business Law 5 students

Psychology 5 students

Earth Science 4 students

English Lit 4 students

Practical English

3 students

Botany 3 students

Sculpture 2 students

Physics 2 students

Applied Art 1 student

Financial Literacy

1 student

Can we wait?

FINANCIAL IMPACT: 2015-2016 – approx. 15 students▪ Financial impact - $100,000 less revenue

2016-2017 -- additional 15 students (30 total)▪ Financial impact - $195,000 less revenue

Cash reserve & spending authority -

Can we wait?

Iowa Department of Education – 2012 Feasibility Study▪ 300 critical▪ 600+ healthy▪ Current A-C = 289

17% of Iowa Schools are currently in WGS arrangements 57 out of 338 district 26 districts did not offer high schools. In addition, 7 new districts merged in 2014-2015 (from 14

districts) 1 district dissolved

Since 1984, 101 fewer districts in Iowa

What have we done so far?

Personnel 6 teachers shared Superintendent shared Approx. $190,000 savings

Expenditures Fixed costs – transportation, salary &

benefits and technology Tightened without sacrificing quality

What have we done so far?

Open enrollment Letter sent to open OUT families in May

2013.

Facilities Updates to current facility:▪ sustain enrollment ▪ position district in best light

Daycare

Survey Results

Community ActivityHarry Heiligenthal

Community Input

Survey Results

THANK YOU!

200 surveys completed

Demographic: 65% Adair residents 27% Casey residents 8% Other

Community Input What themes do you see?

Survey Results - Themes

Largest Benefits?

Largest Challenges? Possible Ways to Work Around Them?

Community InputBoard Identified Themes

Benefits 1. District viability2. Increased opportunities3. Larger class sizes – stronger extra-

curriculars

Challenges 1. Logistics2. Keeping students & school open3. Impact on towns

Community Input

Important factors to consider:

Factors Ranked by Importance:1. Academic

Strength

2. Geographic Proximity

3. Future Longevity

4. Financial Health

4. Size of Shared District

Academic Strength

Geographic Proxim-ity

Size of Shared District

Financial Health

Future Longevity

Community Input

Personal Importance in order of preference:

Facility Placement Travel Distances Academic & extra-curricular

opportunities Preservation of jobs More convenient extra-curricular

conference“Hope is the foundational quality of all change, and encouragement is the fuel which keeps hope alive.”

~Zig Ziglar

Where do we go from here?

OPTIONS:

Whole-Grade Sharing

Reorganization

Dissolution

What does Reorganization mean?

Reorganization: New legal entity is formed Single board and combined finances Public election is required One new district emerges

What does Dissolution mean? Dissolution:

Ends the district as currently known Building no longer utilized Faculty and staff positions go away ALL children transported to another

district▪ Not just high school students

If we stay the same, dissolution is the end result.

What does WGS mean?

Whole-Grade Sharing: Districts remain legally separate ▪ Separate boards ▪ Separate finances▪ Do NOT assume tax or debt liabilities of partner district

Students share teachers and facilities for all or most of the day

WGS is NOT a permanent arrangement – can reassess

OUR CHOICE!

Advantages of WGS

1. District longevitya. Cost sharing

2. Additional class offerings

3. Attract & retain high quality staff & coaches

4. Expanded facilitiesa. Performing arts auditoriumsb. All-weather tracks

Advantages of WGS

5. Healthier extra-curriculars

6. Enhanced collaboration and socialization

7. Exposure to greater diversity in instruction

8. More communities to support school

9. Potentially closer athletic conferences – less travel

Who are our potential partners?

PARTNERS: CAM Community Schools Guthrie Center Community Schools West Central Valley Community

Schools

“Unity is strength . . . with teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be

achieved.” ~Mattie Stepanek

District Comparisons

Adair-Casey

CAM Guthrie Center

WCV

Oct. 2014 Enrollment

327.3 441.4 455.6 947.0

Open Enrollment

(37.7) (40.3) 53.1 (102.2)

Solvency 29.3% 18.9% 25.8% 25.6%

Cash Reserve

$1,040,000 $1,180,000 $1,310,000 $2,330,000

Spending Authority

$720,000 $840,000 $1,170,000 $3,726,000

Debt No general obligation

debt

No general obligation

debt

No general obligation

debt

$4.05/$1,000 valuation

Distance from A-C facility * HS * MS

13 miles25.9 miles

16.7 miles16.7 miles

16.2 miles27.7 miles

District Comparisons

Adair-Casey

CAM Guthrie Center

WCV

# of towns total w/ WGS

5 3 6

Mileage Spread

160 miles 279.4 miles 184 miles 234.8 miles

Achievement (11th grade) * Reading * Math

76.5%88.2%

67.6%85.3%

85.3%94.1%

87.5%90.6%

# of college courses (in-house)

5 24 12

Average class size w/ WGS

53 62 87

CAM

Strengths: Proximity to high

school facility (Anita)

Equal size – no disparity

Current athletic sharing – golf, cross country

Challenges: Longevity – size

Facility placement

Mileage spread

College level in-house offerings

Location

Guthrie Center

Strengths Likely facility Placement -

2-way sharing High School: Guthrie Center Junior High School: Adair-

Casey Ease of transition

Already sharing faculty, programs and initiatives

Academics Strong CTE program Most college-level classes in-

house Size & culture

Natural progression in size Resource selection

Challenges:

Longevity - size

Location

West Central Valley

Strengths: District longevity –

largest enrollment of options

High School facilities – new

Location – near interstate

Challenges: Facility Placement▪ Current MS in Redfield

Faculty Retention

Mileage spread

Curricular transition

Loss of identity - name

Comparison Summary

CAM Guthrie Center WCV

Facility Use – A-C Jr. High **

No(Not at this

time)

Yes(Tentative)

No(Not at this time)

Teacher/Staff Retention **

No(Time

sensitive)

Yes(Continue)

No(Demand

dependent)

Combined Size 690 798 1,134

Average Class Size 53 62 87

Achievement: 5 year reading average * 11th grade

77.2% 85.3% 81.3%

** Data obtained during information sharing at combined board meetings held in April 2015.

Community ActivityHarry Heiligenthal, IASB

Evening Take-a-waysThoughts for the Board

What are the next steps? Determine optimal partner district for A-C

Summer/Fall 2015

Determine timeline for implementing WGS Announcement of Intent - Nov. 1st Public hearing – 30 days prior to signing

agreement (no later than December 31st) Sign sharing agreement with WGS partner –

Feb. 1st

All things considered, here’s what I’m thinking or feeling now ……

QuestionsFacilitated by Harry

Comments

“Let us be bold. Let us be brave. Let us be together.” ~ Brad Henry

Board Focus: Every decision will be measured against the question:

What is in the best interest of all students in the Adair-Casey district?

“Where there is unity, there is always victory.” ~Publilius Syrus

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” ~Henry Ford.

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