State of the Schools: The Road to 2020

March 19, 2018

20/20 Planning• Committee creation

• Facilities planning

• Elementary

school building

• Building updates

& improvements

• Strategic Plan

creation

Westlake City Schools: Strategic Plan

Goal Area 1: Finance

To maintain the constant and appropriate long-term funding to achieve the

educational mission of the Westlake City Schools.

Goal Area 2: Curriculum & Technology

Create a systematic framework to develop an all-inclusive learning environment

aimed at educating the whole child which empowers every Westlake student to

positively and purposefully contribute to society and to strive for excellence.

Goal Area 3: Facilities

To have a 21st-century learning environment where form follows flexible function

and accommodates safety, curriculum and technology.

Westlake City Schools: Strategic Plan

Goal Area 4: Communication & Community PartnershipsBuild a sense of pride, confidence and trust through communication and

partnerships.

Goal Area 5: Climate & CultureBuild a culture of inclusion, collaboration, open-mindedness, respect and

inspiration, so every student, faculty and community member feels welcomed and

inspired to do their very best.

Community SupportThe Westlake City School District is fortunate to

have support from all aspects of the community

to help us reach our 2020 goals:

• Local businesses

• School support groups

• Westlake police, fire and other emergency

services

• City of Westlake

“Focus on Progress not Perfection”

State of the SchoolsGoal: To use the State of the Schools as a GPS

to ensure we are on track to reach our goals for

the 2020 school year.

Organizational

Improvements

Form Follows Function:As a district, we needed to make some

adjustments to ensure we were structured for

progress.

Central Office• Due to a retirement, we were

able to restructure and

create the positions of

Assistant Superintendent of

Instruction and Director of

Academic Services for

grades K-6

• Provided more focus on the

entire educational

experience

Building Level Administration Two retirements provided an opportunity to

change leadership in four of our seven

buildings. New to their positions this year:

• Paul Wilson, Westlake High School Principal

• Amanda Musselman, Lee Burneson Middle

School Principal

• Nick Miller, Dover Intermediate School

Principal

• Beth Dagostino, Holly Lane Elementary School

Principal

Staff EngagementIn partnership with the WTA, we created a

communication forum for open conversations between

leadership and teachers.

• Negotiated with the WTA earlier this year and finalized a

new three-year contract in a matter of days

• Tentative three-year agreement with OAPSE leadership,

which will be voted on later this month

• Retire/rehire of OAPSE members to prepare for the

elementary transition

Summary• Community partnerships

• Sharpening our focus

• Restructuring of leadership and personnel

• Opening avenues of communication with WTA

and OAPSE that allow us to focus on our

primary goal

Creating a safe and nurturing environment for

our students and staff as we strive for

excellence.

Finances

Revenue Sources

Striving for Greater EfficiencyThe Westlake City School District is open, honest and transparent with its

finances.

Consistent

Winner of 20 consecutive Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial

Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Stable

A bond rating among the very best of Ohio’s public schools, a Moody’s rating of

Aa1, and a Standard and Poor’s rating of AA+ ”Stable.”

Distinguished

Winner of Ohio’s State Auditor’s Distinguished Excellence in Financial Reporting

Award for timely, error-free filings.

Striving for Greater Efficiency

• May 2006 – Last Passed Operating Levy• LOWEST Effective Residential Operating Millage in Cuyahoga County*

*Information from the FY17 ODE District Profile Report. Dollar Amounts based on $35 per effective mill.

1 Westlake $1,061.20 11 Bedford $1,559.60

2 Cuyahoga Hts. $1,124.20 12 Berea $1,599.85

3 Independence $1,145.55 13 Cleveland $1,625.05

4 Beachwood $1,193.15 14 Chagrin Falls $1,697.50

5 Brecksville-Broadview Hts. $1,282.05 15 Mayfield $1,701.35

6 Rocky River $1,377.95 16 Brooklyn $1,707.65

7 Strongsville $1,382.15 17 Lakewood $1,711.15

8 North Royalton $1,429.40 18 Olmsted Falls $1,769.95

9 Orange $1,480.85 19 Fairview Park $1,781.85

10 Solon $1,538.60 20 East Cleveland $1,785.00

Based on $100,000 Home Value

Striving for Greater Efficiency

• Projected “Unreserved Fund Balance” for June 30, 2020

• Retire-Rehire for 21 Classified Staff Members Ending July 2019• Negotiations of Contracts that fit Within Established Forecast• Changes to District Health Insurance and Introduction of an Optional

Insurance Plan• Staffing Changes to Meet Enrollment & Consolidation Needs

Projected for 2020as of October 2015

Projected for 2020as of October 2016

Projected for 2020as of October 2017

(-$9,588,351) $48,108 $9,686,156

Striving for Greater Efficiency

• Moving Forward…

Actual Forecasted

Line 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Total Revenues $52,460,605 $50,570,000 $50,776,025 $50,983,080 $51,191,171 $51,400,301

Total Expenditure Uses $50,626,287 $52,054,800 $54,107,320 $56,735,502 $58,971,726 $61,360,041

Excess Rev over(under) Exp $ 1,834,318 $ (1,484,800) $ (3,331,295) $ (5,752,422) $ (7,780,555) $ (9,959,739)

Unreserved Fund Balance June 30 $20,612,389 $18,769,873 $15,438,578 $ 9,686,156 $ 1,905,600 $ (8,054,139)

From 5-Year Forecast Approved by Board of Education in October 2017

The Student Experience

Westlake is one of the top school districts in Northeast

Ohio. • International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Diploma Programmes.

• Westlake is one of only 11 districts in Northeast Ohio to be IB World Certified in

the Diploma Programme and one of only 9 in the Primary Years Programme.• Advanced Placement

• College Credit Plus

• Westlake’s ACT scores are three points higher than the state average

Opportunity to ThriveAdvanced Placement Courses IB Courses

AP Art Studio History SL/HL

AP Art History English Language and Literature SL/HL

AP Computer Science Principles Mathematics SL/HL

AP English- Literature Music

AP English- Language and Composition Physics SL/HL

AP Calculus AB Theory of Knowledge

AP Calculus BC Visual Arts

AP Statistics Language B - French

AP Biology Language B - German

AP Environmental Science Language B - Spanish

AP Chemistry Language B - Latin

AP Physics I

AP United States Politics and Government

AP United States History

AP European History

AP World History

AP French - Language and Composition

AP Spanish

AP German

AP Latin

Increased College Courses Onsite from 2 to 12

• ENG 1010- English Composition

• ENG 1020- English Composition

• PSY 1010- Psychology

• SOC 1010- Sociology

• BIO 1060- Environmental Science

• HIST 1010 – History of Civilization

• HIST 1510: US History to 1877

• HIST 1520: US History since 1877

• French 1010: French I

• French 1020: French II

• MATH 1610: Calculus I

• MATH 1580: Pre-Calculus

It’s All Here

Overall Improvement Focus on:

• Gifted Services: K-12

• English Language Arts

• Mathematics

• World Languages

• Technology grades 7-12

• PE/Health: one of the only districts in the area with a developed health

curriculum grades K-10.

• Services for those who are new English Language Learners

• Visits from content specialists in math and language arts

Next School YearOur goal is to continue our growth and add:

• PowerTeacher: K-4

• Social Studies and Science

• Naviance

• Specials: Music and Art

• Policies and Procedures aligned for new elementary

Culture and Climate

Climate & CultureThe goal of the Westlake City Schools is to focus on building a culture of

inclusion, collaboration, open-mindedness, respect and inspiration where every

student feels welcome.

This is not only about the student and staff experience, but it is also the

first, and most important, step to school safety.

Facilities

Facilities

Safety

• The Safety Committee meets quarterly to review and update our security

procedures and policies. We also regularly provide safety drills for our students

and staff.

• Two School Resource Officers

• Close relationship with Westlake first responders

• Reviewing the safety of our current facilities

• Safety is one of the top considerations in the design of the new building

Facilities

New Construction

Facilities

Building Improvements

Curbing was installed along the exit driveway, adjacent to the student and staff parking

areas at Westlake High School. The new curbed islands will be landscaped with stone and

plantings to enhance the visual appeal of the area. The new curbing is intended to improve

safety of traffic flow through the site.

Facilities

Building Improvements

A new sidewalk was installed from Bassett Road to the Lee Burneson Middle School/Dover

campus. The sidewalk is intended to improve safety of pedestrian travel on the Dover

campus.

Facilities

Building Improvements

Dover Intermediate School is having new rooftop air conditioning units installed and

upgraded. The gymnasium bleachers were also replaced and the gym floor was refinished.

Facilities

Building Improvements

A new shingle roof was installed on the Bassett Elementary school cafeteria. The older roof

was out of warranty and experiencing multiple leaks.

Facilities

Building Improvements

A concrete retaining wall was installed behind the discus pads at the High School practice

field. The area will receive decorative stone as a top course around the pads. The wall was

necessary to eliminate erosion of the site and to protect the integrity of the discus pad area.

Facilities

Westlake High School Track

Facilities

New Elementary School Building

Scheduled completion date: Fall 2019

• Groundbreaking: Fall 2017

• Creating the culture

• Aligning grade levels

Next Steps

Facilities

New Elementary School Building Site Work

The Road to 2020

The Road to 2020:

It’s All Here