Your $11 Million Investment
What the expiration of the 2007 levy would mean for our schools
Purpose of Meeting
• Discuss the process for decision making• Understand the history and purpose of the
2007 levy• Share the impact of the potential loss of revenue• Collect input from you
Four Key Decision Making Steps
Current Levy Investment$11M
• Understand how existing funds are being used
• Identify what would be lost if levy is not renewed
Four Key Decision Making Steps
Current Levy Investment$11M
Strategic Five Year Plan
• Support and plan for the need of different student learning styles
• Help each student identify and pursue their passions
• Build a bridge to each students’ future
• Partner with the community
• Having the best teacher in every classroom
Four Key Decision Making Steps
Current Levy Investment $11M
• Control accessibility to buildings and classrooms
• Increase emergency response
• Support students’ psychological well-being
Strategic Five Year Plan
SafetyNeeds
Four Key Decision Making Steps
Current Levy Investment 11M
• Identifying needed resources, i.e. classroom materials, learning devices, media support, etc.
• Ensuring equity among schools
Strategic Five Year Plan
SafetyNeeds
LearningNeeds
*Over 90% of Minnesota school districts have levies in place.
Reasons We Need A RenewalA lot has changed since
November 2007:
Flat state funding/revenue
Increased costs
More unfunded mandates
More student and family
needs
History of State Funding
Fiscal YearFormula Per Pupil % Increase
2006 $4,783 4
2007 $4,974 4
2008 $5,074 2
2009 $5,124 1
2010 $5,124 0
2011 $5,124 0
2012 $5,174 1
2013 $5,224 1
= $4 to $6 million funding shortfall each year
State has capped local levies at $1,604
per pupil
*State-authorized alternative levy cap
School District 2012 Operating Levy $ per pupil
Minnetonka $1,950*
Edina $1,887*
Hopkins $1,755*
Wayzata $1,680*
Roseville $1,575
Mounds View $1,522
White Bear Lake $1,484
Burnsville $1,476
Average $1,360.84
Hastings $1,300
Eden Prairie $1,200
Mahtomedi $1,100
Stillwater $996.57
South Washington County $929
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale
$833
Forest Lake $725
Operating Levy
Budget cuts totaling
$22.4 million
Additional $11-$17 million budget adjustments
necessary if levy is not renewed in
2014
Budget Reductions = $6.4 millionSpring 2012 and Fall 2012
• Decreased two days from calendar
• Changed school hours• Reduced shuttle buses• Increased fees • Delayed curriculum
purchase• Delayed technology
purchases• Sell advertising space
in schools/grounds
• Reduced staff– Teaching staff– Support staff– Administration/Central
Services staff– Custodial– Paraprofessionals
• Hiring freeze• One-time fund balance
transfers
What would $11 million look like?
Without A Levy Renewal
Beginning in 2014-2015 school year:•Loss of $11 million in revenue •Additional $4-6 million annual shortfall
Total reduction of $15-17 million (approximately 20 percent)
Solutions To Our Budget Challenges
Increase Efficiency
Focus on Sustainability
Re-allocation of Resources
Increase Support at State Level
Levy Request
All of the above
Reflection: Turn and Talk (Two Minutes)
What are your general reactions to the information
shared to this point?
Current $11 Million InvestmentThe Process:• 11 Cost Center teams • Representing all areas of
district budget, such as:– Elementary schools– Junior Highs– High School– Central Services– Transportation– Operations
• Made up of staff with parent representation (over 65 people)
• Feedback from stakeholders
The Charge:• Clarify how the $11 million
is currently being used• Develop a list of potential
adjustments that would need to be made if levy is not renewed
The Cost Center Process
= $11 Million Investment
=68% of investment=68% of investmentClass Size
Student ProgrammingLearning Interventions
Class SizeStudent ProgrammingLearning Interventions
Be Thinking About…
• What things on the list are of greatest concern to you?
• What things do you believe are missing from this list?
• What things do you believe should remain on this list?
Class Size (32%)• Increase elementary class sizes by 3 students• Increase junior high and high school class sizes
by 5-10 students– In reality, because of class scheduling, this could mean as
many as 12 additional students per class
Result: Eliminate as many as 50 teaching positions
Additional teacher cuts included in other categories
Student Programming (24%)• Reduce support for kindergarten program
(currently all day, free; state only funds half day)• Restructure or close an elementary school• Shorten media, vocal music, and physical
education times at the elementary schools• Decrease resources for gifted and talented
program• Reduce elective courses at junior highs and high
school• Eliminate elementary band/orchestra (grade 5-6)
Result: Cut approximately five teachers
Learning Interventions (12%)• Eliminate as many as 25 student support positions,
including:– Paraprofessionals– Reading specialists– Special Education teachers– Building administrators– Counselors– Nurses– Clerical staff
• Reduce reading and math support for struggling students
Facilities/Operations (8%)
• Reduce cleaning and supply budgets• Close Oak-Land Junior High pool• Increase rental costs of district facilities, and
decrease availability of facilities to public• Eliminate as many as 15 custodians and
groundskeepers
Learning Environments (6%)
• Reduce the instructional time students are in school (i.e. less student days or four day school week)
• Decrease daytime building temperatures
Curriculum and Instruction (6%)
• Decrease budget for new initiatives• Decrease budget for curriculum• Reduce support staff• Delay technology replacement cycle
General Administrative Services (5%)
• Reduce services, equipment, and other business functions of the district– Auditing– Communications– Professional memberships– Training opportunities– Hiring
Student Transportation (3%)• Reduce transportation service to the state
minimum (All elementary, secondary for public and nonpublic schools)– No transportation for all students living within two miles of
their school– Earlier bus pick up times and later drop off times for all
students– No special consideration for hazardous conditions
(i.e. highways, railroad tracks, etc.) or fee for service options
• Eliminate transportation to St. Croix Valley Area Learning Center
Co-Curricular (3%)• Eliminate funding for 7-8th grade sports• Eliminate some junior high and high school
clubs• Increase activity fees ($70 or more per sport)• Increase ticket prices to attend high school
concerts• Eliminate athletic equipment budgets for all
sports (made up through fundraising/booster clubs)
Security (2%)• Eliminate contracts for school resource officers at
both junior high schools• Eliminate contract for private security at Stillwater
Area High School
NOTE: Staff would be assigned
supervision duties Board is currently
considering other building safety measures (ie. entrance access, etc.)
Supplies and Materials (1%)
• Reduce classroom and office resources– Printing– Copying – Supplies– Materials
Professional Development (Less than 1%)
• Reduce professional development and training opportunities for all staff
• Reduce and/or eliminate consulting services and external training
• Reduce dues and memberships
= $11 Million Investment
=68% of investment=68% of investmentClass Size
Student ProgrammingLearning Interventions
Class SizeStudent ProgrammingLearning Interventions
What’s at Stake if Levy Expires• More students per class
– Fewer teachers– Higher class sizes– Fewer school buildings
• Less time students are in school– Fewer school days
• Fewer opportunities for students– Less support for struggling
students– Fewer elective classes– Fewer activities
• Less care/maintenance of schools– Cleanliness decreased– Pool closure– Delayed repairs
• More expenses for families– Higher activity fees– Fees for kindergarten
Your Feedback
• What things on the list are of greatest concern to you?
• What things do you believe are missing from this list?
• What things do you believe should remain on this list?
Making Levy Decisions
Current Levy Investment 11M
Levy Request
School BoardDecision
Strategic 5 Year Plan
SafetyNeeds
LearningNeeds
Next Steps:
• School board considers budget cut list– Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m.,
Central Services
• Community Town Hall Meetings– Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m.
at Oak-Land– Feb. 20 from 6-8 p.m.
at Stillwater Junior High
• Special school board meeting– All day Saturday, March 2
• School board to approve budget cut list– March 7 at 7 p.m.,
Stillwater City Hall
• School board to make levy decision– April 11 at 7 p.m.,
Stillwater City HallInvite your friends and
neighbors, whether they have kids or not!
Thank You!