2016.01.04 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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%pug "all 1W Right -Size Stillwater Area Schools Consolidate three northern elementary schools with other schools in the district to create seven right -sized schools. Close Marine, Oak Park and Withrow schools for the start of the 2017-2018 school year. (Decision: Feb 2016) Adjust boundaries for all other elementary schools for the 2017- 2018 school year. (Decision: April 2016) Work with families to transition to new elementary school communities. Create student -centered middle schools Adjust boundaries to create two middle schools of at least 900 students (Decision: April 2016) • Work with staff to develop a middle school model with a sma school feel Create more balanced class sizes/ instructional sizes for all students in grades K-12. Bottom Lion: Right -sizing schools allows us to provide more equitable learning experiences for all students. p�BLIC SCN� Stillwater BOLD Building Opportunities to Learn and Discover Findings of Fact The recent capacity study conducted by district administrators brought to light the following facts, all of which support the proposal to right -size our schools: Our enrollment is declining • We are a district of 8,300 students that is built for about 10,000 students Demographers predict the district's enrollment will hold stable or slightly decline - Increase in the south, but decrease in the north and central parts of the district • The number of people per household is dropping county -wide meaning there will be fewer children living in our district in the next 10-15 years • Only 72.3% of students choose to attend our schools • 7 of 10 elementary schools capture less than 60% of students We are operating schools far below capacity We have 1,000 fewer students than we did 15 years ago, but operate the same number of buildings • By 2017-2018 four of our elementary schools are projected to be below 70% of capacity Boundary changes alone will not solve capacity issues • We have more buildings in the central and north where current and projected enrollment is stabilizing or declining, and fewer in the south where growth is occuring Students are having inequitable experiences There is a variability of $1,600 in the cost to educate an elementary student, depending on the building Class sizes are smaller in some schools and larger in others Small schools have limited support for English language learners, mental health, intervention services, and shared specialists must travel between many buildings Right -sized schools are more effective for learning, more efficient to operate Based on research, the preferred elementary school size in our district is 450-700 students or at least three sections per grade level. • Three or more section schools create more balanced class sizes, equitable access to support services, and more cost efficiencies • Elementary enrollments currently vary from 150 to 760 students The choice to maintain the status quo has financial and programmatic implications Budget reductions have been necessary in approximately 10 of the last 15 years No sustainable funding source is currently available for Bridge to Excellence (BtE) initiatives, middle school programming, technology, or new programs Right -sizing would allow the district to reinvest $1.2 million annually beginning in 2017-2018 Learn more at stillwaterschools.org/Bold