“Better Together”Creating a unified school district for Essex Junction, Essex

Town, and Westford.

Agenda• Overview of the Study Process

• Highlights of the Proposal:• Governance• Educational Opportunities & Excellence• Cost-Benefit Analysis• New Board Formation & Terms• 3 Potential Outcomes

• Discussion and Questions

Guiding Principles

1. Will a unified school district lead to more opportunities, better outcomes, and an enhanced experience for kids?

2. Can a unified school district make education more affordable today and into the future?

The Study Process• All three school boards voted unanimously on Dec. 16, 2014 to form a

committee which would study a change in governance structure.

• The 20-member committee first met on March 4, 2015.

• All meetings were open to the public. Videos of each meeting are available online, with some meetings being aired on RETN.

• A website was developed housing all of the information considered by the committee in its deliberations (http://redstudy.wordpress.com).

• On June 30, 2015 the Committee voted unanimously to support a proposal to form a unified school district under Act 46.

• On Aug 3, a full report was submitted to the Agency of Education.

• On August 18, the Vermont State Board of Education unanimously approved the proposal.

• If approved on Nov. 3, the unified school district begins July 1, 2017.

Benefits of a Unified Union• Streamlined governance will mean greater transparency

and accountability.• Opportunities for an enhanced and expanded

educational experience for all students.• A reduction in property tax rates for five years.• More predictable and stable property taxes in the future.• Cost savings of at least $1 million after the third year.• Efficiencies of scale in contracting, budgeting, and

operations.• Opportunities for improved professional development

and career advancement for teachers and support staff.• And more…

Research• One of the most comprehensive reviews of literature on

economies of scale in education, Andrews, Duncombe, and Yinger (2002) concluded:

"The best of the cost function studies suggest that sizable potential cost savings in instructional and administrative costs may exist by moving from a very small district (500 or

fewer pupils) to a district with between 2000-4000 pupils….Districts enrolling over 2,000 pupils are able to

produce comparable outcomes to smaller districts at much lower per pupil costs.”

The proposed unified school district wouldhave approximately 4,000 students.

Governance

• From 5 school boards to 1; From 5 budgets to 1.• Proportional board representation. • Greater understanding and strategic management of

resources across PreK-12 systems.• Less complexity, one governance structure.• Time and resource savings to deploy resources back to

schools.• Board member service and retention (In April 2015,

there were 4 open seats, no contested races).• Potential for greater voter engagement.

Eliminate Redundancy• Superintendent Offices -

Staffing/Physical Location • Curriculum/Assessments and

Personal Learning Plans• School Calendars • Policies • Teacher Negotiated Agreement &

Support Staff Agreement • Electronic Systems • Human Resources • Student Management Data

Systems • Annual Meetings • Board Meetings • Reporting Requirements

• Child Nutrition Services • Professional Development

Planning• Property Services • Technology Plans • Budget Development • Audits • Contracts: › Transportation › Fuel ›

Copiers/Printers › Plowing › Recycling/Trash

• Financial Systems • Website/Communications • Legal Services/Statutory

Compliance

Opportunities & Excellence• Expansion of programs across the district through

economies of scale.• Could we create magnet schools and/or specialized

programs within a larger system?• Students would have access to great programs across ALL

schools.• Leverage the talents and expertise of our teachers and

support staff.• Share best practices from each school.• Greater consistency in the preparation of PK -8 students

who attend EHS or CTE, resulting in a more seamless ninth grade transition for students.

Cost Saving Opportunities• Budgets and tax rates will be easier to understand - one

budget and tax rate, no need to build separate preK- 8 and 9- 12 budgets.

• Reduces the number of State, Federal, and IRS reports and eliminates intergovernmental accounting transactions.

• Reduces the number of independent audits, which alone results in about $40,000 in savings.

• Lowers the possibility of exceeding the excess spending tax penalty threshold.

• Eliminates the need for equalized pupil "hold harmless" protection. Westford would lose protection and see a spike in tax rates without formation of a unified union.

Cost Benefit Analysis

Tax Rate Modeling

Challenges• While the Committee believes the “pros” outweigh the

“cons” when it comes to creating a unified school district, potential challenges include:• What will Montpelier do? Despite the incentives, will the

State significantly increase the homestead tax rate, which has an impact on our local taxes.

• The new school board would have to “make good” on many of the potential benefits identified by the Committee.

• How would a new board handle the question of transportation?

• Once approved, the transition to a unified district could be complicated.

Westford• School Choice• Westford students graduating from Grade 8 currently have school choice,

although the majority attend EHS. The proposal contains a “grandfather” clause to preserve school choice for Westford students until 2020. After that, all Westford students would matriculate to Essex High School. However, school choice would still be available through Act 129.

• School Closures• The Committee also sought to assure Westford residents that their local school

would not be subject to closure. For at least four years, no action would be taken to close any school buildings in a unified district.

• Property • Language was also included in the proposal that in the event of any future

school closures or reconfiguration, the local community would have the ability to take ownership of property for continued recreational and educational use.

• Second Vote • If voters in Westford reject the proposal initially, they would have 8 months to

reconsider the question.

Potential Outcome #1• If Essex Junction and/or Essex Town residents vote no,

there would be no immediate changes to our district structure.

• However, according to Act 46, districts need to conduct a self-study and make a case for why the current system serve students better than a unified district.

• The school boards would also be required to meet with other boards and discuss collaboration. The AOE would then decide whether to mandate a merger in 2019.

Potential Outcome #2• If Essex Town & Essex Junction vote "yes," but Westford votes

"no," a Regional Education District would be formed by ET & EJ.• Residents of Essex Town and Essex Junction benefit from the 4-

year tax incentives: 8 cent reduction in the first year, 6, 4, and 2.• Westford residents would not receive any tax incentive and

would see its taxes increase due to the loss of the hold harmless waiver based on declining enrollment/phantom students.

• Westford could have a second vote and join the RED in 2016. If not, then it could be assigned to a different school district.

• In conjunction with its new district, the Westford school board would need to conduct a self-study and make a case for why the current system serve students better than a unified district.

• The Agency of Education would then decide whether to mandate consolidation in 2019.

Potential Outcome #3• If Westford, Essex Junction, and Essex Town all vote "yes,"

then a unified school district would be created.• Residents of all three communities would benefit from the

5-year tax incentives: 10 cent reduction in the first year, then 8, 6, 4, and 2.

• The new board would be sworn in as soon as practicable to begin the transition, including establishing policy, hiring a superintendent, working with teachers and support staff on contracts, and developing an annual budget for unified district for FY18.

• The new district would officially begin operating July 1, 2017 and former boards and SU would be dissolved.

The New School Board• If a unified union is approved, a 10 member board would be

elected on Nov. 3.• The new board make-up is based on town population.

Town/District 1 Year Term 2 Year Term 3 Year Term

Essex Junction 2 1 1

Essex Town 1 1 2

Westford* 1 1

*Board members from Westford would each have a 0.5 vote.

Realizing Opportunities• School Board will engage with communities to set mission, vision

and policies to reflect communities' shared educational values.• Policies will define priorities for the district and operational

parameters.• School Board and administration will work together to determine

best structure to support student outcomes, local voice, and effective, efficient operation.

• School Board will hire superintendent and negotiate contracts.• Superintendent will be responsible for operational oversight,

development of a strategic plan to achieve mission of district, and ensuring quality of education and equity of opportunities within the system.

• School Board will monitor student progress and policy compliance, and engage with community.

Vote!

• Make sure your voice is heard!• Vote on the proposal for a unified school district

and elect members of the new board on Tuesday, November 3, 2015!• For more information, visit

http://redstudy.wordpress.com.

Thank You!