Summary Report: Broader Community Engagement March 23, 2010

2. Summary Report: Broader Community Engagement March 23, 2010 2

3. Presentation Agenda • Broader Community Engagement Feedback • Public Opinion Survey • Finance Committee Update • Revised Plans • Draft Recommendations

4. BROADER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTFEEDBACK 4

5. Communications • Channel 22 • Brochure/Mailer • DVD • Herald & Review • Local Television • WAND • WCIA • WICS • Radio • Cromwell • Neuhoff

6. Community Outreach and Listeners’ Bureau • Staff Presentations/Family Nights/Events • One Voice/Church Presentations • Business/Chamber Partnerships • Community Open Houses/Media • Service Clubs/Community Groups

7. Key Findings & Feedback

8. Feedback: option preferences

9. OPTION 1: RENOVATION Remodel our existing facilities to become two, state-of-the-art high school campuses and build a technical academy on a new site.

10. OPTION 1: RENOVATION Feedback Comments • Maintains the tradition of two high schools in the Decatur community • Decatur Public Schools high schools must be updated; technology upgrades • Most cost effective option; offers significant improvements • Encourages “spirit of growth” and sends a positive message about Decatur • Allows for major improvements to each high school; maintain parity between schools

11. OPTION 1: RENOVATION Feedback Comments • Offers greater accessibility; located in the neighborhoods where students live • Keeps quality, established teachers/staff at each location • Students perform better academically and socially in smaller environments; more individual attention and opportunities • Makes the most sense overall; utilize what we already have; no need to purchase additional land • Keeps athletic and extracurricular programs at both schools

12. OPTION 1: RENOVATION Feedback Comments • Two schools would offer greater opportunities for participation in sports, music, theater and extracurricular programs • Keeps kids (and parents) in their comfort zone • Each high school has its own history/legacy; celebrate it • No decisions would need to be made about vacant buildings; buildings would remain open during remodeling • Encourages friendly rivalry between campuses and school pride

13. OPTION 2: NEW CONSTRUCTION Build one high school campus on a new site to help support growing academic requirements. The school would feature four wings, each named to reflect the heritage of Decatur Public Schools: MacArthur, Eisenhower, Stephen Decatur and Lakeview. The Technical Academy would be built on a separate site in the District.

14. OPTION 2: NEW CONSTRUCTION Feedback Comments • Allows for more teachers per department; aligned curriculum; special academies under one roof • Encourages competition among students which can lead to higher test scores, improved athletic programs, etc. • Less disruptive than remodel option • Must be centrally located

15. OPTION 2: NEW CONSTRUCTION Feedback Comments • Least expensive option in the long run; lower maintenance and personnel costs • Allows the District to design a comprehensive building to meet student needs • Most proactive approach; state-of-the-art; offers room to expand • Creates a clean slate in Decatur; equal opportunity for ALL students

16. OPTION 2: NEW CONSTRUCTION Feedback Comments • Remodeling option is essentially a “Band-aid” approach; the buildings are very old and current needs too extreme • A new, modern building sends a positive message to students and is attractive to potential residents • Creates a more diverse student body • Honors the four previous high schools

17. OPTION 3: STEPHEN DECATUR CONVERSION Remodel and expand Stephen Decatur Middle School to become a single high school campus, and build a new Technical Academy on a separate site.

18. OPTION 3: SDMS CONVERSION Feedback Comments • Stephen Decatur Middle School was designed as a high school and should be used as a high school; large campus with athletic fields • Handicapped accessible (one floor) • Ample parking and effective traffic control • District already owns the land

19. OPTION 3: SDMS CONVERSION Feedback Comments • Less costly to renovate Stephen Decatur Middle School than MacArthur High School/Eisenhower High School, especially in down-turned economy; irresponsible to build new • Close proximity to Richland Community College; dual credit opportunities • One high school, named “Stephen Decatur” would unify community and be a morale booster to students • Offers stronger, more competitive academics, athletics

20. OPTION 4: DO NOTHING (FOR EDUCATIONAL ADEQUACY) This option is labeled “Do Nothing” because nothing will be done to significantly improve or change the academic environment for 21st century teaching and learning. Rather, this option outlines projects and costs for simply replacing failing systems and making required Health/Life Safety upgrades. These are costs that would be incurred by the District to maintain facilities.

21. OPTION 4: DO NOTHING Feedback Comments • All of the options are unacceptable in the current economy; don’t spend money you don’t have • Bring existing buildings up to code and update when money is available • Maintenance efforts have been lacking over the years • Use the money to recruit quality teachers; the problem isn’t the building; it’s the staff

22. RECURRING COMMENTS FROM ALL OPTIONS • Be proactive • Keep classes small • Maintain civic pride • Consider importance of location • Offer more information regarding “two schools” vs “one school” concept

23. RECURRING COMMENTS FROM ALL OPTIONS • Safety and security is a priority • We must invest in our children – send a positive message • Must maintain parity among schools; whatever option is selected • Use “Green” technologies when building/renovating

24. PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY RESULTS 24

25. Survey Results Decatur Public School District 61 25

26. Methodology • Survey Work – February 2010 • 500 Interviews were conducted from random sample of registered voter households • Margin of Error - ± 4.4%

27. Statements on Public Issues

28. DPS SCHOOLS PROTECT PROPERTY INVESTMENT Total agree: 68.0% Total disagree: 27.0%

29. INVESTMENT IN DPS SCHOOLS Total agree: 73.4% Total disagree: 23.6%

30. Level of Awareness and Need for Facility Improvements

31. Informed about Decatur Public Schools

32. Awareness of Decision4Decatur Very/Somewhat: 56.6% Not very: 42.6%

33. Rating Building Conditions Excellent/good: 37.8% Not good/poor: 53.4%

34. Need for Improving Facilities

35. Make improvements now or wait a few years

36. Sales or Property Tax Increase

37. Possible Options

38. Make improvements to high schools Total agree: 73.8% Total disagree: 23.6%

39. Single or two high school campus

40. Facility Options

41. Sales Tax Total agree: 56.8% Total disagree: 42.0%

42. FINANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE 42

43. Finance Committee

44. Finance Committee Members

45. Finance Committee • The committee began meeting on December 10, due to the need to address specific questions surrounding the funding approaches to accomplish the goals of this initiative. • Definite amounts and costs were a factor in the discussions and work related to the Task Force. • The purpose defined as investigating funding approaches for the proposals by the Decatur High School Task Force. • Discussions began based on the feasibility of funding: bonds, county sales tax, and government grants.

46. REVISED BUDGETS In an effort to work toward affordability, options were modified. 46

47. OPTION 1: RENOVATION Remodel our existing facilities to become two, state-of-the-art high school campuses and build a technical academy on a new site.

48. Option 1: Renovation Cost Modification

49. OPTION 2: NEW CONSTRUCTION Build one high school campus on a new site to help support growing academic requirements. The school would feature four wings, each named to reflect the heritage of DPS: MacArthur, Eisenhower, Stephen Decatur and Lakeview. The Technical Academy would be built on a separate site in the District.

50. Option 2: New Construction Cost Modification Land acquisition would be an additional cost.