Case Study EDAD 948 Instructional Leadership Dr. Jody Isernhagen

1. Case StudyEDAD 948Instructional LeadershipDr. Jody Isernhagen By Sara Fridley Annika Russell Dianne Selchert Sandy Selland

2. Purpose Statement The purpose of this study is to answer questions regarding consolidation of the Artesian/Letcher, Woonsocket, and Alpena school districts into one district.

3. Case Study Questions • Will it be cost effective to combine the districts? • Will students benefit from the consolidation? • Course offerings • Sports Implications • Transportation • Time on bus • Mileage • What implications will consolidation have for staff? • What questions do community members have?

4. 1) Will it be cost effective to combine the districts?

5. Q1A – If each town keeps a school in operation for certain grades, how much would this cost as opposed to one facility? • It would depend . . . . • Specific numbers can’t be given with determination of exact scope of each operation • Staffing needs • Building maintenance needs • Student numbers in each building • Might be a desired short-term measure but would raise eventual costs

6. Q1B – What will it cost to reorganize into one school and build a new school? • Important question – with no exact answers yet!

7. Q1C – How will a new school district save money as compared to keeping the existing 3 districts? • Money could be saved in the following area: • Administrative salaries • Custodial & maintenance salaries • Utility costs • Transportation costs • Salaries of duplicated staff • Improved utilization of supplies & equipment

8. Q1D – Would taxes be increased if a new school district were created? • Depends on these factors • economic conditions • future board decisions • Could increase • Could stay the same • Could decrease

9. 2) Will students benefit from the consolidation? • Course offerings • Sports implications • Transportation • Time on bus • Mileage

10. Q2A – Would the new curriculum for the consolidated district include more courses? • Potential for new courses would be increase • Decisions on course offerings based on • Compliance with state standards • Board decisions • Student needs would be addressed in the final reorganization plan

11. Q2B – What will happen to athletic activities when the districts are consolidated? • Extra-curricular activities are local matters • Also subject to SD High School Activities Association & State Board of Education • Based on total enrollment of grades 9-12 • Combined enrollment from the 3 districts would suggest • Class 11-B in football • Class A in other sports & co-curricular activities

12. Q2C – How will transportation for school activities be handled? • New school board would determine transportation policies • Should be more efficient if there is a central location • Buses will run where needed as required by law • Option of paying parents mileage for transporting children

13. 3) What implications will consolidation have for staff?

14. Q3A – What administrative and academic staff would be needed for the new district? • Staffing would depend on contents of consolidation plan • New district is committed to employ sufficient staff for • To teach mandated standards • Meet the needs of the students • Manage the facilities • Attrition would probably account for reduction in force • List of anticipated staff requirements in each specific area was distributed

15. 4) What questions do community members have?

16. Q4A – Why should Alpena, Artesian-Letcher and Woonsocket consolidate at this time? • Prudent solution to eventual closings of all 3 schools • Declining enrollments (27% decline in 5 years) • Aging school facilities (safety issue) • Inadequate capital and operating income (fiscal issue) • Could be mandated by the State • Legislatures looking at forcing consolidations • Takes away local choice

17. Q4B – Can the school districts continue as 3 separate districts? • Yes – they could remain as they are today. • However . . . . . . • Decreasing enrollment means less financial support in the future • School board members become personally liable for deficit spending • Deficit spending is not an option • Existing facilities need replacement • Buildings all have existing fire code violations • Higher educational standards would be difficult to meet

18. Q4C – How is consolidation accomplished? • Procedures are specified in SDCL (South Dakota Codified Law) 13-6-10 • First procedure is prepare a reorganization plan

19. Q4D – What if one school district doesn’t want to consolidate? • A district could withdraw from the plan prior to approval by State Secretary of Education • If an election were held, the wishes of the district would be determined by results of the vote.

20. Q4E – If there are school district size requirements, what are they? • There are no current requirements for size of a school district. • Estimate of consolidated size would be between 475 and 500 (all 3 districts) students • Open enrollment could effect numbers

21. Q4F – Is a new school necessary, and if so, is one location best? • Little advantage in consolidating if a new school isn’t built • Advantages of a new building • Reduce separate costs for heating & maintenance • Eliminate duplication of services • Provide improved academic atmosphere • Location is the most important element • Survey results • Majority of Woonsocket patrons want the building in Woonsocket • Majority of other patrons want building centrally located

22. Q4G – If an election to consolidate is held and the vote is for consolidation, when would it become effective? • New district would become effective July 1 • Before new school year begins • All other time frame elements must be met • Order of Secretary of Education must be issued by March 1

23. Q4H – Is there an overlapping period of time between continued operation of the existing districts and the beginning of the new district? • No overlapping period • Existing districts would cease to exist on that July 1 • New district becomes operational on same date

24. Q4I – Would new board members be selected, and how many? When would their terms begin? • New board must be selected • State law requires 5, 7, or 9 • Elected in accordance with SDCL 13-8-6b • Terms of 1-3 years initially and 3 years thereafter • Shall take office as soon as convenient if elected on or before the first Monday in May

25. Q4J – Can property owners withdraw from the newly approved school district? • Property owners may petition for withdrawal • State law provides for this option • Called a “minor boundary change” • Petitions must be approved by both sending and receiving boards

26. Q4K – How can it be certain that everyone will pay his or her fair share of taxes for the new school district? • Reorganization plan makes a provision for adjustment of assets between existing districts • Future fairness would depend on board decisions • Setting tax rates • Working with counties • Adopting budgets

27. Q4L – How are the existing obligations of the 3 districts met after the reorganization is completed? • Invoices must be presented in a reasonable and timely fashion to existing boards • Payments would be made by existing board • SDCL provides for transfer of liabilities to the new board • Payments would be made by new board

28. Q4M – What is the condition of the current school buildings and what will happen to them? • Current buildings have been well-maintained but are very old and deteriorating • All have numerous fire code violations & limited handicap accessibility • Higher maintenance costs are expected in future • Antiquated boiler systems (referenced Plankinton school tragedy) • Gymnasiums could continue to be utilized

29. Q4N – What about water, electricity, and sewer services, and fire and police protection? • Costs will vary depending on location & size of new building • Fire and police protection • adequate for either a rural or town location • Water & Sewer • Woonsocket & Letcher have city water towers • Option of rural water or a well • Electrical costs would depend on size of building

30. Survey Patrons were surveyed by mail Patrons were asked about Opinion of consolidation Concerns they had Location of future school Results of that mail survey helped identify issues of importance to patrons Interview Case study group created an interview form Each member of the group interviewed 5 district patrons Results were included in our case study Methodology

31. Findings • Most patrons favor consolidation ONLY IF • Future school is located in their own existing district • Taxes don’t increase • Location is the most important issue to voters • Location will “make or break” the consolidation vote • No easy compromise available • Community members had very little information at this time about the consolidation plan.

32. Prevalent Themes • Fear is a huge issue in consolidation effort • Communities fear they will “die out” without a school • Fear of loss of local control • Staff fear losing jobs • Competition between existing districts • What will be kept of existing traditions? • Who has the best teachers? Curriculum? Programs? • Lack of knowledge prevalent • Patrons don’t really know much about school finances • Rumors run rampant