1

School District Efficiency Study

Morrisville-Eaton Central School

District Advisory Committee Meeting

April 23, 2014

Castallo and Silky Education Consultants

Jessica Cohen & Alan Pole, Consultants

Why Conduct This Study?Since 2006-07, 31 positions have been eliminated (staff reduced from 169 to 138)Employees have agreed to reduce benefit levels of health insurance50% of student extra-curricular activities have been eliminatedMerger voted down by Hamilton even though 67% of

M-E voters voted YESFund balance/reserves have been spent down considerably leaving the district vulnerable for the futureStudent enrollment has been declining

2

Why Closing a School May be Difficult

Loss of school presence in the villageUncertainty of what will happen to the building Elementary students should not be mixed with secondary studentsLess personal attention for studentsBusing time for some students may be increasedFear of losing job security by employeesNatural resistance to change

3

Purpose of the Efficiency StudyFrom an instructional and financial perspective, should the board of education consider creating a Pre-K-12 grade program in the Morrisville-Eaton Middle/High School and closing the Edward R. Andrews Elementary School, and

What does the school community desire in an educational program that will successfully prepare all students for their future and what strategic initiatives should be implemented to achieve these goals?

4

Expectations of Committee Members

Attend all committee meetingsFreely express their points of viewBe a key communicator with

stakeholder groupsBe respectful of the committee and

and the study processBe a positive contributing member in

other related committee activities

5

The Consultants

Bring an outside, unbiased perspectiveHave no local stake in the outcomeWill conduct the study in a fair mannerWill ensure that the process is openWill produce meeting notes after each

committee meetingWill be responsible for the final report

6

Recommendations in the Report

Will benefit student learningWill be sensitive to the unique cultural

contexts of the school districtsWill be independent of special interest

groupsWill be educationally soundWill be fiscally responsible and realistic

7

Common Reactions About the Study Process

The consultants are here to close the elementary school

This is all happening too quicklyThere is not enough information on which

to make a decisionThe advisory committee meetings are too

long…..or too short

8

Committee Meeting Schedule(6:00 meetings; 5:15 tours*)

April 23, 2014-Overview & Enrollments (HIGH)

May 15-Program (ELEM)*June 11-Facilities (HIGH)*July 23-Transportation (ELEM)August 20-Staffing (HIGH)September 17-Finances (ELEM)October 1-Review Draft Report (HIGH)October 15-Report to Board of Education

9

Informing the Public

District newslettersNewspaper articlesDistrict web sitesNotes from advisory committee meetingsPowerPoint presentations from advisory

committee meetingsOpen advisory committee meetings-for

observation and limited comment

10

11

Enrollment History and Projections

12

Enrollment Drives Decisions

Number of teachers/other staffSize of classesNumber of rooms neededCurriculum offeringsFacilitiesTransportationFinances

13

Enrollment History

14

Predicting Future Enrollment

Uses the Cohort Survival Projection method & begins with live birth information

Calculates the patterns of enrollmentsSurvival ratio tracks how cohort

changes through the grades Based on consistent and predictable

conditions

15

16

Questions About Live Birth Information

What are the reasons that live births in the school district are increasing?

Will this be a continuing trend?

17

18

Questions about Enrollment Projections

Why are there more 5 year olds entering school than live births five years previously?

Will the number of births continue to increase, level off, or decrease?

Are there other enrollment trends that should be considered?

19

20

21

22

Enrollment “Take Aways”

23

Enrollment has decreased by 32% (343 students) since the 1998 – 1999 school year

Over the past 10 years, enrollment has decreased by 19% (162 students)

Projections indicate a slight increase in enrollment

Discussion Question

What principles must we address as we consider reorganizing the Pre-K to 12th grade school programs in Morrisville-EatonWhat do we want to maintain?What do we want to improve?What can be eliminated or decreased?

24

Questions????

25