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Workshop September 2, 2008

Workshop September 2, 2008. Agenda Consolidation -Important Dates -Reorganization Plan Overview -Financials Q & A (Board) Public Comments. Important Dates. September: 2 nd Workshop 8 th Workshop 24 th School Board Meeting October: TBD Public Forum(s) November:

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Workshop September 2, 2008

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  1. WorkshopSeptember 2, 2008 Agenda Consolidation -Important Dates -Reorganization Plan Overview -Financials Q & A (Board) Public Comments

  2. Important Dates • September: • 2nd Workshop • 8th Workshop • 24th School Board Meeting • October: • TBD Public Forum(s) • November: • 4th Referendum Question

  3. Reorganization Plan Overview • RPC Membership • Meeting Attendees

  4. Reorganization Plan Overview • District Name • Operational Date • Units Consolidating • Intent

  5. Mission Statement The New Casco Bay School District will strive to: • bring out the best in each student’s intellectual, ethical, creative and physical development; • provide talented and dedicated faculty and encourage parent and community involvement, as fundamental to each student’s success; • provide exceptional facilities for academics, athletics and the arts; • ensure a safe and respectful environment where all feel a sense of belonging; • value the diversity of belief and experience that each student brings, and • promote in each student, personal integrity, intellectual vitality, good citizenship, discipline and respect for themselves and others.

  6. Reorganization Plan Overview • Potential Educational Program Enhancements (Focus for September 8th Workshop)

  7. Reorganization Plan Overview • Opportunities for Students/Staff (Focus for September 8th Workshop)

  8. Reorganization Plan Overview • Governing Body/Terms/Voting Method • Board Composition • 3-year Staggered Terms • One Person:One Vote

  9. Reorganization Plan Overview • Disposition of Real and Personal School Property • Exceptions: • Lunt/Plummer-Motz Campus • 12 Acre Parcel at 51 Woodville Road

  10. Reorganization Plan Overview • Disposition of Existing School Indebtedness/Lease Purchase Obligations • State Qualified Debt is Assumed by the RSU • Local Debt will stay a Local Responsibility • Lease Purchase Obligations become the Responsibility of the RSU

  11. Reorganization Plan Overview • Assignment of Personnel Contracts/Collective Bargaining Agreements/Other Contractual Obligations • All Obligations in Effect as of the RSU’s Operational Date become the Responsibility of the RSU

  12. Reorganization Plan Overview • Disposition of Existing Funds/Financial Obligations (Includes: Undesignated Fund Balances/Trust Funds/Other School Funds) • Financial Obligations to be met prior to RSU Formation, as possible • Equitable treatment of all municipalities regarding unsatisfied financial obligations • Balances and Remaining Funds Transfer to the RSU (Falmouth exclusion due to cost-sharing agreement in Reorganization Plan)

  13. Reorganization Plan Overview • Transition Plan • Transition Committee as Successor to RPC • Voter Education • Budget Preparation • Amendments to Plan

  14. Reorganization Plan Overview • Transition Timetable • Nov. 4, 2008: Reorganization Plan Referendum; if adopted • Jan., 2009: Election of RSU Board members • Thru Spring, 2009: Superintendent hire, Budget Development, Policy Review/Consolidation • Spring, 2009: B.V.R. (Referendum) for RSU Budget FY ’09-’10 • July 1, 2009: New Casco Bay RSU Operational

  15. Reorganization Plan Overview • Transition Plan Components • Interim Rules/Officers • Selection of Superintendent • Budget Development • Authority of RSU Board • Personnel • Policies

  16. Reorganization Plan Overview • Public Hearings • November 13, 2007 • November 27, 2007 • November 29, 2007 • January 9, 2008

  17. Reorganization Plan Overview • RPC/Transition Committee Meetings RPCTransition Sept. 24, 2007 March 25, 2008 Oct. 3, 2007 March 31, 2008 Oct. 12, 2007 April 29, 2008 Nov. 5, 2007 May 28, 2008 Nov. 13, 2007 June 12, 2008 Nov. 20, 2007 July 29, 2008 Nov. 28, 2007 Dec. 5, 2007 Dec. 12, 2007 Feb. 26, 2008

  18. Reorganization Plan Overview • Impact of a Unit’s Failure to Approve the RSU

  19. Reorganization Plan Overview • Cost Savings Projections (To Follow in the Financial Presentation) • Cost Sharing Formula/Cost Shift Offset (To Follow in the Financial Presentation)

  20. Reorganization Plan Overview • Election of Initial Board of Directors • Tuition Contracts and School Choice • Claims/Insurance • Vote to Submit Reorganization Plan • Amendments • Comprehensive Plan Review

  21. Assumptions/Realities Driving Consolidation at the State Level • Public education approximately 50% of the budget. • Economic projections not healthy • Citizen pressure to control spending/limit taxes • Declining student populations without corresponding decline in costs • Admin costs high compared to national avg. • State funds for education now capped at 55% of EPS model • Further funding reductions to EPS model in 08-09 (admin/transpo/facilities)

  22. Assumptions/Realities Driving Consolidation at the Local Level (Falmouth) • Expectation for continuous improvement in services and quality of programs embedded in priorities and planning • Zero-based budgeting and ROI emphasis demands reallocating existing funds and curbing new spending commitments • School administrative costs successfully reduced (approx. 3% of total budget) • Declining enrollment projections over time (11% over next eight years). • Budget increases have been historically/comparatively modest (3.5%, 2.98%, 4.1% in last 3 years) • Absorbed State funding reductions to EPS model (50% system admin, 5% transportation, 5% facilities) • Reaching max-out on “squeezing” for efficiencies without impacting quality of program

  23. Biggest Obstacles to Consolidation • Cost Sharing Model (fair and equitable to all communities) • Cost Savings Model (based on reasonable and rational assumptions)

  24. Cost Sharing Plan (Spencer Model) • Developed as an alternative to funding education solely based on the proportionate share of property tax valuation of member communities • Alternative models sanctioned by State Legislature in April ’08 • Assumes State-required local tax commitment for education under EPS stays valuation-driven • Additional local costs – transition from current valuation to per-pupil allocation funding occurs over 4 years • Cost shift to Falmouth (during 4-yr transition to new model) mitigated by offset provisions agreed to by RPC and town reps (fund balances and land assets not transferring to the new RSU)

  25. Cost Sharing ModelSchool Funding Basics: FPS + = MSAD51 + = RSU + = *RSU model same as above ** funding on a per pupil basis State’s EPS contribution -------------------------- Required local tax commitment for education Additional local spending Total School Budget State’s EPS contribution -------------------------- Required local tax commitment for education Additional local spending Total School Budget State’s EPS contribution -------------------------- Required local Tax commitment for education* Additional local spending** Total RSU Budget

  26. Cost Savings Model • Assumes a dynamic and interactive relationship among: Savings • Administrative/business operation efficiencies • Transportation efficiencies • Facilities efficiencies • Non-consolidation penalty avoidance …and Costs/Revenue Reductions • Operational and personnel-related expenditures to consolidate • Anticipated reductions in State subsidy (EPS funding due to enrollment decreases/other)

  27. Cost Savings Estimates – New RSU • Admin/operations • Initial system administrative staff savings of $250,000 per year. • Evaluation and implementation of additional operational efficiencies is expected to increase savings to $450,000 per year by 2013-14. • Transportation • Targeted operational savings of 2% ($46,351) in 2010 • Additional 2% savings in each of the two successive years (to FY2012). This goal will offset the State’s 5% reduction to transportation funding in effect as of FY2009. • Our expectation is to increase savings by 1% in each of the following two years.

  28. Cost Savings Estimates – cont. • Facilities • RSU is projecting cost savings of 2% ($94,808) in year one of operation. Savings are projected in years two and three at an additional 2% each year, years four and five at an additional 1% each year. • Above savings will help offset the State’s reduction in EPS funding of 5% in effect as of FY09.

  29. Cost Avoidance - Penalty • State penalty of nearly $900,000 is avoided by the three communities by consolidating ($475,048 for Falmouth). • Penalty components • Additional 50% reduction in State funding for system administration • Additional 2% increase in community’s required local tax contribution to education.

  30. Costs to Consolidate - RSU • Estimated costs are expected to be $500,000 in each of the first three years, and will include: • Legal Costs • Personnel contract costs • Independent & collaborative operational audits • Merging office systems

  31. Projected State Revenue Reductions • State funding for education is closely tied to enrollments. • Projected enrollments in both Falmouth and MSAD 51 are expected to decline by 11% by 2015-2016. • Anticipated decline in State revenue, based solely on enrollments, is estimated to be about $560,000 for Falmouth alone (237 students x $2349 per pupil).

  32. Conservative Estimates of Savings, Costs, Reductions in State Funding, and Penalty Avoidance

  33. Issues and Challenges • Changing “landscapes” of local and State economics • Capturing education finance in an understandable manner • Combating the “Big Promises” when the reality indicates otherwise • Capturing the “Consolidation Question” accurately (sustainability vs. tax savings)

  34. Sustainability (Long-Term View) • Assumes: • Leadership of the new RSU (Board/Professional) will be as commited to both: • School quality improvement • Efficiency in operations • Economies of scale will present new opportunities to control rising costs

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