Shirley Regional School District Planning Committee

1. Shirley Regional School District Planning Committee Update to Board of Selectmen November 30, 2009

2. Regionalization Planning – Current Status • August 2009 - Three Town option abandoned due to lack of State funding ($1.8 million) for Transition implementation • September 2009 – Ayer/Shirley Regionalization Planning Board established • November 2009 – Revised Two Town Regionalization Agreement submitted to DESE

3. Regionalization Planning Continues • Despite the abandonment of the three Town Regional concept (due to lack of State transition funds), the opportunity for Regionalizing School Districts remains • A two Town option (Ayer/Shirley) is currently on a “fast track” • Leverages the work done by the three Town Planning Board • To be brought to Town Meetings for a vote in early March 2010 • Offers a “20 year” solution for delivering a high quality, efficient educational program for the children of Ayer and Shirley, versus a “50 year” solution that the three Town option could have provided. • Regional School District to replace Town School Districts beginning in FY 2012 (September 2011)

4. What Are the Alternatives to a Regional School District? Continue to operate as a Town District • Current funding levels do not support the continued operation of the Shirley School District. • Current years budget gap closed with non-reoccurring monies. • Half-time superintendent does not provide (in the long-term) the support necessary to meet the educational objectives of the district. • Class size is increasing, in some cases exceeding 30 students. • Recent budget reductions (FY09/10) have reduced the annual spend level to just above the State Minimum Net School Spending requirements. • Impact of budget reductions on the educational program (both actual and perceived) have resulted in an increase in Choice-out and Charter School placements, draining ever increasing revenue dollars from Shirley. • FY10 Choice/Charter costs is $1.5 million, for 187 students • LAW elementary school is in immediate need of a major renovation (est, $20 million). • Reimbursement rates from the MSBA for small single district projects are reduced.

5. What Are the Alternatives to a Regional School District? Tuition all High School and Middle School Students • Per Student tuition does not include all costs • Additional cost for added transportation and SPED expenses • Currently adds 20% - 25% to the total cost of tuition • Does not include non-variable cost remaining in the Shirley (Elementary) District • Central office salaries • No input into educational program or budget • A significant (~30% - 40%) portion of the Town expenditures are turned over to another town, with no accountability • Shirley residents have no “right” to speak at another town’s School Committee meetings to have their concerns answered • No ability to control increases in tuition rates • Contract period is limited • No ability to control increase at contract renewal (including capital programs) • Capacity to educate “in-district” will no longer exist, and cannot be recreated in the short-term • No other town has the capacity, no “competitive” bidder exists

6. Why Is a Regional School District the Best Alternative? Program A Regional School District will be able to provide a rich educational program that includes the opportunity for: • Extended programs in music, technology, physical education, foreign language • Smaller class size • Restored busing • Additional “Advanced Placement” at the High School level • Additional SPED programs offered “in District” • For Shirley Students, a School District identity that extends from pre-school to grade 12 • A strong educational program is essential to reversing the current trend to increasing numbers of Shirley students electing Choice-out and Charter School placements

7. Why Is a Regional School District the Best Alternative? Cost We expect that the Regional District’s initial budget will not exceed the current combined education budgets of the two towns • For the first year no individual Town assessment will be larger than what is being spent on local education now • Assumes that each Town meets State Required Local Contribution levels • Any adjustments required to bring any Towns’ relative share of the Regional District’s annual budget in line with the Foundation Enrollment assessment formula will be phased in over a 5 year period • Greater operating efficiencies and additional State incentives (eg. Regional transportation) drives more of the available dollars to the classroom • Shirley will not have to renovate the Lura White School (est. $20 million)

8. Why Is a Regional School District the Best Alternative? Control Neither Town will be able to unilaterally drive financial or educational decisions • The Regional District School Committee elected membership is based on Town population (one person, one vote) • Based on the current population of the two Towns: 3 members for Ayer 3 members for Shirley • Financial decisions, including annual budget and capital expenditures must be approved by the elected members of the school committee • Quorum requirements dictate that a representative from each Town must be in attendance for a vote to occur • Regional District School Committee Meetings are public meetings that must adhere to Open Meeting laws • Annual assessment must be approved at the Annual Town Meetings

9. Next Steps... • Secure approval for the Regional Agreement • Approval by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) – December 2009 • Public Information meetings (January/February 2010) • Final Report to Boards of Selectmen (February 2010) • Approval by Town Meetings in March 2010 • Mitigation of expenses • Transition budget (FY 2011) • Significantly less required to implement a two-town region • Up-front transportation (FY 2011) • Accomplished by approving Regional School District in March 2010 • MSBA reimbursement • Have secured a commitment from the MSBA for a favorable reimbursement rate for a Middle-High School renovation