West Virginia School Board Association

1. Statewide Opportunities:  Exploration of 2011 Audit WestVirginia School Board Association

2. Presentation Outline • Introduction • Background and Purpose • Process • Overview of Findings • Presentation of Recommendations • Questions

3. Background and Purpose • Help West Virginia • Produce the best possible outcomes for its students. • Receive the highest return on the educational dollars it spends.

4. Background and Purpose • PERCEPTION: West Virginia is getting a poor return on its investment in primary and secondary education

5. Background – Did you know? • West Virginia ranks 8th in education expenditures relative to income. • West Virginia students score below the national average on 21 of the 24 indicators, as reported by NAEP

6. Background and Purpose • PERCEPTION: West Virginia is getting a poor return on its investment in primary and secondary education. • THEREFORE, this audit was intended to: • locate redundancies • identify opportunities - economies of scale • develop recommendations

7. Process • Review all state-level education governance entities –WVBE, SBA, Secretary for Arts and Education and the Center for Professional Development 1. Administration 2. Facilities 3. Human Resources 4. Transportation 5. Ancillary Services – health services, PD, purchasing, staffing 6. Regional Coordination

8. Process • Review of 3 Districts + RESA 1. Administration 2. Financial Services 3. Human Resources 4. Services: Transportation, Food Service 5. Educational Programs 6. Technology 7. Facilities

9. What would it take? • More money • Change of attitude – kids and families • More time for instruction • Recruit and keep best teachers and principals • Sense of urgency What would you need in order to improve student achievement?

10. Findings • West Virginia’s education system is unique in the country : • Detailed to the extreme in statutory language • Insulated from gubernatorial and voter control • Restrictive of local initiative and activity • Vesting so much authority for education at the state level • West Virginia has opportunities for change

11. Savings – State-level Review • Possible savings from recommendations: • $ 18.1 million in 1 year • $115.7 million over 5 years

12. Savings – District and RESA Review • 4 Districts + RESA savings • $ 5 million in 1 year • $18 million over 5 years • If implemented STATEWIDE in all districts and RESAs: $70 million annual savings • STATE + District + RESAs = $90 million

13. Recommendations - Administration • Right-Size WVDE • Organize around major goals or functions • Expand WVDE’s role with the RESAs • Reduce duplication and improve efficiencies • Implement additional initiatives to partner with school districts and RESAs • Staffing of agency compared to other states • FINDING: WV has nearly the highest agency staffing of any state. • FINDING: Savings of more than $21 million over 5 years

14. Recommendations - Facilities • Implement Efficiencies in School Building Capital Projects and Management • Year 1: $ 3,460,000 • Five-year: $31,300,000

15. Recommendations – Human Resources • Make hiring processes more uniform across the state • Use state’s HR system • Eliminate 1 day of required training before testing

16. Recommendations - Transportation • Purchase transportation routing software for state-wide use. • Year 1: ($1,175,000) • Five-year: $5,625,000 • Eliminate state requirement to pay additional compensation for bus drivers who do bus runs during regular work hours • Year 1: $ 878,826 • Five-year: $4,400,000

17. Recommendations – Ancillary Services • Use All Appropriate Local Health Services Available to Reduce Duplication and Costs • Year 1: $1,800,000 • Five-year: $9,000,000 • Reorganize Professional Development for Educators • Year 1: $ 2,260,000 • Five-year: $11,300,000

18. Recommendations – Ancillary Services • Utilize Cooperative and Pooled Purchasing – will also need changes in WV code to allow members of consortia to be exempted from competitive bidding. • Year 1: $ 5,100,000 • Five-year: $25,500,000 • Maximize Limited Local Personnel Resources • Support job-sharing opportunities between small districts

19. Recommendations – RESAs • Projected Savings : • Year 1: $ 782,000 • Five-year: $3,900,000 • Additional Income: e-Rate

20. WV Code 18 – 2-26 • The intent … is to provide for high quality, cost effective education programs and services to students, schools, and school systems.

21. Role of RESAs • Provide TA to low performing schools • Provide Professional Development • Facilitate cooperation and coordination among county boards • Provide computer repair and maintenance • Receive and administering grants • Develop programs to address needs of counties or required by WVBE.

22. RESA Findings • Services VARY WIDELY • No match between STAFF and the number of districts or students/teachers served • Regional Councils vary in size from 16-31 • Funding is not “only $4 million” and not proportionate to number of districts served

23. Recommendations – RESAs What should be core services? What are the opportunities for collaboration - Among RESAs? Among RESAs and districts? • Establish a comprehensive strategic planning process to review capabilities, strengths, and current services • Clarify the core services and identify opportunities for collaboration • Establish a formal role to help struggling schools and to work, in cooperation with WVDE and the district, in developing interventions • Educate districts on the role of RESAs and correct the perception that districts must invite RESAs into the county • Develop policies and procedures manual to provide consistent operations • Streamline oversight and accountability • Designate RESAs as eligible applicants for e-Rate funding

24. Role of RESAs Relative to Districts • Regional services. In furtherance of the purposes provided for in this section, the state board and the regional council of each agency shall continually explore possibilities for the delivery of services on a regional basis which will facilitate … and promote the efficient administration and operation of the public school systems generally.

25. Questions? • State-wide findings or recommendations? • District or RESA findings or recommendations? • Opportunities for savings? • How to spend the savings? • Opportunities for collaboration? • OTHER?

26. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead