Enrollment Growth Meetings

1. Enrollment Growth Meetings February 2012 Superintendent Mark Dockins

2. Presentation Purposes • Why the need for a change? • What are some proposed solutions? • How much will the proposed solutions cost? • When can the proposed plans be operational?

3. What is prompting this need for a change?

4. Explosive Enrollment Growth • Uintah was the fastest growing school district in the state last year at 4.6%. • Uintah continues to show enrollment growth even while other counties and states are in economic decline. • Our senior class this year has 391 students which started with 451 Kindergarten students. • This year our Kindergarten class has 726 students. • Our Kindergarten class for next year is projected to be 785.

5. 2006-2012 Enrollment History

7. What are some proposed solutions?

8. Four Possible Solutions • Adopt a Year-Round School Schedule • Build additions onto Vernal Middle and Vernal Junior High Schools to increase capacities • Bond to build a new high school, move 9th graders up to the high school level and change the configuration at VJH/VMS • Complete Current 10 year plan with an addition at UHS to accommodate 9th graders and change the configuration at VJH/VMS

9. Year-Round Schooling • More efficient use of building • Research suggests it benefits At-Risk students • On-going costs:1M • Logistics of Scheduling

11. Additions at VJH/VMS • Cost is not within scope of 10 year plan • Both schools have already been remodeled recently • How large do we want a middle school or junior high? • Auditoriums, cafeterias, hallways, safety, space for addition at VJH?

12. New Configuration with High School • K-5 Elementary schools • Two 6,7,8 middle/junior high school • Grades 9-12 high school

13. What Supports the Configuration of moving 9th Grade to High School? • Enrollment growth • Curriculum and activity needs match better with a 6/7/8 school vs 8/9 school • 9th grade credit/counseling • Academic interventions • More efficient use of personnel and resources with 9th grade at high school: • Performing Arts • CTE/ATC/Concurrent Ed

14. UHS: Last School in Ten Year Plan • The scope of the ten year plan for the bond was to remodel UHS. • Within the scope of the remodel there are issues with stadium, cafeteria, auditorium and all mechanicals. • This is planned to be a two year project and is anticipated to be in the 20M range. • An addition to handle capacity could be accomplished without raising taxes. • Fiscal Responsibility

15. A New High School • Smaller high school atmosphere • More opportunities for students to participate in certain activities • How large do we want Uintah High School to be? • Cost: • Expense of building and purchase of property • Expense of operating a new high school: duplication of everything a high school needs • Double the travel and expenses for extra-curricular/routes • Lose identity of a single high school community

16. Cost of Proposals • Year-round School: 1M increase in operational costs • Additions to VJH/VMS: • 4.5 M • Reconfiguration with New High School • Bond (50 to 60 M) • Property • Building • Leeway (6M) • Maintenance and Operations • Reconfiguration with UHS Expansion (3.5 M to add classroom capacity) • UHS is last school on the ten year facilities plan and we can handle the cost of the remodel without bonding and raising taxes • Can be accomplished within the scope of the current ten year plan and funding

17. When will the proposed changes be implemented? • Year-round School: 2013-14 • VMS/VJH Additions: 2014-15 • UHS Addition: 2014-15 • New High School: 2015-16

18. Thank you for your attendance. We appreciate your interest in what we are trying to accomplish.