Public Hearing Possible Closure Lincoln Park & West Wyomissing Elementary Schools

1. Public HearingPossible Closure Lincoln Park & West Wyomissing Elementary Schools Wilson School District Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:00pm The official vote on this issue will take place during the first week in March.

2. The Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting Review information related to both Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing Elementary Schools. Review the qualifications, procedures and data developed by E I Associates. Speak to the present Wilson experience as well as the challenges we face currently and those we anticipate in the future. Hear concerns and questions from our community.

3. Lincoln Park & West Wyomissing Lincoln Park Built 1948 Renovated 1954-57 West Wyomissing Built 1936 Renovated 1961

4. Firm Overview • More than 300 Educational Facilities since 1985 • More than 180 Master Plans since 1985 • 40 in-house staff at Harrisburg Office • 5 LEED AP on staff at Harrisburg Office • 20 LEED Designed Projects • 6 LEED Certified Projects ® ® ®

5. Alternatives Considered The Wilson School Board is considering four options, as presented by EI Associates, as we continue to work through our due diligence on this topic: • Option 1 Renovate both Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing $ 9,400,000.00 • Option 2 Additions to existing buildings along with closure of Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing. $ 4,000,000.00 • Option 3 Build a new elementary to replace Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing. $ 13,000,000.00 • Option 4 Renovations to existing elementary buildings to accommodate additional students along with closure of Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing. $ 2,300,000.00 After considering all options the Wilson School Board will make a decision as to which option is in the best interest of the district.

6. Staffing • Staffing is always the largest part of our budgeted expenses as it is in every school district. • If the decision is to close we would experience substantial savings in this area. • As part of the redistricting/closure process none of our grade level classroom teachers nor Principal Flannery would be without a position. • We very much value all the employees we have here at Wilson. In keeping with this appreciation we would work in an intentional manner to handle all professional/support staff job eliminations through transfers which open up through attrition/retirement as much as is possible.

7. Annual Cost Savings (if closure is the selected option) Utility Savings: Lincoln Park $ 42,067.00 West Wyomissing $ 69,751.00 Total Annual Cost Avoidance: $ 111,818.00 Staff Savings: Lincoln Park $ 139,670.72 West Wyomissing $ 213,214.50 LP/WW $ 79,277.33 Food Service $ 47,644.26 Total Annual Cost Avoidance: $ 376,852.30 Total Annual Cost Avoidance: $ 591,514.81 * Important to note that due to redistricting there would be changes in transportation costs. The original estimated annual increase would be $ 104,355.00. In the first year the cost would be estimated at $ 374,355.00 due to the purchase of additional buses. Again, this figure will change based upon the redistricting model that is implemented.

8. An Analysis of Enrollment and Enrollment Projections • Since school construction programs are based in a large part on estimates of school enrollment, fairly reliable population and enrollment projections are essential to sound plant planning. However, because of the number of interrelated factors which influence school enrollment (population growth, local birth rate, local zoning ordinances, home building activity, waste-water treatment, nearby employment opportunities, children attending non public schools, etc.), it is difficult to make an exact prediction of future enrollment in the Wilson School District.

9. Additional Considerations Uncertain events can influence and alter pupil projections such that no projections, no matter how carefully constructed, will be completely accurate. Mitigating issues include birth data; migration patterns; internal policies (such as, retention and acceleration of pupils, age requirements for admission to school, full day kindergarten programs, who provides special education programs and to whom they are provided); statewide policies on “school choice,” vouchers, and other aspects of the educational program; the formation and/or termination of charter schools; transfers of pupils between school districts which are permitted under the “No Child Left Behind” law when individual schools fail to meet one or more state standards or goals for two consecutive years; economic climate; zoning and land use controls; infrastructure considerations;

10. Turnover of Existing Homes & Enrollment Trends Much of the turnover involves lower-priced housing (i.e., compared with new construction costs and the prices of existing houses elsewhere in Berks County) which will likely continue to attract younger families who are looking to buy “starter homes.” If turnover accelerates dramatically, additional changes in the demographic mix could occur, and this may have a further impact on the district’s enrollments. The district should be mindful of this potential. Trends in population and housing units in the Wilson School District have not had a direct correlation with public school patterns. While population and housing units increased during the 1970s (at noticeably different rates), public school enrollments decreased. In the 1990s population, housing units, and enrollments all increased, and the rate of growth in enrollments surpassed that of the total population and housing units by a factor of about 50 percent.

11. Mechanics of Enrollment Projections Enrollment projections for the Wilson School District were prepared using the “grade progression” technique, which is based on the ratio of enrollments in a given grade in a given year to enrollments in the next lower grade in the preceding year. The grade progression formula was developed by reviewing the recent experience in the district with respect to pupil progression and tempering that with the various community growth data which were analyzed. This approach is designed to detect such factors as in-or-out migration of pupils; transfer of pupils between public and nonpublic schools, and into and out of special programs; withdrawals; promotional policies; and participation in any full-time vocational-technical program.

12. April 21, 1995 – Board of Education Special Facilities meeting: Report on recommendations – Elementary & Junior High Elementary Schools • Build an elementary school similar to Spring Ridge on the present southern site for opening in the 1997-98 school year. • In 1997-98, close one or more elementary schools that do not meet the standards of Whitfield, Cornwall Terrace or Spring Ridge. • Acquire another site for possible elementary school construction needs after 2004. Lower Heidelberg Township would seem the most advantageous location.

13. Wilson School District ~ 2012-2013 Elementary Enrollments (Maximum)

14. Enrollment Projections for Wilson School District Prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education May 16, 2003

15. Wilson School DistrictTotal Enrollment Projections (Grades K-12)2007-08 to 2012-13 – February 2008 PEL

16. Wilson School DistrictExtended Total Enrollment Projections (Grades K-12)*2012-13 to 2017-18 February 2008 PEL * Based on births fixed at the average level of the three most recent years for which data are available.

17. Historic First Grade Takes the net change in the number of students in first grade in the last five years, averages it and applies the average sum to each previous first grade class for the next projected 10 years.  A cohort survival ratio is calculated for each second through fifth grade by taking the sum of the last four years of the grade for which the ratio is being determined and divided by the sum of four years of enrollment figures five years prior in the previous grade.  Projections are then generated for second through fifth grade by multiplying the cohort ratio for the grade that the projection is being determined by the enrollment (actual or projected) in the previous year of the previous grade.  Kindergarten projections are calculated by taking the first grade projection for the year prior to the Kindergarten year being determined and dividing it by the first grade cohort ratio.

18. Other Options with regard to building renovations and construction. • We have used our resources as well as those individuals who work with us on a regular basis concerning renovation and building cost options. At this time we have not found any programs that would be of significant benefit. • We will continue to investigate possibilities throughout the next three months.

19. Secretary of Education • TO:         All Local Education Agencies • FR:          Ronald J. Tomalis, Secretary of Education • RE:          Review of School Planning and Construction Workbook (PlanCon) Applications • Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) provides partial reimbursement for approved school renovation and construction projects through PlanCon.  The fiscal year 2011-12 state budget appropriates $296.1 million for PlanCon, of which $291 million is already obligated for the reimbursement of debt service on projects with approved financing.  Therefore, $5.1 million is not currently obligated. • Presently, there are more than 100 projects in the PlanCon application process.  It is evident from PDE’s review of these projects that the available funds would not sufficiently cover the projected reimbursements.  Therefore, all local education agencies should note that project financing will be approved subject to the availability of funding.  As such, applications will continue to be received and reviewed through the PlanCon process; however, Part H approvals will only be granted based upon the availability of funds.  Please note that there is no change for those who currently receive a debt service reimbursement through PlanCon.

20. Building Possibilities • If the decision is to close, a significant concern that our community has voiced in previous meetings is in regard to what happens to the properties. • It is important to note that what happens in any part of our Wilson community effects our entire Wilson community. With this in mind if we were to move towards closing, we would engage the surrounding community to explore as many options as possible to make the best decisions on the properties.

21. Re-Districting • The last time we implemented a redistricting plan was six years ago as we prepared for the opening of the Green Valley Elementary School. • As we consider the possibility of closing Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing Elementary Schools we are again exploring options as this is an integral component in order to fully complete due diligence. It is important to note that redistricting is a process that school districts around the Commonwealth engage in from time to time due to the shifting patterns of student enrollments. The Wilson School District is no different. • Once we have a proposed plan in place we will share this plan with our community to hear questions and concerns. This meeting will take place at least one month prior to the formalized decision on possible closure as to allow time for comment.

22. What Makes Wilson “Wilson” Consistently high academic achievement. A diverse offering of courses. A top notch staff of professional, para-professional educators and support staff. A district wide Academy program which allows our students opportunities that many schools are not able to offer. A robust offering of extracurricular activities. A mindset toward continuous improvement with an emphasis on achieving the highest possible accomplishment in all areas we sponsor and support.