Concerned Citizens for Smithton School (CC4SS)

Community Presentation #1 3.5.13

Agenda
Belief Statements

Why are we opposed to this bond issue:

Growth Assumptions (population, housing, school) Financial Considerations
Current Tax Implications Future District Financial Considerations

Process Transparency

Additional Items for Boards Awareness

Final Items
Alternate Option Other Education Issues in Smithton Our Request

We are FOR Smithton School

We believein a strong, quality education for our communitys children and we recognize the essential foundation it provides for their future success. We support the inclusion of 21st Century learning concepts in the curriculum. We support the expansion of technology and the continuation of art, music, sports, PE and other programs that some area schools are forced to consider as non-essential.

We are in favor of progress, in favor of smart growth, in favor of providing appropriate facilities.

Belief Statements
We believeSmithton School must act to address student capacity. We believeA new middle school is an excessive option. A want in a time of need. We believeA rigorous analysis of the factual data leads to a different conclusion. We believeThe school bond referendum should not be passed, so the School Board will be forced to review other options.

Growth Assumptions
Population Housing School

Smithton Growth Assumptions

The Vote Yes Committee claims population growth fueling large future class sizes, based on 2010 Census data.
Predicts 2013 1st grade to be 60+ students Predicts 2014 1st grade to be 69 students

Source: 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Smithton Growth Assumptions

CC4SS Response: 2010 census data for Smithton CCSD #130 does not enable accurate prediction of future enrollment.
FACT: 2010 Census data indicates 298 under 5 children in the school district.
K-2 current enrollment = 163 students This would leave 135 students in remaining 2 ages of this cohort (avg. 67.5 students / age) Calculating to the full 298 isnt accurate, as it assumes 100% of district children will attend CCSD #130.
No allowance for Home Schooling or Private School (St. Johns, St. Peter & Paul, etc.)
Source: 2010 Census Data CCSD #130 District from National Center for Education Statistics

Smithton Growth Assumptions

2010 Census - CCSD #130
350 340

338 333
11.8% decrease

330

320

310

300

298
10 to 14 Years 5 to 9 Years Total # Children in Age Cohort Under 5 Years

290

280

FACT: 2010 Census data shows the youngest age cohort is significantly lower than children already in school!
Source: 2010 Census Data CCSD #130 District from National Center for Education Statistics

Smithton Growth Assumptions

The Vote Yes Committee claims existing home sales in the Smithton area is a valid metric for measuring the influx of young families.
CC4SS Response: Existing home sales is not a valid metric, unless specific demographic data is available about the household composition of both buyers and sellers We believe a better metric for measuring community growth within the district is new home construction (although this is still a flawed metric, unless specific demographic data is analyzed)
Source: 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg. and Q&A document on Vote Yes Facebook page

Smithton Growth Assumptions

Housing growth has slowed substantially.
Smithton Building Permits for New Houses
120

100

80

60

7 are vacant spec homes!

40

20

0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Source: New housing permits issued inside CCSD #130 district Smithton Village Hall

School Enrollment is Stable

550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200

Smithton Total Enrollment

Since housing slowdown, total enrollment has stabilized!

Using current enrollment data, middle school will decrease after 14!

150
100 K-8 6-8

'09 470

'10 507

'11 490

'12 502

'13 505 168

'14 178

'15 176

'16 174

'17 156

'18 167

'19 163

Source: ISBE (09 12 links on CCSD #130 website) & 13 provided by school administration

Smithton Growth Assumptions

2010 Census - CCSD #130
69

338 333

67

8
65

7 6

4 3

54
63

57.6
298 2 1 K
2 1 0

61

59

57 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Avg # Children/Age within Age Cohort

54.3 3

Source: 2010 Census Data CCSD #130 District from National Center for Education Statistics , Current enrollment provided by school administration.

Growth Assumption Summary

School age population within the school district is NOT on a growth trajectory! New home construction within the district is down substantially from the peak!

The peak middle school enrollment will have graduated before the new school is built!

Financial Considerations

Current Tax Implications

Increased taxes for 20 years
Length of bond duration Market Value of Home $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 Annual Tax Increase $224.98 $449.96 $674.93 $899.91

While we expect few to like higher taxes, the bigger concern is the state fiscal crisis and what impact that has for future financial concerns.
Source: 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Illinois - Four Years Ago

Funding Has Been Bad

Source: May 2009 Report from St. Clair County Property Tax Committee

And its Getting Worse Illinois Ranks Last for Funding Education through 2011

Source: National Education Association Rankings and Estimates Research December 2011

Were Beginning to See the Effects

State funding is and has been well below budget. 95% in 2012.* 89% in 2013.* Some project another 10% cut next year.

Source: EFAB report to IL Gen Assembly dtd. Jan. 2013: www.isbe.state.il.us/EFAB/pdf/final-report-01-13.pdf

Future District Financial Considerations

Many project future state funding cuts & predict a transfer of teacher pension responsibility to the local school district!

Future District Financial Considerations

New Middle School = Increased Operating Costs
Estimated at $670,000 annually, an increase of ~15-20% vs. current year.
Includes additional administration, utilities, teachers, operations & maintenance, food service and transportation. Initial estimates provided in November community meetings were ~$800,000.
Source: 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Future District Financial Considerations: Tax Increase Triple Threat

Bond Referendum

Higher Taxes
State Cuts & Teacher Pension Increased Operating Costs

and/or reduced funding for education programs!

Financial Concerns Summary

Significant increase to current taxes (+22% vs. 2011).
Will district citizens be able to handle this increased burdenor begin to seek other options?

Current Illinois funding levels driving schools to:

cut non-essential programs seek bond financing for current operations close schools

Future Illinois actions may:

cut funding further transfer pension expenses to the local district

Known operating cost increases will make it harder to maintain and improve our well-rounded education programs and funding.

Process Transparency

We Believe a More Transparent Process Could Have Been Achieved in Q4 2012

We question the validity of the Nov. community meeting study results:
Several attendees completed multiple surveys Several attendees indicated confusion over wording for option ranking As outlined earlier, we believe factual inaccuracies were provided to the public prior to their vote for a preferred school option. Results were used as key rationale for New School recommendation to Board of Education

The original New School option presented at November community meetings only covered the $10.23 MM construction cost, not the additional $1.6 MM building optimization for the existing school. Need for existing school optimization not referenced in Administration letter sent to parents and referenced in local media.

Current Transparency Concerns

Since the January 15th school board vote to place the referendum on the ballot, we are concerned about several actions by the board/administration and/or the Vote Yes for Prop S committee.
We have concerns the district may not be in full compliance with applicable election and ethics laws, specifically the:
Election Interference Prohibition Act State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (hereafter referred to as the Ethics Act)

Election Interference Prohibition Act

The Illinois Association of School Boards provides a summary of this act. Our concerns relate to the highlighted sections below:

Source: IL Assoc. School Boards & IL Council of School Attorneys - www.iasb.com/law/FAQreferendum207.pdf

Election Interference Prohibition Act

WW (Content)

Source: School District website & 2.13.13 Wednesday White envelope

Election Interference Prohibition Act

Architects have a direct linkage to Committee. Has the school board provided any compensation for this connection?

Presentation Content

Source: Vote Yes Campaign Org. document, St. Michaels 2.17.13 bulletin, 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Ethics Act
We are concerned the board and administration is being used inappropriately by the Vote Yes for Prop S committee, especially as it related to the prohibited political activities listed in the Ethics Act.
Some Visible Examples:
Inclusion on Vote Yes for Prop S Campaign Organization documents Being introduced as board/teacher reps at public meetings Distribution of materials through the Wednesday White envelopes Having school administration present allowable factual information, but on and within Vote Yes for Prop S presentation templates.

Source: IL Assoc. School Boards & IL Council of School Attorneys - www.iasb.com/law/FAQreferendum207.pdf

Ethics Act
Official listing: Sch. Board Mbr, Administrator(s) & Teacher(s) as Steering Cmte. Members

WW Distribution

School Committee: Chair should be a strong administrator. Coordinates and guides activities within the schoolsstudent activities, open houses, etc.

Presentation Content

Source: Vote Yes Campaign Org. document, 2.13 WW envelope, 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Transparency Concerns Summary

We voice these concerns, not because we want to point fingers, oppose this initiative on technicalities or impugn the character of the board or administration.

Instead, we raise these concerns because the appearance of or actual violation of applicable laws could:
impact potential voters ability to make informed choices. expose district to future legal challenges/expenses.

Additional Items for the Boards Awareness

The Vote Yes for Prop S committee has provided misinformed or misleading information.

Examples
At 2/6 public meeting the following question was asked:

We believe this to be inaccurate, as we have come to understand that Mrs. Berrys former classroom remains empty and unused for classroom purposes (occasional usage for meetings and a last period study hall).
Source: 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Fact Challenged By Administration

We stand by our claim!

Examples
At 2/6 public meeting this chart was used to communicate the growth projections of the Middle School enrollment. This same chart has been used in various forums since last November It indicates current enrollment of 184 middle school students.

As we saw earlier, this is simply incorrect the true current enrollment is 168!
Source: 2.6.13 Vote Yes Community Mtg.

Examples
At 2/6 public meeting the following question was asked:

0 Search Results

0 Search Results indicating a St. Louis study or article

What we did find, however, was the referenced study had been conducted in a poor, urban school district in New Haven, CT.

Examples
We believe the current community meetings being positioned as Design Workshops could give the false impression that a decision for new school construction is already made.

We believe the Board Presidents resignation hours after the 1.15.13 vote and immediate assumption of the Vote Yes for Prop S Chairman position could leave the impression that the board validates and supports every piece of disseminated information as fact.

Examples
The prior point is further reinforced by the school districts web page, which still shows the chairman of Vote Yes for Prop S as school board president.

Additional Items Summary

We believe the public has a right to accurate information in order to make an informed decision. Based on what youve seen, we hope the board is compelled board and administration to set the record straight to ensure the public has access to factual information.

Final Considerations

Other Education Issues in Smithton

The Catholic Churchs Belleville Diocese is about to conclude a nearly 18 month study of parishes and catholic schools in Southern Illinois. It is widely anticipated nearly 20-25 parishes will be closed and schools that are not financially viable will be consolidated. If St. Johns and St. Josephs were to consolidate schools, would that open new options for us to consider (purchasing/leasing)? Would it result in a larger than anticipated influx of new students to CCSD #130? Final decisions are expected in the March/April timeframe.

An Alternate Path
We believe several options exist for alleviating classroom space pressures at the current school site. We recommend a No vote to force the school board to consider additional options. Further, we recommend a more comprehensive community engagement plan to identify the optimal option.

What Were Asking of the Board

We request the bond referendum be removed from the April election to allow a more robust evaluation of near-to-mid term solutions. If the referendum remains on the ballot, then we ask the district (board and administration):
to practice extreme caution relating to applicable election and ethics statutes (including the removal of improper e-mail addresses, presentations or other materials). to communicate to parents, through the WW, that previous materials should not have been sent via the WW and to encourage parents and community members to inform themselves fully about the upcoming election.

In Closing
We hope the board understands that our intention in raising these issues IS about ensuring the best for our children and their educationnot just our pocketbooks. We believe a more conservative approach towards near-to-mid term enrollment will improve our ability to remain a strong, vibrant center of education well into the future. We believe this and previous school boards have done a good job of maintaining fiscal prudence, making Smithton one of the rare schools that is not in economic crisis. This positions us well to weather the coming storm of state funding decreases. We plan to present a fact-based, passionate and respectful point of view to district voters. If, at any time, you believe we are not acting accordingly, then please hold us accountable.

Thank You!
www.facebook.com/cc4ss http://concernedcitizensfor.wix.com/cc4ss concernedcitizensforss@gmail.com