The group that was charged with studying grade configurations said on Wednesday it has identified more than 10 different ways to reconfigure schools in Emporia.
At Wednesday night’s USD 253 Board of Education meeting, Randy Weseman, a retired superintendent overseeing the configuration process, and Brian Jordan, assistant superintendent of personnel, gave the board an update on the progress the committee is making.
Several members of the committee also were present at the meeting in the audience.
Weseman said the group has studied large amounts of data and has reviewed historical trends, enrollment trends and developed diagrams for each school, as well as a cost analysis for the plans.
The group was formed in March for several reasons. USD 253 received an efficiency report in December 2009 from the Center for Innovative School Leadership at Emporia State University.
The report identified several ways the district could save money, including looking at reconfiguring schools. Closing an elementary school would mean a savings of $600,000 and would increase class sizes at the remaining schools by one to two students per class.
Nancy Horst, director of community relations, said looking at ways to reduce the number of building transitions is another component of why the configuration committee was created.
Weseman said the committee plans to give the board of education all of the scenarios it is looking at, without prioritizing them.
Board members then suggested that after that process, which will happen around October, the board will suggest that the committee narrow the number of scenarios down to just a few instead of more than 10.
The committee will then prioritize the smaller list.
While the committee will make a recommendation to the board, board president Mike Crouch said the final decision lies with the board of education.
Horst said the district has looked at the way grades are grouped in buildings in the past, but this is the first time the topic is being revisited in more than 10 years.
The grade configuration committee will also hold meetings with the public to get input in November.
During the meeting the board also approved the sale of series 2001 and 2001 general obligation bonds.
Greg Vahrenberg, public finance investment banker and managing director of Piper Jaffray, gave a report to the board before it voted on the matter.
Vahrenberg said Piper Jaffray looked at refinancing bonds in 2007, but the economic turmoil wreaked havoc on the bond markets.
Interest rates have improved since then, he said, and the district can refinance bonds today at 2.22 percent.
The previous interest rates were between 4.25 and 6 percent, he said.
The lower interest rates mean the district will save $900,242. The district has refinanced its bonds twice before, and the total savings, including the $900,242, is more than $1.8 million, Vahrenberg said.
The board unanimously voted to approve the sale of the bonds.
During the meeting the board also:
• Heard from Greg Boldridge, who spoke to the board during the public comment portion of the meeting. Boldridge told the board he had concerns about the kindergarten dual language program and how he was treated by school district staff while trying to enroll his daughter in the program. Board members said they are concerned that a parent in the district is unhappy, and Theresa Davidson, interim superintendent, offered to set up a meeting between herself and Boldridge to discuss the issue. Mike Crouch, board president, said he could also sit in on the meeting.
• Heard a report about the district’s health insurance from Bob Charlesworth, an insurance consultant. Charlesworth told the board that health insurance rates are changing, and the district has until Oct. 1 to decide whether it wants to do one of two options.
The first option involves the district paying about $93,000 extra for health insurance for its staff, while employees who have health insurance would not pay any extra. The second option involves staff paying more for insurance and USD 253 not paying an additional amount of money.
Board members said they prefer to absorb the $93,000 and have its faculty and staff not pay extra for health insurance. Since health insurance is a negotiated item, both the educators’ association and the board will have to come to an agreement on the issue.
District staff said they found out about the changes recently and said they hope to have the negotiations with the educators’ association complete in September.
Rob Scheib, assistant superintendent of business, said he was confident the district could find a way to shoulder the additional $93,000 so employees do not have to pay more each month for insurance.
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
So we have to wait more than a month to find out which elementary school could be on the chopping block even though that information exists now? Bummer!
August 26, 2010 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
If you close Logan Avenue School, there will be a grand jury. Just try it!
August 27, 2010 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
reddog, you are to quick with the threats. Stop causing trouble before you even know what is coming...very careless.
August 27, 2010 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Quack (anonymous) says...
And, who decided YOU could call a grand jury?
August 27, 2010 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
ROFLMAO
August 28, 2010 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Perhaps a BABY GRAND JURY?
August 28, 2010 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )