Referendum Presentation

2012 REFERENDUM CONSIDERATIONS

Operating principles:

• We should be a District of Distinction.• Learning is not restricted to 4k -12.• Our facilities are community resources.• We serve the entire Oregon area.

The Genesis:

• Safety post-Columbine (1999)

Elementary and Intermediate schools (completed)Middle School - uncontrolled entranceHigh School – uncontrolled entrances

I do not view a District of Distinction as creating aculture for staff, students and visitors defined bysecurity cameras or entrance guards.

The Genesis:

• Design Issues – High School

Administration offices buried within the school

No clearly defined entrance

High School PAC – back-of-house inadequacies

The Genesis:

Design Issues – Middle School

Administration buried within the schoolNo clearly defined entranceFire doors – second floor of library openingsSecond floor stairwell

The Genesis:

Facility Adequacy – High School Athletic Facilities

Oregon Athletic Booster Club funds study (2007)Rettler Plan developed (2007-08)District acquires Jaycee East (2009)Rettler ground water study (2010)

The Genesis:

• Facility Adequacy – Field House

Constructed in 1977. Initially designed larger, but built smaller and at

greater cost (failed referendums in 1974). Too small for current needs Substandard relative to current field house

models

The Genesis:

Facility Adequacy – Gymnasium/High School Locker Rooms

Varsity locker room inadequacy

Current locker rooms are outdated and poorly laid

out

High School competition gym is substandard

compared to Badger Conference schools.

The Genesis:

Operational Needs:

Food Service/Maintenance /grounds storage

Increased serving capacity for Middle and High School lunch areas

New maintenance/grounds storage building at OHS

The Genesis:

21st Century Learning Space – Middle School

Dedicated library spaceEco-center (Rotary Club initiative)Re-organized small group team study areasSpace for large group instruction/team meeting spaceDeficient space for physical education/PT

The Genesis:

21st Century Learning Space – High School

Learning now takes place in different environments.

Third space Virtual learning – all agesDigitized – upgrade media center

Are other needs being addressed?

Will we need to build in the future for additional student capacity?

We own land in Alpine Park for a future school site.

We have capacity for additional anticipated growth.

Are other needs being addressed? - Facilities

March 1999 Applied Population Lab Study projections for 2008 – four models

Baseline 3559“Last 5 Years” 3432High Growth 3908Last Year Pattern3616

Are other needs being addressed? Facilities

2008 Actual 3636

Current 3604

The baseline or “last year” pattern models were closest to actual.

Our current census projection shows in 10 years our

census will be 3603.


Building Capacities – Current

OHS 1240 - 1409OMS 609 - 644RCI 600 - 625

K-4 1200 - 1350


Student Capacities based upon current Building Capacities

OHS 74 - 283OMS 65 - 109RCI 25 - 75 K-4 232 - 382

Total 396 - 699


Growth 1994-95 to present - 593

Growth last 10 years - 135

Areas of potential development:

Fitchburg Northeast corridor (944 – 1570

dwelling units)Oregon (450 dwelling

units), Bergamont, Alpine Meadows,

Oregon Parks, and Lease


Annual Capital Maintenance Budget - $600,000.00

Next ten years - $6 million dollars into existing structures

Are other needs being addressed? Personnel

“The primary focus of the board must be the education of our children, not the appearance of locker rooms and the field house. Giving this plan serious consideration makes me question the school board’s priorities. If the school board wants to put a referendum on the ballot, may I suggest it be to fund the budget back to the level of the

pre-Walker days?”Jeff Ramin – Oregon Observer 10/19/11


Referendums are more appropriate for capital projects than on-going personnel costs not related to

those projects.

Personnel numbers fluctuate yearly.

Personnel compensation and benefits costs

fluctuate yearly

Divisive nature of public personnel debates


The Board has separated capital and personnel budget considerations to avoid competition between the two funds.

The Board supported a budget override for capital projects three years ago to avoid having to prioritize capital projects versus personnel costs.

The Board is appropriately balancing necessary long-term planning with the immediate impacts of the state budget.


Teacher negotiated total compensation packages since 1999 have totaled 47% or 3.6% per year. This includes the 5.8% compensation reduction mandated by Act 10.

Excluding the 2011-2012 compensation package, the Board has agreed to an average annual increase of total compensation packages since 1999 of 4.42%.

Since 1999, inflation as measured by the CPI-U index

has increased at an average annual rate of 2.83%


Based upon 2008-2009 Salary Schedules, the Oregon School District teacher salary schedule ranked as follows as

compared to other Badger Conference schools:

Starting salary: 3/14MA: 2/14

MA +30 1/14

NOTE: 1/14 = highest ranking


The 2009-2011 collective bargaining agreement contained a “no lay-off” provision initially proposed by the Board.

When Act 10 was introduced, the Board declined to issue preliminary notices of lay-off despite the recommendation of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and other counsel.


The Board enacted a 2011-2012 budget that did not require teacher lay-offs or program reductions. Ten areas districts decreased staffing. Oregon was one of five districts in the area to increase teaching staff.

The Board has retained the post-employment health insurance and sick leave benefits for the 2012-2013

school year for employees with 10 years of service. The Board is in the process of evaluating the implementation of HRA accounts for employees with less than ten years of services.

Are other needs being addressed? Technology

1600 computers for student use80 iPads for staff/student use50 iPod Touch devicesOne elementary classroom modeling 1:1 useWireless in all buildings

LCD projectors in 250 classroomsSmartBoards in 125 classroomsSignificantly upgraded bandwidth and tech

hardwareSignificant program upgrades (e.g. Infinite

Campus, Google Apps Gmail)

Are we in a financial position to do this now?

In 1998, the property tax on a $200,000 home was $2,758

In 2011, the property tax on a $200,000 home was $2,398

The District’s 2011 tax levy increase was 2.25% compared to a state-wide increase of 3.42%.


Since 1998, the District’s Fund Balance, which is used to cover short-term cash flow needs, increased from $2.7 million to $10 million, eliminating the need to short-term borrow for cash flow needs.

The District holds a Aa2 Bond Rating, the highest it can achieve given financial factors outside of District control.

Over the last ten years, the Board has purposely refinanced long-term debt to create a cliff in four years to offset new bond obligations.


Financing costs are at historic low.


The construction climate strongly favors building now. We will get more for our dollars now than in the future.

This referendum closely mirrors the PAC referendums.

Opponents of the PAC contended it was a “want” rather than a “need.”

PAC referendum questions failed on the first two votes. It was eventually built at an increased cost.

The PAC is one of the District’s most utilized community spaces: The PAC was used or scheduled 307 of the 365 days in 2011, which represents 84%.

If approved – this referendum will address four key needs:

• Educational Spaces

• School Safety and Security

• Community Spaces

• Facility Improvements

Referendum Presentation

Education

Transcript of Referendum Presentation