DORCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT TWOSCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

REFERENDUM

Dorchester School District TwoAccomplishments

• Ranked among top 10 in state for academic achievement

• Ranked in bottom 5 in state in the amount of revenues received and thus spent per pupil

• Built 6 schools and numerous smaller projects utilizing sources generated by area growth and low interest stimulus bonds with minimal to no tax impact

New Schools Built Using Funding Methods No Longer Available

New Schools Constructed Funding

Fort Dorchester Elementary State Bond Funds

William M. Reeves, Jr. Elementary School Alternative Funding (Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds)

Eagle Nest Elementary Alternative Funding (Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds)

River Oaks Middle Alternative Funding (Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds)

Ashley Ridge High School Alternative Funding (Installment Purchase Revenue Bonds)

Joseph R. Pye Elementary Federal Stimulus Bonds (Qualified School Construction Bonds)

Other Options to Fund Schools• Sales Tax Option – Only school districts that collect in excess of $7

million of accommodation taxes may have a sales tax option to pay for schools (Charleston and Horry)

- A proviso was introduced this year to allow a sales tax option to help pay for school construction, but it failed.• Lease purchase option not available to school districts at this time• Impact fees collected since July 2009 are approximately $4 million - Amount collected not enough to cover the cost of building a new school - Currently impact fees not allowed to be used until court ruling on legality

Referendum History

• May 23, 1989 $28,100,000 Successful

• Sept. 26, 1995 $25,500,000 Successful

• March 26, 2003 $98,300,000 Unsuccessful

Dorchester School District TwoBenefits of Maintaining a Top-Quality

School District

• Home value – increase and maintain higher home values

• Economic value – attract economic development and create qualified workforce

• Community value - cultivate and maintain educated youth in community

Dorchester School District TwoReasons for a Referendum

• Manage student growth to keep children out of trailers and maintain optimal classroom sizes for student learning

- Currently, areas not designed for student learning are being used for instruction - Currently, lunch is being served shortly after school begins until shortly before school lets out in order to feed all students.• Long term facility and technology needs such as roofing,

HVAC, and technology infrastructure

Regional Population Growth TrendsSource: Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

8

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Percentage of Growth in Tri-County Area

1940 - 1950 1950 - 1960 1960 - 1970 1970 - 1980 1980 - 1990 1990 - 2000 2000 - 2010 2010 - 20200%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

12%

26%

47%

69%

36%

11%

25% 25%

36%31%

14% 12%

7%5%

13% 13%13%8%

32%

82%

41%

16%

42% 42%

Berkeley County

Charleston County

Dorchester County

Total Per Pupil Funding IncludingFederal, State, and Local

Fiscal Dorchester 2 135 Day Rank State

Year Per Pupil Enrollment From Bottom Per Pupil

2008-2009 $8,646 21,254 4th $10,973

2009-2010 $8,776 21,853 4th $11,011

2010-2011 $8,567 22,257 6th $10,9902011-

2012(est) $8,558 22,763 5th $10,9612012-

2013(est) $8,540 23,287 5th $10,974

*Source - Budget and Control Board, Office of Research of Statistics

DORCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT TWOCLASSES/PROGRAMS HOUSED IN TRAILERS

SCHOOL NUMBERAlston Middle 3Beech Hill Elementary 13Dubose Middle 8Eagle Nest Elementary 10Flowertown Elementary 7Fort Dorchester Elementary 11Fort Dorchester High 15Givhans Alternative Program 13Knightsville Elementary 26Newington Elementary 2Oakbrook Elementary 10Oakbrook Middle 7Reeves Elementary 12Rollings Middle School of the Arts 9Spann Elementary 12Summerville Elementary 15Windsor Hill Elementary 4Total Classes/Programs in Units 177*

*Over 3,500 students taught in trailers

Original Project Cost From Study

PROJECT COST New Construction $ 250,524,825

Additions & Renovations $ 86,318,680

Other Needs Such As HVAC, Roofing, Etc. $ 26,776,364

TOTAL COST - ALL PROJECTS $ 363,619,869

New Construction3 Elementary Schools - 1,000 students each $66,796,689Middle School of the Arts -750 students 31,081,104

Classroom AdditionsEagle Nest Elementary 3,184,547Oakbrook Middle School 3,931,310

Multipurpose Rooms and Other AdditionsFlowertown Elementary-Multi-purpose classroom & cafeteria expansion 4,054,593Newington Elementary-Multi-purpose classroom & cafeteria expansion 2,568,869Oakbrook Elementary - Multi-purpose classroom 2,419,437Summerville Elementary - Multi-purpose classroom 2,748,623Alston Middle - Related Arts Wing 4,944,389

High School AdditionsAshley Ridge - Career And Technology Education (CATE) wing & classroom wing 12,093,036Fort Dorchester - CATE wing, Multi-purpose classroom & classroom wing 17,682,213Summerville - CATE addition and renovations 10,572,596RMSA conversion to office space 2,700,000

Other NeedsRoofing 6,500,000HVAC Replacement Needs/Improvements 5,000,000Other Capital Needs including -Installing wireless throughout district 1,500,000 -restroom renovations 2,132,594

TOTAL COST - DISTRICT PROPOSAL $179,910,000

DORCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT TWOREFERENDUM PROPOSAL

TOTAL COST

Career and Technology Education Additions

• Currently, more courses are being offered at the high school campuses due to career/business needs; however, space is limited due to growth as well as ability to handle program requirements

• Will create comprehensive high schools with the additions to include:

> culinary arts > health sciences > drafting & design > electricity > aerospace engineering > digital electronics > biomedical sciences > carpentry & building trades > nail tech & cosmetology

Rollings Middle School Ceiling in Band Room

Rollings Middle SchoolOutside of Band Room

Boiler Rooms

Rollings Middle School of the Arts Knightsville Elementary School

Trailers Behind Summerville Elementary

Knightsville Elementary

Summerville High SchoolChanging Classes

Dorchester School District TwoNew School Designs

• Middle School – River Oaks Middle School design

• 3 Elementary Schools – Joseph R. Pye Elementary School design

Dorchester School District TwoNew School Sites

• Middle School – YMCA property located off Travelers Blvd.

• Elementary School – The Ponds property located between Hwy17A and Old Orangeburg Rd

• Elementary School – Pine Trace property located off Miles Jameson Road

• Elementary School – To be determined

Joseph R. Pye Elementary

Joseph R. Pye Elementary Floor Plan

River Oaks Middle School

River Oaks Middle School Floor Plan

YMCA Site for Middle School

Placement of Middle School on YMCA Property

Possible Sites for New Schools

CURRENT DEBT SCHEDULE & SAVINGS FROM RECENT REFINANCING

Bond interest and call dates are analyzed to determine refunding opportunities in order to achieve interest savings- 2010 - $12,325,000 refunding – savings of

$1,300,000- 2012 - $155,000,000 refunding – potential

savings of $10,000,000**refunding will occur if market continues to be favorable

Dorchester School

District Two

ESTIMATEDCOMMUNITY INVESTMENT

$179,910,000 Million ReferendumTaxes on a 4% Residential Property

17 mills(8 mill increase in first tax year - 2013)

MAXIMUM

$ 68 / Year

or

19¢ / Day

$ 100,000Millage applies to all properties-residential as well as business. 4% residential properties are only exempt from school operating millage.

=

Tax Bill on a $100,000 HouseImpact of 17 mill increase

(Does not include taxes for city or fire)

$100,000 houseMillage increase Current Millage 17 Mill increase

Millage Tax Percent Millage Tax PercentSchool debt 36 $144 53 $212 School operating 168.6 $674 168.6 $674 Less school tax credit -$674 -$674 Dorchester School Dist. 2 Tax 204.6 $144 33% 221.6 $212 42%

Voc school 9.3 $37 9.3 $37 Less school tax credit -$37 -$37 Voc school 9.3 $0 9.3 $0

Tri Tech 3.5 $14 3.5 $14 All other 69.4 $278 69.4 $278 Total Other Tax 72.9 $292 67% 72.9 $292 58%

Total Tax 286.8 $436 100% 303.8 $504 100%

Dorchester School

District Two

ESTIMATEDCOMMUNITY INVESTMENT

$179,910,000 Million ReferendumTaxes on a 6% Business Property

17 mills(8 mill increase in first tax year - 2013)

MAXIMUM

$ 102 / Year

or

28¢ / Day

$ 100,000Millage applies to all properties-residential as well as business. 4% residential properties are only exempt from school operating millage.

=

Dorchester School District TwoOptions if Referendum Fails

• Additional trailers- limited space may force trailers to be placed in parking lot areas • Increases in class sizes• Attendance line changes• Continued A/C, roofing, and major facility issues deferred until funds

become available• Continued compromising of program integrity due to inadequate space

ALL OF THE ABOVE IMPACTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY

Ballot Question for SchoolsQuestion 1 Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $179,910,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray costs of issuance of such bonds and the costs of: 

a. the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of three elementary schools and a middle school of the arts;  b. renovations, repairs, expansions, equipment and furnishings at Eagle Nest Elementary, Flowertown Elementary, Newington Elementary, Oakbrook Elementary, Summerville Elementary, Alston Middle, Oakbrook Middle, Ashley Ridge High School, Fort Dorchester High School and Summerville High School; and c. capital improvements at other facilities of the School District to include conversion of Middle School to office/administrative space, roof repairs, improvements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning and installing wireless throughout the School District

  In favor of the question [ ]

  Opposed to the question [ ]

 If you are in favor of the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "In favor of the question." If you are in favor of the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "In favor of the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "Opposed to the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "Opposed to the question."

Ballot Question for Aquatic CenterQuestion 2 In the event that "Question 1" above is approved, shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be further authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $7,500,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray costs of issuance of such bonds and the costs of designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing an aquatic center?

 

In favor of the question [ ]

Opposed to the question [ ] If you are in favor of the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "In favor of the question." If you are in favor of the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "In favor of the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting by optical scan ballot, darken the oval before the words "Opposed to the question." If you are opposed to the question and are voting electronically, touch the area with the words "Opposed to the question."

What Can You Do?• Advocate for children in our region• Become educated & aware of school district

needs• Know how this impacts not only your

community but you personally• Spread the word• Register to vote by October 6• Vote on November 6

QUESTIONS?