Sparta Area School District · Slide 1/4 . Enrollment Growth In just the past 5 years, enrollment in the District has increased by more than 150 students. Projections indicate ongoing

Fall 2017

Sparta Area School District Community Survey Results

Survey Summary

• The survey was conducted in late November – early December of 2017.

• Residents within the District were mailed a paper survey. Each survey included a unique survey access code for those who preferred to take the survey online.

• Total responses = 1,128 (405 paper)

• Participation rate = 15%

Respondent Information

What is your age?

0%

15%

30%

45%

60%

18-25 26-34 35-54 55-64 65 and over

2%

16%

42%

17%

23%

Do you live in the Sparta Area School District?

91%

9%

Yes

No

In which municipality do you reside?

0%

15%

30%

45%

60%

48%

20%

8% 8% 6% 5% 2% 1% 1% 1% 0.45% 0.09% 0% 0%

Are you an employee of the Sparta Area School District?

25%

75%

Yes (n=283)

No (n=862)

Do you have child(ren) attending school in the District?

41%

59% Yes (n=464)

No (n=681)

If you have school-aged children, what school(s) do they attend?

0%

15%

30%

45%

60%

36% 30% 28%

11% 11% 10% 9% 6% 6% 5% 4% 3% 3% 1% 1% 0% 0%

How would you like to receive school/District information?

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Other

Twitter

La Crosse Tribune

School Board meetings

Television

Radio

Meetings at school

Parent/teacher organizations

Skylert Messenger

Monroe County Herald

Facebook

District mailings

School newsletters

School website

Email

1%

1%

4%

5%

8%

10%

11%

11%

27%

27%

31%

43%

47%

49%

77%

1%

2%

15%

7%

15%

16%

6%

3%

2%

65%

11%

49%

21%

27%

15%

Non-Parents(Non-Staff)

Parents(Non-Staff)

Background Information

Insufficient School Capacity at the Elementary Level All but one of our elementary schools are currently operating over capacity, creating operational challenges. Enrollment projections indicated that the District will continue to see an increase in elementary-aged students. Meadowview Intermediate School is also over capacity. Educational Inadequacies The District’s facility assessment identified the following needs: Elementary classrooms lack the space needed for both large and small group instruction. The District offers a variety of educational choices that require learning environments with greater flexibility to provide hands-on and project-based learning opportunities. The current capacity issue has schools using spaces and rooms for functions other than their intended purposes, including using hallways and storage spaces for instruction. The middle school science classrooms and labs are in need of updates to allow for more hands-on learning and improved equipment.

Slide 1/4

Enrollment Growth In just the past 5 years, enrollment in the District has increased by more than 150 students. Projections indicate ongoing growth in our communities and schools over the next 10 years.

Slide 2/4

High Busing Costs Because of the large geographic area the District serves, as well as the current neighborhood school model, the District utilizes a transportation hub to transfer students. This practice requires the District to operate additional buses/routes, creating traffic congestion and high annual operating costs. In addition, students experience long ride times, with some students spending more than 2 hours per day on the bus. Continue Improving School Safety and Security While our current operating referendum has provided funds for security cameras, door locks, buzzer systems and creating a pick-up/drop-off lane at Southside Elementary, the safety of our students and staff continues to be an area of focus. While all of our schools have secure entrances, there is a need to redesign the entrances to have all visitors route through the school offices to better regulate visitor access to our facilities. In addition, the District has identified the importance of connecting the technical education building to the high school to better control building access and security.

Slide 3/4

Debt Reduction In the spring of 2019, the District will make the final payment on a loan used to build Meadowview building and update the high school. This reduction in payments gives the community an opportunity to address facility needs while lessening the tax impact of any new spending.

Slide 4/4

Given this information, would you support the District exploring a facilities referendum to expand capacity in our schools at this time?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Undecided

70%

15% 15%

83%

4%

13%

79%

8% 13%

59%

24%

17%

All Residents Staff Parents (Non-Staff) Non-Parents (Non-Staff)

Repurpose Schools

Lakeview Montessori Estimated cost: Up to $750,000

Do you support the Lakeview Montessori building being decommissioned, repurposed or sold?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Undecided

60%

20% 20%

66%

12%

22%

63%

18% 19%

56%

25% 19%


Administrative and Education Center (AEC)/ old middle school

Estimated cost: $0

Do you support the AEC being repurposed/sold?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Undecided

62%

20% 18%

73%

10% 17%

65%

17% 18%

56%

27%

17%


Maplewood Elementary Estimated cost: Up to $1 million

Do you support Maplewood being repurposed for the Charter Pre-Kindergarten?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Undecided

59%

22% 19%

71%

13% 16%

64%

17% 19%

51%

29%

20%


Lawrence-Lawson Elementary Estimated cost: $1.5–$2.5 million

Do you support Lawrence-Lawson being repurposed to serve High Point and Lakeview Montessori Charter Schools?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Undecided

55%

22% 23%

69%

8%

23%

58%

19% 23%

49%

30%

21%


Do you support… Yes (10), No (1)

Item All

Residents Staff

Residents

Parent Residents

(Non-Staff)

Non-Parent Residents

(Non-Staff)

the Lakeview Montessori building being decommissioned, repurposed or sold?

7.70 8.64 7.97 7.18

the AEC being repurposed/sold? 7.77 8.97 8.08 7.10

Maplewood being repurposed for the Charter Pre-Kindergarten?

7.52 8.62 8.06 6.71

Lawrence-Lawson being repurposed to serve High Point and Lakeview Montessori Charter Schools?

7.41 9.06 7.73 6.60

Update School Facilities

Meadowview Building The following needs have been identified at the Meadowview building

at a cost of up to $750,000.

What priorities would you place on the following? High (3), Medium (2), Low (1)

Item All

Residents Staff

Residents

Parent Residents

(Non-Staff)


(Non-Staff)

Enhance security by redesigning the school’s entrance to route visitors through a regulated area in the main office before having access to students. Est. Cost: $150,000

2.24 2.17 2.26 2.26

Expand Innovations STEM Academy classrooms and labs to accommodate program growth. Est. Cost: $200,000

2.06 1.90 2.14 2.07

Create dedicated drop-off/pick-up lanes for buses and vehicles to improve pedestrian safety and redesign traffic patterns to address congestion issues surrounding the school. Est. Cost: $400,000

2.18 2.41 2.22 2.05

Sparta High School Updates to the high school could include the following projects at a cost

of up to $7.5 million.

What priorities would you place on the following? High (3), Medium (2), Low (1)

Item All

Residents Staff

Residents

Parent Residents

(Non-Staff)


(Non-Staff)

Connect the technical education building to the high school to better control building access and security. Est. Cost: $450,000

1.94 1.99 1.89 1.96

Relocate the office to the school’s primary entrance near the main parking lot. This entrance will be redesigned to route visitors through a regulated area before gaining access to students. The current office at the front of the school will be repurposed for District offices. Est. Cost: $3.05 million

1.95 2.03 1.94 1.91

Update and expand the cafeteria to improve student traffic flow and reduce the amount of time students are waiting in serving lines during their lunch periods. Update the kitchen to improve efficiencies and receiving space, as well as replace equipment. Est. Cost: $2.6 million

1.94 2.11 1.97 1.85

Expand parking to meet student and visitor demand. Est. Cost: $650,000

1.72 1.96 1.82 1.55

Move the locker rooms out of the school’s lower level to improve access and facility deficiencies. Est. Cost: $750,000

1.60 1.76 1.59 1.54

Expand Elementary Capacity

To help address the District’s current elementary space needs, as well as projected growth, the District will need to add elementary capacity in the very near future. As the District explored potential expansion options, the following factors were considered:

• Lawrence-Lawson, Maplewood and Lakeview Montessori Elementary Schools do not have the needed land on the school site, nor do the buildings’ layouts allow for expansion. • Southside Elementary School can be expanded. Southside’s site and current support spaces could accommodate an addition for up to 200 students. An addition to Southside alone is not enough space to meet the District’s needs. • Future housing development in the District is projected to be in the north and west. • By operating fewer elementary schools, the District will have the opportunity to save money by eliminating duplication of resources and allowing for more efficient use of staff. • By building a new elementary school, the District will have more space for educational purposes, yet less overall square footage to maintain. We are at a crossroads and need to make a decision on how best to address elementary capacity and educational inadequacies, as well as position the District for expected future growth. Two options have been developed for community feedback. OPTION 1: Build a new 600-student elementary school and expand Southside Elementary to serve an additional 200 students: • The cost to build a new 600-student elementary school is estimated at $24 million. The school would be located on the north or west side of Sparta. • The cost to expand and update Southside Elementary is estimated at $8 million. Total Cost: $32 million

OPTION 2: Build a new 800-student elementary school and expand/update Southside Elementary: • The cost to build a new 800-student elementary school is estimated at $28 million. The school would be located on the north or west side of Sparta. This school would likely be designed with multiple wings, similar to the Meadowview building. • The cost to expand and update Southside Elementary is estimated at $4 million. Total Cost: $32 million

Given this information, would you support the District exploring a facilities referendum to expand capacity in our schools at this time?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

OPTION 1: Build anew 600-student

elementary schooland expandSouthside

Elementary toserve an additional

200 students

OPTION 2: Build anew 800-student

elementary schooland updateSouthside

Elementary

I would supporteither option

Not sure/needmore information

I would notsupport either

option

12%

28%

21% 19% 20%

15%

28% 29%

19%

9%

14%

37%

21%

16% 12%

10%

22% 19% 20%

29%


Reconfigure Grade Levels

IF the District is able to add capacity at the elementary level, THEN the District is proposing to move 4th grade students back to the elementary schools in order to: Better meet students’ academic needs Address current space shortage in the Meadowview building Position the District for future growth at the middle school level Provide needed space for expansion of the Innovations STEM Academy, a technology-focused 6th–8th grade charter school that teaches through experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. This program has had a significant waiting list since its creation. Recommendation: Move 4th grade back to the elementary school. Meadowview would then become a 5th–8th grade middle school, as well as continue to house the Innovations STEM Academy.

Would you support the District moving 4th grade students back to the elementary schools?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Undecided

74%

12% 14%

64%

19% 17%

80%

9% 11%

74%

12% 14%


Financial Planning

The District has facility needs that must be addressed in the very near future. The School Board believes now is a good time to consider a referendum because:

• Interest rates remain historically low. • The District will make the final payment on a loan used to fund previous building projects. • If the District does not assume new debt, then state aid will be reduced, meaning local taxpayers will be responsible for covering more annual operating costs. • The District is eligible for state aid to cover approximately 70% of any new building projects.

Slide 1/3

Based on these factors, the District could borrow up to $22.5 million with no tax increase over the current debt payment level. For each additional $1 million of borrowing, local school taxes would increase by $4 per $100,000 of property value.

The cost to address all the projects outlined in this survey is estimated at $44.5 million and includes the following projects:

Slide 2/3

The District would like to know your level of support should they consider a referendum.

Slide 3/3

How much of a school tax increase would you support through a referendum, assuming the

projects included were acceptable to you?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

All Residents

Staff Residents

Parent Residents (Non-Staff)

Non-Parent Residents(Non-Staff)

28%

34%

36%

20%

12%

18%

13%

10%

14%

15%

15%

12%

8%

10%

6%

9%

9%

5%

7%

12%

4%

1%

2%

7%

14%

14%

15%

13%

11%

3%

6%

17%

$44.5 million

$38.5 million

$32.5 million

$28.5 million

$22.5 million

I would only support asmaller referendum

I'm not sure/need moreinformation

I would not support anyreferendum

50%

Thank you!

Documents

Sparta Area School District · Slide 1/4 . Enrollment Growth In just the past 5 years, enrollment in the District has increased by more than 150 students. Projections indicate ongoing