VSDB Consolidation Task Force

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VSDB Consolidation Task Force October 30, 2003

2
Option 1 Both Schools Open with Changes

• Continue both programs.
• Downsize the business office and HR functions to
  centralized oversight from the DOE.
• Transfer all deaf and blind students to
  VSDB-Staunton.
• Renovate the Staunton campus, build a new school.

3
Option 1 Both Schools Open with Changes

• Reduce the Hampton program to a residential
  program for students with severe multiple
  disabilities.
• Open the Hampton program to other children with
  severe disabilities regionally.
• OR continue the Hampton program as a state agency
  day program (Maryland model).

4
Option 1 Both schools open with
changesFacilitating Forces

• Facilitating Forces
• Pulling off the business office and HR functions
  improves the integrity of the processes at both
  schools.
• Deaf and blind students receive more appropriate
  education when combined. The current
  fragmentation of two blind departments is at a
  critical point (both too small).
• Hampton City Schools is willing to participate in
  a partnership for day programming to a wider
  population of students.

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Option 1 Both schools open with
changesFacilitating Forces, cont.

• Facilitating Forces
• Students with multiple disabilities currently
  receiving residential services continue to
  receive them.
• All deaf and blind students receive services in a
  new education building designed around
  programmatic needs at Staunton.
• Admitting other children with severe disabilities
  serves another need in
  the state.

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Option 1 Both Schools Open with Changes
Restraining Forces

• Restraining Forces
• Does not maximize available resources as
  effectively as serving students at one site.
• The transfer of deaf and blind students from
  Hampton to Staunton has been unsuccessful to
  date.
• It is not possible to modify the budgets between
  of the two schools such to transfer needed staff
  positions because they are currently two separate
  state agencies. State agencies are only
  permitted to transfer 15 of the budget to
  another agency cooperatively. Legislative action
  is required for the change.

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Option 1 Both Schools Open with Changes
Restraining Forces

• Restraining Forces
• Establishes a more restrictive setting for the
  severely disabled population.
• Travel for multi-disabled students in certain
  areas of the state to Hampton is farther than
  traveling to Staunton.

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Option 2 Combine Programs at Hampton and Build
a New School

• Transfer all students to the VSDBM-Hampton.
• Sell the Staunton campus.
• Request that all proceeds from the sale be used
  to develop a campus wide renovation plan that
  includes a new education building at Hampton
  designed on programmatic needs of the students.
• Terminate all existing leases with the City of
  Hampton Public Schools.

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Option 2 Combine Programs at HamptonFacilitatin
g Forces

• Facilitating Forces
• A new educational building addresses the state
  of the art needs of the children.
• Maximizes existing resources and reduces
  duplication of services.
• If the Staunton campus could be sold, the value
  is higher and more money could be allocated to
  the project.

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Option 2 Combine Programs at HamptonFacilitatin
g Forces, cont.

• Facilitating Forces
• Multi-disabled children already there within a
  shorter traveling distance would not have to
  extend their travel time.
• There are more established opportunities for
  community based work experience in the Hampton
  Roads area than Staunton.
• The Hampton campus is more level and ADA
  compliant at this time.
• Corrects racial disproportionality.

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Option 2 Combine Programs at HamptonRestraining
Forces

• Restraining Forces
• The time before a new program can begin is longer
  because Staunton can build as they serve all
  students.
• The Hampton City Public Schools believe that they
  do not have any options for moving programs at
  this time.
• The Hampton campus is not centrally located for
  the majority of the population increasing travel
  time for more students and creating a barrier to
  services for rural parts of the state that need
  services.

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Option 2 Combine Programs at HamptonRestraining
Forces, cont.

• Restraining Forces
• The Hampton program does not have a well
  developed program for deaf and blind students.
• The likelihood of selling the Staunton campus in
  a timely manner to access revenue is not good
  because the City of Staunton is currently
  considering assisting in this capacity with the
  Correctional Center.

13
Option 3 Combine Programs at Staunton and Build
a New School

• Transfer all students to the VSDB-Staunton.
• Sell the Hampton campus.
• Request that all proceeds from the sale be used
  to develop a campus wide renovation plan that
  includes a new school.
• Continue the VSDBM-Hampton as a day program for
  those students with severe disabilities who are
  unable to travel to the Staunton campus under the
  operation of the Hampton City Schools.

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Option 3 Combine Programs at StauntonFacilitati
ng Forces

• Facilitating Forces
• A new educational building addresses the
  programmatic needs of the children.
• A campus renovation plan reduces the costs of
  maintaining the buildings not currently used at
  Staunton.
• Maximized existing resources and reduces
  duplication of services.

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Option 3 Combine Programs at StauntonFacilitati
ng Forces

• Facilitating Forces
• The school site is more centrally located than
  Hampton affording more school divisions access to
  services.
• There is a well established deaf and blind
  program at Staunton that is linked to university
  programs, community partnerships, and a statewide
  network.
• Combining students and staff moves toward
  correction of the existing disproportionality.

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Option 3 Combine Programs at Staunton
Restraining Forces

• Restraining Forces
• A small number of parents of the 21 students
  reported as labeled multi-disabled may need
  after school and in-home assistance and may not
  be currently linked to the proper agency for
  those services. They may require case management
  initially to secure these services.
• The campus has more accessibility issues that
  need to be addressed in the renovation and
  building plan than Hampton.

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Option 4 Build a New School at a New Location

• Continue both programs until the new location is
  established and the building project is
  completed.
• Request additional funding to build a new school
  at the Woodrow Wilson site (only available land
  to date).
• Establish a plan for transitioning students to
  the new campus upon completion of the new school.
• Proceed to identify other uses for the two
  campuses or sell them.

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Option 4 Build a New School at a New
LocationFacilitating Forces

• Facilitating Forces
• The current tension between choosing one school
  site over another may be relieved
• Accessibility and ADA compliance concerns of the
  Staunton campus are addressed.
• Certain functions of the two agencies may be
  shared such as facilities maintenance and
  security.

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Option 4 Build a New School at a New
LocationRestraining Forces

• Restraining Forces
• The travel time concern for multi-disabled
  children is not resolved.
• The previous historic opposition to closing the
  Hampton program is not resolved (loss of jobs to
  the community, etc).

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2004-06 Biennium Budget

• Possible savings from combining programs
• Proj. Facilities Costs Proj. Education
  Costs Total
• 199 Funds 15,458,062 197 Funds
  12,037,970 27,496,032
• Additional savings to request be put toward
  campus renovation
• 20 reduction 3,091,612 10 reduction
  1,203,797 4,295,409
• 30 reduction 4,637,418 20 reduction
  2,407,594 7,045,012
• 40 reduction 6,183,224 30 reduction
  3,611,391 9,794,615
• The Task Force Can request that Savings be put
  toward building a new school.

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Arizona State Schools

• Tuscan Campus School for the Deaf, Blind and
  Center for Evaluation.
• Number of Students Served 290
  (30 preschool)
• Operating Budget 7,322,400
  (state appropriation)
• Phoenix Day School for the Deaf
• Number of Students Served 270
  (day program)
• Operating Budget 1,732,600 (state
  appropriation)
• Regional Cooperative Programs (5 total)
• Number of Students Served
• Operating Budget
  4,780,800 (state appropriation)
• Total staff for all programs 1,100
• The programs are interconnected and have
  additional funding streams.

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

• Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
• Number of Students Served 222 (532 counting
  outreach)
• Operating Budget 10,408,000
• Total staff 198 (38 hourly)
• The school also serves 20 infants who are blind,
  269 infants who are
• deaf, 21 students provided direct service in the
  their school division,

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

• Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
• (does not serve Multi-Disabled)
• Campus of over 70 acres, 45 major buildings
• Number of Students Served 730 (130
  parent/infant)
• Operating Budget 32 million,
  annually
• Total staff 730
• Statewide Resource Center
• Early Intervention
• Current building projects Renovation of a
  classroom building, add new independent living
  facilities and renovate the security police
  building. Renovation funding 9 million.

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

• Maryland School for the Deaf and Blind
• Number of Students Served 498
• Overall budget 22 million
• Total staff (not provided)
• Two campuses
• Frederick preschool - 12
• Columbia preschool 8th grade, a day program
• Started to serve multi-disabled and limit their
  travel time to the
• larger campus.
• Board of Directors
• Early Intervention Program

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

• New Mexico School for the Deaf (Sante Fe)
• Operating Budget 10 million
• Number of Students Served 115 (31 preschool)
• Serve birth through age 2 through outreach
  serving 350 students
• Total staff 175
• New Dorm Building (to start construction in
  December)
• Cost 4 million
• Capacity 140 students
• 4 new cottages housing 24 students each and a
  new Student Activity Center.

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

• South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind
• (serves Multi-Disabled)
• Number of Students Served 316
• Operating Budget 22 million
• Total staff 395 (222 hourly)
• Mainstreaming program with local public school
  system
• Early Intervention

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Other State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

• Texas School for the Blind
• (primarily Residential)
• Number of Students Served 150
• Short-term programs 140
• State Outreach Center
• Operating Budget 12 million
• The main building constructed in 1916. Funding
  for renovation was included in a bond renovation
  of 25 million (2001) to be divided across 3
  budget cycles. The first was funded and targeted
  to dormitories. The building project included 5
  duplexes, 3 bedroom apartments (4 million).
  Subsequent funding for the rest of the project
  was not secured.
• Focus of the program is on intensive preparation
  for students to return to public school as soon
  as possible. Inclusion focus.

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Other State Operated Programs

• Commonwealth Center For Children
• Staunton,Virginia
• Relocated to new site 1996
• Building Cost 7.8 million
• Construction Time 18 months
• Planning Funds 20 of the cost of construction
  (over 1 million)
• Space 52,650 square feet 1,500
  square foot basement, full emergency power
  backup.
• Kitchen and Dining Room
• Administrative Office 5 office suites (12
  offices and a conference room), 8 regular
  offices, large multi-purpose training room, 2
  building and grounds office, storage, admissions
  area and waiting area with medical office and
  examination room. Isolation room with attached
  bathroom, small lab w/refrigerator and sink,
  acting as an infirmary. Double locking space for
  medication.

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Other State Operated Programs

• Commonwealth Center For Children
• Staunton,Virginia
• Relocated to new site 1996
• Gym 1 recreation/workroom for staff, 2 bathrooms,
  2 locker rooms, 2 activity rooms, 1 room for
  storage
• Personnel Suite includes 3 offices and an
  alcove for visitors.
• Four 12-bed living units w/8 offices
• Staff Lounge
• Commitment Hearing Conference Room
• Classrooms 10 teacher workroom, 3 offices, 3
  TO rooms and a play area
• Architects Davis Carter Scott McLean,
  Virginia
• Contractor Branch and Associates

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Summary of Other State Schools

• Serve more students with less money than VA
• Consolidated services years ago.
• Have early intervention programs
• Have large campuses with several buildings

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Summary of Other State Schools

• Most states have only one school for the blind.
• Have renovation plans that include new buildings
  to addresses fiscal and programmatic concerns.
• Provide extensive outreach and are considered the
  hub of information about deafness and blindness
  in the state.
• Have a Board of Directors or Regents.

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Possible Future Steps to Request New School or
Education Building

• The Task Force puts forth a request in the Report
  to the Governor for the project.
• Planning money is included in the state budget
  (DOE or appropriate.
• VSDB) to proceed with the development of a
  capitol needs assessment (feasibility study).
  Special conditions are requested as identified in
  the plan.
• An architect and contractor are secured and
  designs are prepared.
• In September, 2004, a request is made for capitol
  project money to begin Construction or other
  financial arrangements are made for the project.