Northfield Public Schools District 659

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Northfield Public SchoolsDistrict 659
Northfield Public SchoolsDistrict 659
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Weve been listening . . .

• In a poll conducted by Decision Resources, the
  community told us we have quality schools . . .

• 87 of all those surveyed said they were proud of
  their schools and would recommend them to
  friends.
• 86 said that they trusted the school district to
  do what is right for the children of the district.

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Our Quality Schools . . .
The MN Dept. of Education awarded Northfield
Schools with 5 Star ratings
Source MN Department of Education
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Our Quality Schools . . .
2005 Basic Skills Test Results Students Passing
the Test on the First Try
In 2005, Northfield Public Schools students
outperformed other Minnesota students in math,
reading and writing.
Source MN Department of Education
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Our Quality Schools . . .

• The 2005 Measures of Academic Performance (MAP)
  achievement tests showed growth in mathematics,
  reading and language usage skills above national
  median norms in every grade from 2nd through 8th.

• Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 performed
  at least one full year ahead of national norms in
  math, reading or language usage.

• Students in grade 5 performed two full years
  ahead of national norms in math.

Source Research, Evaluation and Assessment -
Northfield Public Schools
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Our Quality Schools . . .

• Standard and Poors recognized Northfield Middle
  School as one of only 45 schools in MN to narrow
  the gap between students in poverty and their
  higher performing classmates . . .

while simultaneously raising the
scores of both groups!

• Northfield High School students taking the
  American College Test (ACT) consistently
  outperform students in Minnesota and across the
  nation.

• 88 of Northfield High School graduates enroll in
  post secondary education following graduation.

Source Research, Evaluation and Assessment -
Northfield Public Schools
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Our Quality Schools . . .

• Northfield spends a larger percentage of its
  budget on instruction than 82 of the states
  districts!

Source MN Department of Education
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Quality at the Crossroads . . .

• The community believes the quality of our schools
  will decline in the future if we continue to make
  budget cuts.
• The community told us to stop cutting educational
  programs and stabilize our schools

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Quality at the Crossroads . . .

• The Northfield Public Schools has worked to
  stabilize our school budget and programs.

• 2.6 million was cut for 2005-06 . . .

the largest cut in district history!

• All licensed staff agreed to a 1 base salary
  increase for the 2005-06 school year.
• An additional 700,000 was cut for 2006-07.
• Estimated 400,000 deficit anticipated in 2007-08
  (last year of current levy) and an additional
  3.9 million deficit in 2008-09 (without passage
  of new operating levy).

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Quality at the Crossroads . . .

• The community told us to be good stewards of our
  district buildings and grounds and support our
  students with instructional technology and
  updated textbooks.

To date we have

• Upgraded heating/ventilation and air quality.
• Replaced some aging roofs.
• Increased access to instructional technology for
  all our students.
• Provided some new textbooks as part of a
  comprehensive curriculum review process.

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Quality at the Crossroads . . .

• The State of Minnesota provides schools with two
  types of voter-approved levies that can be used
  to generate additional funds.

• Over 90 of the school districts in the state
  have an operating levy in place.
• For the past 23 years, the Northfield School
  District has had an operating levy in place.
• This year 59 of the states 343 school districts
  are seeking additional operating levy authority.
• Almost 40 of these districts are requesting over
  1,000 per pupil.

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Where do we go from here . . .
The School Board can propose two types of levies
. . .
an Operating Levy and a Capital Projects
Levy.

• An Operating Levy provides additional revenue to
  the General Fund which pays for teachers, support
  staff, benefits, supplies, and services.

• A Capital Projects Levy provides revenue for
  building and grounds upkeep and repairs,
  instructional technology and textbook purchases.
  

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Where do we go from here . . .

• The School Board unanimously approved placing
  two levy questions on the November 7, 2006
  ballot.
• Ballot Question 1

• The first levy question asks voters to revoke the
  current 685/pupil operating levy and replace it
  with a 1,180/pupil operating levy for the next 7
  years, adjusted for inflation each year.

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Operating Levy . . .
Source MN Department of Education
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Operating Levy . . .

• Estimated 2007 Tax Impact of Operating Levy

Source Ehlers and Associates
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Why are we asking for an increase in the
Operating Levy?
Financial Stability!

• In six of the last fifteen years, we have
  received no increase in general fund formula
  revenues from the state.

• To maintain our quality programs, the school
  district has used all of its fund balance and
  briefly entered into statutory operating debt.
• The school district reduced expenditures for the
  2005-06 and 2006-07 school years by 3.3 million.
• Without funding from the proposed levy
  referendum, significant additional cuts will need
  to be made.

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Why are we asking for an increase in the
Operating Levy?
Pressures on Costs!

• The cost to maintain current programs and
  services is increasing by an average of 4 per
  year while revenues are increasing by less than
  2 per year.

• Annual expenditures for health insurance, natural
  gas, diesel fuel, and special education tuition
  have all increased by up to 20 or more per year
  for the last three years.

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Why are we asking for an increase in the
Operating Levy?
Widening Gap!
Without the proposed operating levy, the gap
widens and additional cuts are required every
year.
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Why are we asking for an increase in the
Operating Levy?
Major Cost Drivers!

• Special Education and English as a Second
  Language (ESL) are mandated by federal law but
  are not fully funded by federal or state money .
  . .

we pay the difference!

• For the last three years, that difference in
  special education has averaged over 1.6 million
  per year.
• Over the last three years, the cost of ESL has
  increased by over 148,000, or a 57 increase in
  expenditures.

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What will the Operating Levy do for kids if
approved by voters?

• Maintain the quality of educational programs at
  2006-07 level for the next 4 to 6 years.

• Maintain instructional programs for all students
  high needs students, academically advanced
  students and students doing average work
  especially those that have been at risk during
  the last two rounds of budget cuts.
• Maintain class sizes at the 2006-07 level.

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What will happen if the OperatingLevy fails?

• The District must cut 400,000 in 2007-08 and
  3.9 million in 2008-09 from the school budget,
  resulting in

• Across-the-board cuts in all staff and programs
  (35-40 additional staff could be lost over two
  years including teachers, counselors, support
  staff and administrators)
• Class sizes from 2006-07 to 2008-09 would
  increase by 5 or 6 students per classroom in
  every grade level . . .

kindergarten through 12th grade.
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Where do we go from here . . .

• The Board unanimously approved placing two levy
  questions on the November 7, 2006 ballot.
• Ballot Question 2

• The second levy question will ask voters for
  750,000 per year for the next 7 years to
  maintain building and grounds, support
  instructional technology and update textbooks
  needed to educate our students.

• Passage of Ballot Question 2 for the Capital
  Projects Levy is contingent on the successful
  passage of Ballot Question 1 for the Operating
  Levy.

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Capital Projects Levy . . .

• Estimated 2007 Tax Impact of Capital Projects Levy

Source Ehlers and Associates
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Why are we asking for Capital Projects Levy for
each of the next 7 years?

• State education funding is not keeping pace with
  the cost of maintaining our school buildings,
  supporting and replacing instructional technology
  and replacing obsolete textbooks.

• Significant general fund budget cuts are
  compromising our ability to maintain our
  buildings, equipment and textbooks since these
  funds must be focused on providing direct
  instruction to our students.

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What will the Capital Projects Levy do for kids
if approved by voters?

• Completion of roof replacement on a timely basis
  to avoid interior and wall damage.

• Repair walls, floors, ceilings and
  plumbing/electrical services to insure all
  buildings are safe and usable.
• Support and update instructional technology and
  textbooks.

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What will happen if the Capital Projects Levy
fails?

• The district would be unable to maintain the
  districts buildings and grounds or support
  instructional technology and textbook replacement.

• Inability to replace roofs as they wear out.
• Inability to repair walls, floors, ceilings and
  plumbing/electrical services resulting in damage
  to buildings and unsafe/unusable spaces.

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What will happen if the Capital Projects Levy
fails?

• The district would be unable to maintain the
  districts buildings and grounds or support
  instructional technology and textbook replacement.

• Deterioration of heating and ventilation systems
  that maintain quality learning environments for
  students.

• Failure to support and replace obsolete
  instructional technology and outdated textbooks.

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Prepared and paid for by Independent School
District No. 659 (Northfield), 1400 S. Division
Street, Northfield, MN 55057-0600. This
publication is not circulated on behalf of any
candidate or ballot question.
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