Statement of Purpose – To provide the community with information and answer the public’s questions concerning the history, current status, and pending issues regarding district finance.

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

Welcome and Introduction Board President, Deb Spenceley

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall MeetingPresentationsLegislative Impact and Our Efforts - Board Vice President, Chip Swan

The Past, Present, Future - Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Dee Lindsey

Key Challenges and Strategic Opportunities - Superintendent, Douglas Bissonette

Current Financial Status - Chief Financial Officer, Ron Patera

Comments – Teacher, Parent, Student

Q&A (via notecards) with the Panel Presenters

One on One Q&A and Informal Discussions with Board Members, District Administration, ESD 101 Members, & Committees

Closing Comments

Why did you come to tonight’s session?

A. I am concerned about the level of funding at our schools.

B. I am concerned about how my tax dollars are spent.C. I have specific questions about district finances.D. I have no concerns, but want to learn more about the

district.

Do you have children that attend Elizabeth Schools?A. Yes I have children that attend Elizabeth Schools.B. Yes I have grandchildren that attend Elizabeth Schools.C. No I do not have children or grandchildren who do (or

will) attend Elizabeth Schools.D. I have children or grandchildren who will attend

Elizabeth Schools in the future.

How long have you lived in the Elizabeth School District?A. Less than 2 yearsB. Between 2-5 yearsC. Between 6-10 yearsD. More than 10 years

How involved are you in Elizabeth Schools?A. I am extremely involved and volunteer all the time.B. I sometimes volunteer.C. I am not really involved.D. Not at all.

Household value goes up with high quality schools.A. AgreeB. Somewhat agreeC. Somewhat disagreeD. Disagree

Who is the largest employer in Elizabeth?

A. WalmartB. SafewayC. Elizabeth School District

Legislative Impact and Our Efforts Board Vice President, Chip Swan

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

How many bills (changes to regulation) were introduced in the 2014 legislative session?A. 0-40B. 41-80C. 81-100D. 100 or more

What is the “Negative Factor”?

A. The percentage that enrollment declines from one year to the next.

B. That person who is always pointing out problems.C. A simple factor in about a 5 page equation that reduces

funding to a school district.D. The impact of unfunded mandates on the ability of

districts to educate students.

Legislative Impact and Our Efforts

• The negative factor decreased Elizabeth Schools funding by $3.1 million this year alone.

• Over a 4 year period the negative factor decreased funding to our district by over $10 million.

• This legislative session the legislators said they would make a substantial step in paying back the negative factor.

How much of the $3.1 million lost to our school district will be paid back because of legislation this year?

A. $300,000 to $600,000B. $1.5 to $1.8 million C. $2 million to $2.5 millionD. $3.1 million

Legislative Impact and Our Efforts

A Resolution in Support of our Colorado Superintendents’ Shared Concerns Regarding the Extremely Inadequate Funding of our Public Schools and the Colorado Association of School Board’s call to Eliminate the Negative Factor THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we will individually and collectively, and in cooperation with other like-minded boards of education, professional associations and citizen organizations, support all efforts to restore the funding, without mandates, as called for by CASB and our state’s Superintendents by engaging and informing our community of fiscal effects of the “negative factor” and ensuring our legislators are aware of the impacts of funding constraints on our ability to provide a fair and high quality education in our district.

Legislative Impact and Our Efforts

A Resolution Concerning the Growing and Alarming Pace of State Acquiescence to Federal Intrusion into State Educational Priorities and Operations, and State Intrusion into Local Control of Education, Specifically but Not Limited to the Use of Common Core Standards and PARCC Assessments

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we must act to limit unwarranted intrusion by state and federal agencies which encroaches upon the community’s constitutional authority to set educational standards and priorities for our students and which creates unintended consequences that degrade our ability to serve our students; and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we will individually and collectively, and in cooperation with other like-minded boards of education, professional associations and citizen organizations, take action to narrow pathways for state and federal intrusion into our local educational priorities. In addition, we will support legislation that will seek to delay and reexamine the implementation of PARCC assessments. Furthermore, we support adoption of the highest possible academic standards for our state.

Legislative Impact and Our Efforts

Our kids deserve better!

The Past, The Present, The Future Board Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Dee Lindsey

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

Fund Balance Analysis of C-1

-$3,000,000

-$2,000,000

-$1,000,000

$0

$1,000,000

$2,000,000

$3,000,000

$4,000,000

$5,000,000

Bartlet

t-Muns

ey 200

0-01

Bartlet

t-Muns

ey 200

1-02

Bartlet

t-Muns

ey 200

2-03

2003

-04

Current

CFO star

ts 20

04-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

Neg. Fac

. 2010

-11

2011

-12

2012

-13

2013

-14 A

nticip

ated

2014

-15 T

argeted

Should school district finances be more transparent?

A. YesB. No

How does Elizabeth High School compare academically with neighboring schools?

A. About the sameB. EHS is inferiorC. EHS excels

What should we do with increased funding?A. Improve our buildingsB. Attract and retain quality teachersC. Upgrade technologyD. All of the above

What is the Elizabeth School District’s rank in state per pupil funding?

A. Bottom 5%B. Top 25%C. Top 50%

What was the percentage of teacher turn-over last year?

A. Below 5%B. Between 10%-15%C. Above 20%

What is the district’s biggest expense?

A. TransportationB. Salaries and BenefitsC. Buildings and FacilitiesD. Technology

Approximately how large is the Elizabeth School District annual operating budget?

A. $10,000,000B. $20,000,000C. $50,000,000D. $80,000,000

In your opinion, do you feel the school district is heading in the right direction.A. Yes, headed in the right direction.B. No, off on the wrong track.

What is your willingness to increase taxes to pay for a bond to address critical infrastructure needs.

A. Very willingB. Somewhat willingC. Not willing

What is your willingness to increase taxes for Mill Levy to attract and retain high quality staff, for safety resources, and to improve technology in our schools. A. Very willingB. Somewhat willingC. Not very willing

What is your opinion on allowing the district to opt out of burdensome federal regulations, having adequate resources, without accepting money from the Federal Department Of EducationA. Strongly agree that it is a good idea.B. Somewhat agree that it is a good idea.C. Disagree, that is a crazy idea.

The Challenges and Strategic Opportunities Superintendent, Douglas Bissonette

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

Current Financial Status Chief Financial Officer, Ron Patera

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

26.915

22.185

26.236

26.861

26.827

25.306

25.846

27.049

26.898

27.460

10.248

13.208

15.128

10.913

7.489

14.8

8.497

11.26

16.25

22.765

11.326

7.365

12.714

16.300

13.394

20.777

18.133

20.682

20.377

Teacher PerspectiveMarilyn Travis- 2nd grade teacher- District employee 25 years

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

Parent PerspectiveAndrea Hei- RCE PTCO President- Citizen Impact Committee Co- Chair & Founder

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting

Student PerspectiveGav Houston- EHS Senior- Track and Wrestling- Attending Air Force Academy Fall 2014

Elizabeth Schools Town Hall Meeting