WEAC Research Paper

Superintendents' Comments to the Survey Question:

"Describe any unique budgetary circumstances in your district, such as a new building that must be staffed, deteriorating facilities in need of renovation or replacement, increasing enrollment or declining enrollment, which will be compromised by the revenue caps."

"If encumbrances and surplus for Fiscal Year 1995 are high, the general operation of the school system will be difficult due to lost revenue because of the revenue caps in Fiscal Year 1996. "

"New building (cost) $1,720,000. Needed to use money from balance to furnish classrooms."

"Our voice/video/data project--networking, telephones, TV, computers (will be compromised)."

" We would like to increase our computer technology for educational purposes but lack the revenue capacity to do so."

"We have an addition to a maintenance and storage building that is only one-half done and in jeopardy for 95-96 because of the need to reallocate funds to other priorities."

"Special education students housed in other districts."

"Our enrollment is not increasing and in about four years is projected to decline. At that point we will be forced to make substantial cuts in programs."

"Rapidly increasing enrollments (H.S. will have increased from 680 to 1,080 in three years). We need new/expanded building space."

"Slight increase in enrollment--New building one year prior and Fiber Network eased impact."

"We will be completing ADA requirements out of operating funds."

"We will have a good deal of financial pain because of declining enrollment."

"No real problems with revenue caps."

"We will have a good deal of financial pain because of declining enrollments."

"Need high school IMC."

"We are losing federal funds. (Impact aid) can't recover losses immediately but state recovers increases immediately. Need graduated programs for revenue increases as well as loss. We need replacement facilities. Have to float a bond."

"We have a 1921 building that must be replaced. We are overcrowded in all three of our buildings."

"Construction of additions through the use of operating capital is our strategy and difficult. The likelihood of passing referendum is limited."

"Declining enrollment will limit us to $35,000 new money--about $30,000 short of QEO to staff."

"Revenue limits will be reduced to reflect expansion of private school choice."

"Enrollment will stay pretty much the same. We have a middle/high school bubble. This will burst in a few years. Then enrollment will drop."

"We are adding EEN staff because of IEP's not up-to-date; building new elementary school; increasing enrollments because county ran EEN program."

"Opened a new high school in 94-95. Will open a new elementary school in 96-97. Both strain the district terribly under revenue caps. We have grown 40% in six years."

"There are several maintenance items that must be done with our buildings. We have increasing enrollments and this is putting stress on our facilities."

"Increasing enrollment may be affected by the revenue cap--not being able to add to other programs."

"Increasing enrollment causes additional money to go to staff, as other budgets held at 0% or reduced; shifts from maintenance; fund balance reduced."

"We have been notified of several DILHR violations in the new facility that will be costly to fix! Will take funds from general school fund to budget for compliance!"

"Handicapped accessibility projects needed, technology needed, equipment needed, fixing buildings curtailed as a result."

"An arbitrator decision granted teaching staff a ___% settlement for 93-94. Difference was funded with fund balance. There is virtually no way to recover the lost dollars."

"We are pursuing a building program and restructuring to a middle school concept. We are concerned that if it passes we will be able to hire additional staff required to provide education this way."

"Old forced air furnace cannot be replaced in old section of school. Cutting maintenance in newly renovated section of school."

"Building additions will require additional custodial staff. We are attempting to add technology to the infrastructure."

"The district is opening a new building (high school). The district will struggle to open it under the revenue caps. There must be exceptions made for opening buildings."

"Declining enrollment = BIG IMPACT."

"Enrollment increase on East side of district causing crowded conditions. Parents against forced bussing to equalize class loads."

"ADA Compliances."

"Small enrollment declines (6 students) provide no savings but lowers our cap $36,000."

"Major furnace repair –– Bus replacement –– AGAIN!!"

"Increasing enrollment."

"Our situation is not quite as drastic as some, due to increasing enrollment."

"We are planning for a new building and will have problems staffing it."

"We have two buildings that were built in 1917 and 1915. Both need new lockers. The work is extensive and we do not have the money. If they break down, we will have serious problems."

"Facility upgrades were fully completed by 1993 – Maintenance and improvement issues will likely surface (with revenue limitations) within 5–10 years."

"Passed referendum for new building. Construction starts 7/1/95."

"We still are not fully staffed at our new High School."

"District passed referendum--2.2 million for building improvement and addition."

"Addition of 17 + classrooms to high school. We project the ability to provide staffing, equipment, supplies, etc. within revenue caps."

"We brought on a new H.S. with no revenue exemptions."

"New building to be staffed."

"District growing at rate of approximately 100 new students per year. . . "

"Declining enrollment is severely limiting revenue."

" Declining enrollment – please note attached info. 94–95 – cut $87,000 in order to balance budget. 95–96 – cut $190,000 in order to balance budget. Major cuts – Roofing project and small bus. Computer Network – two vans for student and staff transportation."

"We are building a new elementary early childhood wing at elementary school. We passed a $_____ million referendum on Nov. 8, 1994. We need additional elementary and middle school staff and computers to meet needs."

"Roof replacements shall be paid out of operational balances reducing district equity."

"Five year projections, plus 3 year actuals, show small but steady declining enrollment."

"No money left for maintenance."

"We are opening a new middle school in August 95 – we've cut $900,000 + elsewhere to do it."

"Our enrollment is increasing; we are in need of additional repair; how does a district expand facilities and staff and stay within revenue cap?"

"Three extremely fragile wheel chair bound EC children entering kindergarten – transportation will now be our responsibility (parents contract up to this point)--need bus with lift and driver."

"Large backlog of major capital projects – roofs and boilers."

"We have several new housing developments opening up, but they probably won't have occupants until after the 3rd Friday count used to determine the revenue cap."

"We are in declining enrollment so we have to put a freeze on all positions for as long as possible."

"Gains we have made toward meeting community needs – late bus, community education are now in jeopardy."

"A 1920's vintage middle school in need of replacement."

"New high school opening Aug. 1996 – need to add 5–7 maintenance staff and operational costs."

"We are growing at 30 kids/yr. and caps do not hurt us."

"We are having a building addition referendum in Sept. or early Oct. If it passes it will impact the 1995–96 budget."

"We need to address ADA concerns or build."

"Declining enrollment causing us to lay off teachers, reduce class offerings, reduce instructional budgets."

"Deteriorating facilities in the face of increasing enrollment; failed referenda which some voted against because capital maintenance was included."

"Enrollment has been growing at 6% per year."

"Replace worn out heating units ($275,000); upgrade classroom technologies ($300,000), meet ADA standards, addition of 6 classrooms."

"New building to open 96–97 (needs to be staffed)."

"Referendum scheduled for Oct. 3 for new K–3 building."

"We had a long term plan to purchase buses through debt service which is now out the window. We will have to have a referendum or forget the purchases."

"Declining enrollment."

"We passed a $7.6 million referendum – my concern is staffing and properly equipping our new facilities."

"Increasing enrollment; deteriorating middle school facility, the need to upgrade technology."

"New building –– We are spreading the purchase of furnishings and buying lower quality."

"A 50,000 sq. ft addition was approved by referendum – staffing in regular budget will be tight."

"Roof/plumbing/ADA locker access will all be crucial issues to deal with under revenue cap."

"Major instructional technology investment –– 3–5 year payment schedule."

"We have ongoing high cost maintenance projects--also having building addition –– increase in utilities and need to hire another custodian."

"This spring we finished paying for building so it gave us help on our budget."

"The cost to complete and operate/maintain the new building causes us to cut costs in other areas; caps deleted any opportunity for us to increase our summer school program once again."

"New building furnishings, playground, site work and staffing impacted."

"We are planning to lower class sizes 1–3 in 1996–97 by adding three teachers."

This document was prepared by Russ Allen, WEAC Professional Development Division.