LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Whole Grade Sharing which began in the 2009-2010 school year, has been a great success story to the communities of Odebolt, Arthur, Battle Creek and Ida Grove, providing an enhancement of educational offerings in the grades 7-12 as well as financial incentives and efficiencies to further add to the academic excellence of both O-A and BCIG districts.
Educational values of Whole Grade Sharing have offered 35 new high school courses and 3 Middle School courses to O-A students, while BCIG students were offered 34 new high school courses and 3 Middle School courses.
Financial gains to the O-A and BCIG District due to Whole Grade Sharing came in the form of incentives with the sharing between the two districts of Superintendent, Maintenance Director and Transportation Director for a projected five year funding of $336,000 for O-A and $638,000 for BCIG. Not only does this generate additional funding, but it also allows the districts to share the cost of these salaries.
The O-A and BCIG Districts also receive incentive monies for the sharing of grades 7-12 for a projected 3 year funding of $172,000 for O-A and $192,000 for BCIG. In the year, 2011-2012 BCIG will add their 6th grade to the Middle School and the Whole Grade Sharing plan for an addition $31,000 per year funding for BCIG. As an additional efficiency, the combined transportation savings of both district in the first year of sharing amounted to over $6,000.
Both OA and BCIG boards and administrators are constantly working to find the most efficient use of taxpayer’s dollars and at the same time enhancing the academic excellence of the students they represent.
On October, 2010 the following goal was approved by both OA and BCIG boards as goal #1 of nine goals for the 2010-11 school year: A fully developed plan for a new district shall be presented to the boards and communities at the Regular Joint Board meeting in June, 2011. This plan shall be developed through the work of the joint CAC in conducting a reorganization feasibility study.
The CAC members and administrators have provided the boards with updates of ongoing progress of the reorganization study. Summaries of CAC meetings and study material were also published in the newspaper and district newsletter, posted on the district website and distributed through email.
On April 26, 2011, both OA and BCIG boards voted unanimously to call for the development of a reorganization petition. On April 27, 2011, this reorganization petition was drafted through a joint legal representative voted on unanimously by both boards.
There are many positive advantages for both districts to reorganize at this time and no disadvantages to the academic and the financial future of OA-BCIG. Transitioning from Whole Grade Sharing to reorganization would have little impact on the educational programming in the new district with no changes to grade configurations and general transportation needs being necessary.
The OA and BCIG districts are very comparable, with neither district being considered more “property rich” than the other. During the 2010 fiscal year 43% of OAs budget was generated by property tax and 41% of the budget for BCIG was generated by property tax, with the remainder of each budget coming from state aid.
In fiscal year 2011 in terms of property tax rate and dollars levied, OA ranked 228th out of 359 districts and BCIG ranked 238th out of 359 districts. Very little change in tax asking rate is anticipated for a new district as the tax asking rate of both districts are quite similar. In the 2010-11 school year OA has a total tax asking rate per $1,000 dollars of valuation of 13.72070 and BCIG has a total rate of 13.75381.
A financial advantage to reorganizing districts is the levy rate “buy-down”. At the time of reorganization, districts have the ability to lower a portion of the levy rate known as uniform levy from $5.40 to $4.40 in the first year, $4.90 in year two and $5.15 in year three then back to $5.40 in year four. None of these changes impact the new district. The reduced local property tax rate is funded by additional state aid to the district.
Another financial advantage to reorganization is incentive money generated per student enrolled in the new district after reorganization. That amount would total a combined $420,000 over a three year period for the new district.
An efficiency which can not be ignored with the formation of a reorganized (consolidated) district is the transforming of duplicate business office and administrator duties as we have, to single duties of business and administration in a reorganized district. These duties include audit, billing, contract services, transportation, AEA, board business, enrollment certifications, and things of that nature.
Due to declining enrollments in each district with a loss of 100 students for OA and 200 students for BCIG in the past ten year period, a solution had to be found ensure a good strong school system. OA and BCIG have become a combined good fit in maintaining a strong efficient school system in preparing students for life after high school and a strong school system is important to maintaining strong businesses to attract people to our communities.
We would like everyone to be aware and understand the reorganization petition that will be circulating throughout our communities for your consideration.
The reorganization petition which, as of this writing, we believe will require 400 voter registered signatures per district of OA and BCIG to start the process leading to a public vote of reorganization.
If you have any further questions please feel free to ask them.
Paul Neumann, Odebolt
Jill Godbersen, Ida Grove
Also ... click for Supt. Dani Trimble's blog post
"The Question of Reorganization for OA and BCIG"
which includes a study summary and the full study of reorganization by the Joint Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) .
May 3rd Special Board Meeting Minutes
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