New Configuration New Configuration Public HearingPublic Hearing

May 15, 2008May 15, 2008

Superintendent Terry E. Superintendent Terry E. ShoemakerShoemaker

Presentation PurposesPresentation Purposes

Why the need for a configuration change?Why the need for a configuration change? What are some proposed solutions?What are some proposed solutions? What are the benefits of the proposed What are the benefits of the proposed

change?change? How much will the proposed configuration How much will the proposed configuration

changes cost?changes cost? Which building will house grades 7/8 and Which building will house grades 7/8 and

which building will house grades 5/6?which building will house grades 5/6? When will the configuration plan be When will the configuration plan be

operational?operational?

What is prompting this need for a What is prompting this need for a change in configuration?change in configuration?

Explosive Enrollment GrowthExplosive Enrollment Growth

Wasatch continues to be one of the fastest Wasatch continues to be one of the fastest growing school districts in the stategrowing school districts in the state

Takes approximately 10 years for a class to Takes approximately 10 years for a class to grow 100 studentsgrow 100 students

Our senior class this year has 304 students, Our senior class this year has 304 students, our Kindergarten class has 409 studentsour Kindergarten class has 409 students

We project a 3% enrollment growth each year We project a 3% enrollment growth each year High school enrollment has declined by High school enrollment has declined by

nearly 50 students since 2001nearly 50 students since 2001

1991-2007 Enrollment History1991-2007 Enrollment History

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17

Year

Enrollment

Year Enrollment GrowthGrowth % % IncreaseIncrease

1992 3137 1 0.03%

1993 3219 82 2.61%

1994 3288 69 2.14%

1995 3389 101 3.07%

1996 3478 89 2.63%

1997 3492 14 0.40%

1998 3581 89 2.55%

1999 3610 29 0.81%

2000 3678 68 1.88%

2001 3777 99 2.69%

2002 3916 139 3.68%

2003 4022 106 2.71%

2004 4136 114 2.83%

2005 4303 167 4.04%

2006 4398 95 2.21%

2007 4588 190 4.32%

Average 91 2.41%

Enrollment ProjectionsWithout a configuration change

2008 2011 2015

School Capacity Enrollment Enrollment Enrollment

Heber Valley Elementary 600600 574 *626 *701

Midway Elementary 600600 575 *627 *702

J.R. Smith Elementary 600600 553 *603 *675

Old Mill Elementary 850850 620 *676 *757

Rocky Mountain Middle 900900 718 *783 *876

Wasatch Mountain Jr. High 10001000 733 *799 *895

Wasatch High School 920 *1003 *1123

Wasatch Alternative 17 19 21

*3% per *3% per year growth year growth rate rate increaseincrease

Three Possible SolutionsThree Possible Solutions

Move our elementary and middle Move our elementary and middle school to year-round productivity school to year-round productivity models.models.

Bond to replace the Junior High Bond to replace the Junior High School and build a new elementary School and build a new elementary schoolschool

Change the configuration and move Change the configuration and move students where we have additional students where we have additional capacitycapacity

Year-Round SchoolsYear-Round Schools

4 Track Year-round schedule for 4 Track Year-round schedule for elementary and possibly the middle schoolelementary and possibly the middle school

Would need to begin such model for Would need to begin such model for Midway, J.R. Smith, and Heber Valley in Midway, J.R. Smith, and Heber Valley in the 2010-11 school yearthe 2010-11 school year

Rocky Mountain Middle would have to Rocky Mountain Middle would have to move to year-round schedule around move to year-round schedule around 2012-13 school year2012-13 school year

Bond for a New Elementary SchoolBond for a New Elementary School

Old Mill Elementary cost $8 million to build; land Old Mill Elementary cost $8 million to build; land costs were donated, but the school district built the costs were donated, but the school district built the roads and infrastructure; around $105 per square roads and infrastructure; around $105 per square footfoot

Today, the same structure would cost around Today, the same structure would cost around $13,000,000 at up to $200 per square foot, plus at $13,000,000 at up to $200 per square foot, plus at least $2 million for groundleast $2 million for ground

Two years from now: estimated $14+ million for Two years from now: estimated $14+ million for the structure and over $2.5+ million for the ground the structure and over $2.5+ million for the ground

Total costs for a new elementary school + ground Total costs for a new elementary school + ground and infrastructure could approach $18 million and infrastructure could approach $18 million

Bond for a replacement Jr. HighBond for a replacement Jr. High

A New Jr. High today (150,000 square A New Jr. High today (150,000 square feet) will cost $30 million at up to feet) will cost $30 million at up to $200 per square foot$200 per square foot

Two years from now the same Two years from now the same structure could cost $36 million + structure could cost $36 million + infrastructure costsinfrastructure costs

Costs of the BondsCosts of the Bonds

Up to $18 million for the new Up to $18 million for the new elementaryelementary

Up to $31-36 million for the Up to $31-36 million for the replacement Jr. Highreplacement Jr. High

Costs could approach $49-54 million Costs could approach $49-54 million to complete these two projectsto complete these two projects

Debt service required of the public Debt service required of the public approaches what was needed for the approaches what was needed for the new high schoolnew high school

Proposed New ConfigurationProposed New Configuration

K-4 Elementary schoolsK-4 Elementary schools Grades 5&6 Intermediate Elementary Grades 5&6 Intermediate Elementary

SchoolSchool Grades 7&8 Junior High SchoolGrades 7&8 Junior High School Grades 9-12 High SchoolGrades 9-12 High School

Shifting the School PopulationShifting the School Population

Rocky Mountain Middle currently has 36 Rocky Mountain Middle currently has 36 teaching areas teaching areas

Wasatch Mountain Jr. has 39 teaching areasWasatch Mountain Jr. has 39 teaching areas

The new Wasatch High School has 75 The new Wasatch High School has 75 teaching areas teaching areas

There is classroom capacity available for There is classroom capacity available for use in all three of these schoolsuse in all three of these schools

Classroom ExpansionClassroom Expansion

We have 9 double portable We have 9 double portable classrooms classrooms

Rocky Mountain Middle and the new Rocky Mountain Middle and the new high school were designed to be high school were designed to be expandedexpanded

Configuration ChangeEnrollment Projections

2008 2009 2015 2020

Heber Valley Elementary (K-4) 574 *481 *568 *653

Midway (K-4) 575 *501 *591 *680

J.R. Smith (K-4) 553 *461 *544 *626

Old Mill (K-4) 620 *526 *621 *714

Intermediate (Gr. 5,6) 718 *749 *883 *1015

Jr. High (Gr. 7,8) 733 *765 *903 *1038

Wasatch High School (Gr. 9-12) 920 *1322 *1560 *1794

*3% growth rate per year

What Supports the Configuration What Supports the Configuration Change?Change?

Explosive enrollment growth Explosive enrollment growth Accelerating commercial Accelerating commercial

construction costsconstruction costs Bond raters are concerned with our Bond raters are concerned with our

mounting debtmounting debt Pay off most of our existing debtPay off most of our existing debt Maximizes the use of existing Maximizes the use of existing

classroom spaceclassroom space

Curriculum needs match better with a Curriculum needs match better with a 5/6 school vs. 6/7 school5/6 school vs. 6/7 school

Curriculum and activity needs match Curriculum and activity needs match better with a 7/8 school vs. 8/9 schoolbetter with a 7/8 school vs. 8/9 school

More efficient use of personnel More efficient use of personnel resourcesresources

Allows greater opportunity for Allows greater opportunity for performing arts programs to be performing arts programs to be initiated and sustainedinitiated and sustained

Which building will house grades Which building will house grades 5/6 and which building will house 5/6 and which building will house grades 7/8?grades 7/8?

Further study is still needed to Further study is still needed to make the determination about make the determination about which building will best fit the needs which building will best fit the needs of either grades 5/6 or 7/8. That of either grades 5/6 or 7/8. That decision will be made before decision will be made before January 1, 2009. January 1, 2009.

Costs to change the configurationCosts to change the configuration

Finish the four classrooms, little theater, and Finish the four classrooms, little theater, and auxiliary gym at the new high school (around auxiliary gym at the new high school (around $750,000.)$750,000.)

Brighten and repair the hallways in the current Jr. Brighten and repair the hallways in the current Jr. High. (around $67,500.)High. (around $67,500.)

Add playground space and equipment (around Add playground space and equipment (around $130,000) for elementary age students$130,000) for elementary age students

Transportation costs: Minimal if 5/6 is on Transportation costs: Minimal if 5/6 is on secondary schedule; around $200,000 for secondary schedule; around $200,000 for additional bus drivers if 5/6 is on elementary additional bus drivers if 5/6 is on elementary scheduleschedule

When will the configuration change When will the configuration change be implemented?be implemented?

The configuration change would The configuration change would become operational in the 2009-10 become operational in the 2009-10 school year. This is the same year school year. This is the same year that the new high school is slated to that the new high school is slated to open.open.

Thank you for your attendance. We Thank you for your attendance. We appreciate your interest in what we appreciate your interest in what we are trying to accomplish.are trying to accomplish.