Re-Vote the Scope

Altmar-Parish-Williamstown School District Tuesday, December 16 • Noon to 9 p.m.

A-P-W District Office

Why Re-Vote The Scope?

• Enrollment – student enrollment has dropped dramatically and is projected to continue to decline. Current enrollment hovers around 1400. New York State uses the first Wednesday in October to establish enrollment numbers for state aid purposes. We have 115 fewer students this year.

APW’s state aid per pupil for this school year is approximately $12,892.

The loss of 115 students equates to $1,482,580 less state aid for the current school year.

• Scope – with the accelerated decline in enrollment the scope of the already approved $34,800,000 project no longer makes sense. The annual district operating budget would cost the taxpayers more because buildings would be running well below their capacity.

• Financial Forecast – with fewer students and less state aid, there are two choices, reduce the district’s overall operating costs or continue to have substantial school property tax increases. Changing the campus structure will reduce costs.

• Education – a two-building campus plan keeps student programs intact. To keep four buildings open indefinitely, the district would have to further reduce staff and eliminate student programs. The result would be larger class sizes, fewer courses, no after school programs and fewer (or no) athletic programs.

• Financial Stability – a two-building campus provides financial stability and educational opportunities for the district.

Open Public Forums on Building Project

Tues., Nov. 18 Mon., Nov. 24 Wed., Dec. 10

7 - 8 p.m. 7 - 8 p.m. 7 - 8 p.m.

Middle School Cafeteria High School Cafeteria Middle School Cafeteria

Public Hearing

Tuesday, December 2 • 6 p.m. High School

Proposition

Shall the Board of Education be authorized to amend the scope of the project described in proposition II as approved by the District voters on March 27, 2007 by (i) deleting the work at the Williamstown, Altmar and Parish Elementary Schools and applying the funds approved for those projects to the construction of approximately 32,700 square feet of additional space at the Middle School, including 18 classrooms, additional building renovations and an expanded cafeteria and media center and (ii) deleting the planned High School Gymnasium track and Auditorium addition and applying the funds approved for those projects to the construction of approximately 33,300 square feet of additional space at the High School, including 6 classrooms, a new Gymnasium and additional building renovations.

Questions and Answers

Am I voting on a proposition for a two-building campus?

No. The current building configuration is operating well below student capacity. The district needs to reconfigure to be more cost efficient. Enrollment has declined significantly in recent years and is projected to drop to 1234 students in the 2011-12 school year.

Operating costs are rapidly increasing, while revenue is decreasing. Consequently, the Board is committed to a two-building campus plan.

Am I voting on $34,800,000 again?

No. You are not voting on any more money. Voters already approved a $34.8 million dollar project. We are not asking for any “new” or more money. We are asking to use some of the project money differently.

How will the already approved $34.8 million dollar project be different from the original project?

The work on the three elementary schools will not be done. More classrooms will be added to the existing middle school. The cafeteria and media center (library) spaces will be expanded, along with additional interior renovations. The middle school gym will not be altered as originally planned. At the high school, 6 classrooms and the new gymnasium will be built. Additional interior building renovations will be done. The planned indoor track and auditorium addition would be deleted.

How will this proposal affect me as a taxpayer?

The $34.8 million dollars has already been approved. It is still projected that there will be no local cost for this construction. APW’s building aid of approximately 95%, plus EXCEL aid will cover the cost of the project.

How will a two-building campus affect me as a taxpayer?

If the proposed two-building campus had opened this September, the district could have saved approximately $3,300,000 in operating costs alone.

Will a two-building campus provide a good education for our students?

Yes. If the district does not continue to reduce the number of buildings as the number of students continues to decrease, more drastic cuts will be needed. Educational benefits of a two-building campus include:

• Stabilized class size.

• Increased sense of community.

• Students grouped more appropriately for instruction.

• Increased educational impact through greater efficiency and availability of regular school programs and extra curricular offerings.

• More efficient maintenance and upgrading of all programs in just two buildings.

• Potential for more funding to support existing and new program offerings.

What is the building transition time line?

It is, with the expert guidance of our architects, targeted for total completion and final student moves by fall 2011-12. Factors beyond our control could alter this target.

If the re-vote is defeated on December 16th, what are the options?

Due to rapidly increasing costs, decreasing enrollment and decreasing revenue, the Board is committed to moving to a two-building campus. All elementary schools are scheduled to close by 2011-12 and no construction will be done in these buildings. The Board plans to move forward with some of the work in the high school and middle school, as outlined in the existing referendum.

What does the B.E.S.T. Task Force recommend?

Support the implementation of a two-building campus by September 2011 to:

• Stabilize the effect of decreasing enrollment on the operating budget of the district.

• Reduce future cost of school district operation.

• Sustain the educational program for all students of the APW School District.