1. School District of Beloit
REFERENDUM PRESENTATION
IMAGINE BELOIT

2. 1. History/Challenge and Opportunity
2. The cost
3. The physical plants
4. Educational Advantages
5. Fiscal Responsibility and Savings
6. Economic Development
7. April 3, 2012

3. Board of Education:
• Facility study 1998
• Architectural drawings 2008

4. Board of Education challenge:
• 8 buildings built before 1928
• Newest building built: 1965
• Last major improvements: 1994
• Non-functional pool: 1968
• Deteriorating facilities

5. Board of Education Opportunity:
• 1994 bonds maturing in 2012
• Lowest interest rates in history
• Extremely competitive
construction industry driving costs
down
• Perfect storm

6. 2012-2013 Tax Impact
On a $70 Million Dollar Referendum
Under Current Funding Aid Formula
Estimated Interest at 3.5%
Home Value Annual Cost Monthly Cost
$75,000* $ 67.50 $5.63
• State reimburses District $45 million or 64% of the bond issue
• Increased 12 of the last 14 years
• Beloit tax payers pay only $25 million
• Business 46%
• Residential 54%
*Average home value in the city of Beloit

7. Success Breeds Success
• National AP Honor Roll, 1 of 367
• National Blue Ribbon, Gaston, 1 of 305
• National GPA award, Girls Swim, 20th
• National GPA award, Boys Swim, 6th
• National Jazz Competition, top 15
• RTI program receiving state and national
attention

8. Referendum Plan: Physical Plants

9. Renovate six elementary schools to PK-3
1. More and larger classrooms for consolidation/team
teaching
2. Create intervention rooms
3. More gym space
4. Needed repairs
•Roofing •Security Upgrade
•Boiler Systems/HVAC •Parking/Drop off
•Building Envelope •Playgrounds
•Needed Furnishings •Technology
5. Food prep and serving areas

10. Primary Schools
Cost Approximately $31 million
Approximately 440 Students/Building
East West
Todd $6.0M Converse $5.6M
Merrill 4.4M Hackett 5.1M
Robinson 5.6M Gaston 4.2M

11. Todd

12. Merrill

13. Robinson

14. Converse

15. Hackett

16. Gaston

17. Aldrich and McNeel
$10M to be allocated from maintenance
savings over the next 5 years
Fewer students after reconfiguration

18. Middle School Demographics
Free Lunch by Middle School
Aldrich: 85.89%
Cunningham: 79.83%
McNeel: 80.34%
Southeast School: 70.51%
Diversity by Middle School
Aldrich: Black - 34.6% White - 32.0% Hispanic - 32.3% AmerIndian - .1% Asian - 1%
Cunningham:Black - 21.7% White - 46.6% Hispanic - 31.5% AmerIndian - .2% Asian - 0%
McNeel: Black - 28.3% White - 44.5% Hispanic - 26.7% AmerIndian - .1% Asian - .4%
Southeast: Black - 25.3% White - 38.4% Hispanic - 32.6% AmerIndian - .9% Asian - 2.8%

19. McNeel

20. Aldrich

21. New Cunningham 4-8
Cost Approximately $16 million
• Cunningham 60% increase in square
footage
• Land area sufficient for expansion
• Large amount of green space remaining
after expansion

22. New Cunningham

23. New SE Intermediate School 4-8
Cost Approximately $16 million
• Corner of Lee Lane and Milwaukee Rd
• Collaborative partnership with Beloit
Health Systems

24. New SE Intermediate

25. New SE Intermediate

26. Intermediate School Design
1. Separate wings for 4,5,6 and 7,8
2. Separate entrances/pickup and drop off areas
3. Shared spaces for:
– Music
– Art
– Phy Ed
– ELL
– Special Education
– Library Media

27. Beloit Memorial High School
• New Swimming Pool – 8 lane
• Conference and Sectional meets
• Locker rooms male and female
• Community Changing Room
• Bleachers for 500 + people at pool level
• All mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing
• Pool Room Heating and Ventilation
• Used daily from 6AM to 8PM

28. Tennis Courts
• Tear up existing Tennis Courts
• Relocate west of student parking
• 8 tennis courts complex
• Tournaments

29. Life Center
• New equipment relocated from class rooms
• Level playing field for Big 8 athletics
• Relocate to existing pool area
• Current weight room transformed to
wrestling and/or dance or yoga studio
• Fight childhood obesity
• Lower health care costs of district
employees

30. High School

31. High School

32. Future Use of District-Owned Buildings
• Buildings Available for • Possible Uses
Retirement or Repurposing: – District Office
– Royce – Charter School (RCAA)
– McLenegan – Learning Academy
– Kolak – Sale to outside party
– Morgan
– Wright
– Burdge

33. Educational Advantages

34. PK-3 Grade Alignment
Educational Advantages
• Six PK-3 Schools
• Alignment of resources for learning to read
• Collaborative opportunities
• Intense focus on developmental needs of the
young child
• Dedicated Art and Music areas

35. PK-3 Grade Alignment
Educational Advantages
Higher Parent Involvement
– More years in the same building
– Sustained Relationships
– Fewer transitions

36. 4-8 Grade Alignment
Educational Advantages
• “Elemiddle” approach
– Makes smaller grades 6-8, approx 150 per grade
• Alignment of resources for reading to learn
• Use of other resources and shared classrooms
(e.g. Gym, Tech Ed, Music, Art)

37. 4-8 Grade Alignment
Educational Advantages
• Collaborative opportunities for
• 4-6 and 7-8 wings
• Culture change in a building with younger and
older students
• More opportunities to be involved in sports and
extracurricular activities with smaller classes.

38. 4-8 Grade Alignment
Educational Advantages
Higher Parent Involvement
– More years in the same building
– Sustained Relationships
– Fewer transitions

39. The Cost
Primary schools = $31 million
Intermediate schools = $32 million
Secondary School = $ 7 million
Total= $70 million
$45 million reimbursed by the State

40. These are estimated permanent reductions that would assist
us with our budget challenges in each year going forward.
Cost Savings Area Estimated Annual Cost Savings If
Referendum Passes
Rent $ 128,007.00
Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water, Sewer, Storm Water) $ 66,232.00
Reduction of Personnel $ 1,019,582.00
Facility and Building Maintenance $ 978,780.00
Property Services $ 28,334.00
Technology Savings-Fiber Lease /Phone
Lines $ 10,446.00
Transportation $ 35,730.00
Staff Travel $ 30,000.00
Grand Total $ 2,297,111.00

41. Referendum versus Operating Cost
• Referendum is a stand-alone loan fund
– Must be for capital improvements only
– Not used for operating budget or salaries
• Yearly Operating budget is effected only by
the savings incurred by improvements
– Helps offset the budget challenges we will
continue to face due to decreasing funding

42. Fiscal Responsibility
25
20
15
Actual Levy collected
10 1995 Levy adjusted for inflation
5
0
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

43. 2012-2013 Tax Impact
On a $70 Million Dollar Referendum
Under Current Funding Aid Formula
Estimated Interest at 3.5%
Home Value Annual Cost Monthly Cost
$75,000* $ 67.50 $5.63
• State reimburses District $45 million or 64% of the bond issue
• Increased 12 of the last 14 years
• Beloit tax payers pay only $25 million
• Business 46%
• Residential 54%
*Average home value in the city of Beloit

44. Economic Development

45. • Schools are one of the most
important reasons for business
start-ups and expansion
• More new employees stay in Beloit
• Higher property values
• Increased community pride
• Local construction jobs
• $45 million in outside investment

46. • Chamber of Commerce: ENDORSED
• GBEDC: ENDORSED
• City Council: ENDORSED
• Beloit 2020: ENDORSED
• Outside tourism revenue $50/$140
• Improved image to non-Beloiters
• Continue Beloit improvements
• $45MM in outside investment

47. Discussion

48. VOTE
April 3, 2012