Southwest Vermont SU Community Forum September 27, 2016
Act 46 of 2015 -- INTENT
To move the State toward sustainable models of education GOVERNANCE
Act 46 of 2015 - GOALS To encourage and support local decisions and actions that: • provide substantial equity in the quality and variety of educational opportunities • lead students to meet or exceed State EQS • maximize operational efficiencies through greater flexibility to manage, share, and transfer resources • goal of increasing district-level student-to-staff ratios • promote transparency and accountability • delivered at a cost that parents, voters, & taxpayers value
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CURRENT TIMELINE
Four Steps 1. Incentivized Mergers 2. “Alternative” Proposals
3. and 4. Statewide Plan
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#1 Incentivized Mergers Three phases of voluntary mergers • earlier programs incorporated
• new options created • process = union school district
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#1 Incentivized Mergers Phase 2 (RED; Side-by-Side; MUUSD; Layered) • approval by electorate - 7/1/17 • operational - 7/1/19 Phase 3 (Later Conventional Mergers) • operational - 7/1/19 7
#2 If Not “Preferred Structure” District(s): • Self evaluation • Meetings with other districts – regional focus • Proposal by 11/30/17 o individually / jointly o considered in creating # Statewide Plan …
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#3 Secretary’s Proposal Proposes Statewide Plan by 6/1/18
• Conversations with districts in #2 • Considers proposals from #2
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#4 SBE’s Final Statewide Plan Revises and issues final Statewide Plan Sustainable ed structures to meet Goals o necessary / possible / practicable o issued by 11/30/18 o effective 7/1/19
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6 OPTIONS
Voluntary Merger (w/ incentives & protections) 1. RED 2. MUUSD 3. Layered 4. (Side-by-Side) 5. Later Conventional
6. Alternative Structure 12
EXAMPLES (roughly similar to your SU)
NOT PROMOTING THAT YOU CHOOSE ANY OF THESE …
… SOME OPTIONS, GIVEN YOUR CURRENT STRUCTURE
Current Structure of SU #100
Union High School District E (H.S. building in Town C) 7-12
Town District A PK-6 PK-6
UHSD
PK-6
Town District B
Town District C
PK-6
PK-6 PK-6
Town District D PK-6 Pays Tuition
RED = 1 District 4(+) merging districts OR 1250(+) ADM
Unified Union School District Z PK-12
(Town A) (Town D) 7-12
PK-6
K-6 students enroll in schools located in Town A, B, and/or C
PK-6
(Town B)
PK-6
(Town C)
MUUSD = 2 Districts Majority(+) Elementary Districts
Modified Unified Union School District Z PK-12
7-12
(Town A)
Town District D
7-12
PK-6
PK-6 Pays Tuition (also if PK-6 school)
PK-6
(Town B)
PK-6
(Town C)
“Layered” = 3 Districts Union High School District E (H.S. building in Town C)
Majority of Elementary Districts
7-12 Union Elementary School District Z PK-6
(Town A)
Town District D
7-12
PK-6
PK-6 Pays Tuition
PK-6
(Town B)
PK-6
(Town C)
Later Conventional = 1 District (same structure as RED) 900(+) ADM Supervisory District
Unified Union School District Z PK-12
(Town A)
(Town D)
7-12
PK-6
K-6 students enroll in schools located in Town A, B, and/or C
PK-6
(Town B)
PK-6
(Town C)
Act 46 – “Alternative Structures” In some regions - Supervisory District with 900+ ADM • Not possible – e.g.: Unique operating/tuitioning structure(s) • Not best model to achieve educational goals
Act 46 – Alt Structure Requirements •
Supervisory District w/900+ADM • not possible • not best model to achieve the Goals in region
•
Alt Structure is best means to meet Goals in region
•
Proposal demonstrates how Alternative Structure supports ability to meet or exceed each Goal
•
Proposal identifies detailed actions to continue to improve performance in connection with Goals
INCENTIVES & PROTECTIONS
Deadlines
Other (by 11.30.17)
Incentives & Protections 8/6/4/2 Cent Tax $150K Transition Small Schools 3.5% HoldRate Reductions Facilitation Grant Grant = Merger Harmless (w/ 5%) (less $20K) Support Grant (Phantom Pupils)
Exempt from Merger by SBE in Statewide Plan
Required by Act 46, Sec. 9: Self Eval; Meetings; & Proposal
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES & NO
NO & YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
(YES)
07.01.19
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
N/A
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
Voter Approval
Fully Operational
07.01.17
07.01.19
YES
YES
YES
07.01.17
07.01.19
YES
YES
07.01.17
07.01.19
YES
07.01.17
07.01.19
N/A
N/A
PHASE 2 RED
MUUSD
Layered
(Side-by-Side)
PHASE 3
Later Conventional
0THER Alternative Structure
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
“one person – one vote” each person’s vote has the same value (each person’s representation on school board has the same value)
Constitutional Proportionality In a Union School District
Town Level or District Level
Common Models 1. Proportional-by-Town Model 2. At-Large Model 3. Hybrid Model – Allocated in any number to each town – Voters from entire union district vote on all
Proportional by Town Model
At-Large Model **
(see, e.g., the voter-approved Articles of the Mill River UUSD)
Apportionment
Apportioned Numbers
Constitutional Proportionality
Articles of Agreement apportion a specified number of board seats to each town within the union school district Apportioned numbers are based on the most recent decennial census (town’s population as compared to total population of union school district) Strictly required on a town-by-town basis
No seats are apportioned to any town within the union district N/A
Not required at the town level – proportionality is achieved at the (multi-town) district-level
Note: Can weight each board member’s vote to achieve proportionality
Residence Nominating Petition
Election of Member Weighted Voting
Board member must reside in town to which seat is apportioned The nominating petition can be signed only by the voters of the town to which the seat is apportioned; the lesser of 30 voters or 1% of town voters must sign petition Only the voters in the town can vote on the list of candidates for that town’s apportioned seat(s) Articles of Agreement can assign a different weight to each board member’s vote
Hybrid Model (see, e.g., the voter-approved Articles of the Addison Central UUSD)
Board members can reside anywhere in the union district The nominating petition can be signed by any voter in the union district; at least 60 voters must sign petition All voters in the district vote on a single list of candidates for the entire union district Cannot assign a different weight to any board member’s vote
Articles of Agreement apportion a specified number of board seats to each town within the union district Articles of Agreement base number of seats apportioned to each town on any agreed-upon method Not required at the town level Although board seats are apportioned to each town, proportionality is achieved by voting at the (multi-town) district level Board member must reside in town to which seat is apportioned The default is the same as the Proportional by Town Model (Mt Anthony Court approved Hybrid Model presented to it w/those terms); Articles may be able to require At-Large Model process instead All voters in the district vote on the list of candidates for each town’s apportioned seat(s)
Table and More Information
http://education.vermont.gov/vermontschools/school-governance/guidance#membership
LEAVING AN EXISTING UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
Leaving Union High School District 1. Voters in District A: withdraw? 2. If yes – Voters in Member Districts B-D: approve? 3. If yes in each district – State Board of Education: • Do District A students have options? • Is UHSD ok w/ only B-D or dissolve?
LEAVING A SUPERVISORY UNION
Leaving a Supervisory Union • State Board of Ed can redraw SU lines –On own initiative or –At request of school district(s)
• Can’t be in union school district –Must first withdraw
http://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-governance
education.vermont.gov • Vermont-Schools • School-Governance • Options • Guidance • Merger Activity
Please feel free to contact: Brad James
[email protected] 802.479.1043 Donna Russo-Savage
[email protected] 802.479.1744
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