HEADED TO THE FUTURE
Elmore County Board
of Education
Town Hall Meeting
April 12, 2005
Guidelines for the Evening
• Your questions are welcome
• You have been provided an index card
to write your question
• These cards will be collected at the end
of my presentation
• These questions will be read aloud and
answered as time permits tonight
• Frequently asked questions will be
posted to the Elmore County schools
website (www.elmoreco.com)
Meeting Objectives
• To present historical data on capital
project accomplishments to date by
Elmore County BOE
• To present enrollment data
• To inform stakeholders of proposed
10 year plan for Elmore County
schools
• To discuss contingency plans if
Millbrook forms new school system
Elmore County Public Schools
Construction and Major Improvements
1995-2004
• Countywide Projects $2.9 Million
• Eclectic Community $7.0 Million
• Holtville Community $5.5 Million
• Wetumpka Community $6.2 Million
• Millbrook Community $9.2 Million
Elmore County Public Schools
Construction and Major Improvements
1995-2004
In all, a total of….
$30,997,349
During the last ten years…and the
best is yet to come
Facility Planning for Future Needs:
A Challenging Process
A major source of our school revenue
comes through the State
Department of Education’s (SDE)
Foundation Program
40 day enrollment as reported to the
SDE is a key factor in the decision
making process of school systems
ALL FUNDING IS BASED ON THE
40 DAY ENROLLMENT REPORT
The Planning Process:
A Challenging Task
40 Day
Reporting
By School &
Grade
The Planning Process:
A Challenging Task
(+-) % Difference
00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 Enrollment
Eclectic 1,634 1,642 1,620 1,626 1,674 +40 2.45%
Holtville 1,498 1,459 1,449 1,463 1,524 +26 1.74%
Millbrook 3,576 3,643 3,673 3,760 3,768 +192 5.37%
Wetumpka 3,301 3,326 3,341 3,344 3,365 +64 1.94%
Total 10,009 10,070 10,083 10,193 10,331 +322 3.22%
A Critical Component…
• During the summer of 2003, an outside
consultant developed a set of enrollment
projections for each school area through
school year 2010-11.
• Specific results of this projection study
regarding the Stanhope Elmore High
School and the Millbrook area
enrollment are as follows:
Stanhope Elmore HS 2003-04
•Projected ADM 40thDay
1064
•Actual ADM 40 th Day
1056
•Difference
8
Stanhope Elmore HS 2004-05
•Projected ADM 40thDay
1113
•Actual ADM 40 th Day
1112
•Difference
1
All Grades Millbrook Area 2004-05
•Projected ADM 40
Day th
3754
•Actual ADM 40 th Day
3767
•Difference
13
That’s Pretty Close
Therefore…
•These results indicate the
previous projections are a
valid predictor of future
enrollments
Projection Results…
•In addition to the projections, a
“Capacity Analysis” of each school was
developed which compared the
instructional capacity of the building to
the current (at that time) and projected
enrollment. The results for the
Millbrook area are as follows:
Capacity Analysis 2002-03
(As presented August, 2003)
CURRENT SCHOOL Classrooms ENR. Classrooms STATUS
GRADE Available 2002-03 Required
ORG. Elem. 1-18X1.30
Mid/Hi 1-27X1.35
K-1 Coosada Elementary 32 547 40 -8
2-3 Robinson Springs 41 589 43 -2
4-8 Millbrook Junior High 69 1489 74 -5
9-12 Stanhope Elmore High 48 1029 51 -3
Sub-total Millbrook Community 190 3654 208 -18
Capacity Analysis 2007-08
(As presented August, 2003)
CURRENT SCHOOL Classrooms PROJ. ENR Classrooms STATUS
GRADE Available 2007-08 Required
ORG. Elem. 1-18X1.30
Mid/Hi 1-27X1.35
K-1 Coosada Elementary 32 646 47 -15
2-3 Robinson Springs 41 662 48 -7
4-8 Millbrook Junior High 69 1428 71 -2
9-12 Stanhope Elmore High 48 1131 57 -9
Sub-total Millbrook Community 190 3867 222 -32
Capacity Analysis 2010-11
(As presented August, 2003)
CURRENT SCHOOL Classrooms PROJ. ENR Classrooms STATUS
GRADE Available 2010-11 Required
ORG. Elem. 1-18X1.30
Mid/Hi 1-27X1.35
K-1 Coosada Elementary 32 691 50 -18
2-3 Robinson Springs 41 686 50 -9
4-8 Millbrook Junior High 69 1562 78 -9
9-12 Stanhope Elmore High 48 1051 53 -5
Sub-total Millbrook Community 190 3990 230 -40
Projection Results…
•These projections indicated that most of
the growth in the school district in
general, as well as in Millbrook area
will be more in the lower grades instead
of the upper grades. That has proven to
be the case over the last two years.
Therefore, our proposed bond program is
developed toward that end.
The Planning Process:
A Challenging Task
Even with the best plans….
PRORATION can interrupt
the journey at any time!!!
HEADED TO THE FUTURE
Let’s take a look at the next 10 years
in terms of capital outlay projects for
Elmore County Schools
GOAL:
Improve and foster the teaching and learning
environment by planning, organizing, and
implementing a program of construction,
renovation, and maintenance; outlining
systematic procedures and schedules that will
ensure safe, well-maintained, and attractive
schools
Phase 1: 2 year plan
2005-2007
$12 MILLION BOND ISSUE
Elmore Co. High Bandroom 500,000
Holtville High Gym 1,200,000
Holtville Elem. 10 Classrooms 1,000,000
Coosada Elem. 8 classrooms 800,000
Eclectic Middle 8 classrooms 800,000
Millbrook MJHS Cafeteria/Land/Gym 2,000,000
Millbrook MJHS Roof 1,000,000
Millbrook Area Land for New School 1,000,000 **At present,
Wetumpka Elem. Roof 600,000 additional
projects are
TOTAL
** 8,950,000 under
consideration.
Estimated
cost=$3.05
million.
Utilize existing comprehensive
study of enrollment projections
and capacity analysis to predict
trends in projected school area
populations for next 10-20 years
Phase 2: 5 year plan
2005-2010
1. Construction of new school in Millbrook area $15+ MILLION
as need indicated in comprehensive study Funded by Public School Funds (PSF), local
of enrollment projections and capacity bond issue funds, additional local revenue
analysis (ad valoreum and/or sales tax)
2. Meet with local legislative delegation, school
board members, county commissioners,
and other relevant entities to design
strategies to enhance county school board
revenues
3. Purchase land for school to serve Redland Funded through PSF (Public School Funds)
Community (50 acres +)
4. New additions/renovations to school Funded through PSF (Public School Funds)
communities as needed & funds available
5.Develop stronger collaborations with city and
county municipalities, businesses, non-
profit organizations, individuals, colleges,
clubs, and associations for increased
financial support for Elmore County
Schools
6. Develop a plan for Elmore County
Commissioners to provide and maintain a
facility for the Elmore County Board of
Education’s central office building
Phase 3: 10 years +
2005-2015
1. New school to serve $6-$8 million Funded by Public
Redland School Funds
Community (PSF), local
bond issue
funds, additional
local revenue
(ad valoreum
and /or sales
tax)
2. Other community $5 million Funded by Public
specific School Funds
construction needs (PSF), local
as dictated by bond issue
enrollment funds, additional
numbers local revenue
(ad valoreum
and /or sales
tax)
Contingency Plan
What happens if the
Millbrook community
forms its own school
system????
State Law & City Schools
According to the …
Laws of Alabama Relating to
Education
State Law & City Schools
Section 16-18-20
“The county board of education shall retain
supervision of said school…until an
agreement has been made between the
county board of education and the city
board of education…with reference to
the matter of existing indebtedness and
of providing the same or equivalent
school facilities for the children in that
part of the territory in the school district
or districts not annexed or made part of
such city.”
State Law & City Schools
Section 16-18-21
“If an agreement under Section 16-8-
20 is not reached within 30 days
after the annexation….it shall then
be mandatory to refer the final
disposition of the matter to
arbitration by a board consisting of
three members…
State Law & City Schools
Section 16-8-22
“The Board of Arbitration shall secure all
facts available relative to the matter, hold
a public hearing for the purpose of giving
an opportunity for every contention to be
presented by both evidence and
argument and determine all matters
relative to the transfer of the control,
existing indebtedness and use of such
school. The findings of a majority of said
Board of Arbitration shall be binding on
all concerned.”
FACTS TO REMEMBER
1. Negotiation will occur between
the Elmore County Board of
Education and the Millbrook
City Board of Education
Birmingham News-March 18, 2005
Front Page Headline:
Trussville, Jeffco work out plans for
new school system
Negotiation is key to the
process!!!!!
Alabama School Journal-March 21,
2005 page 3
“First, nothing in the law requires that you
sell the county school buildings to the
city or the city school system.”
Negotiation is the key!!!!!
Everything…from the buses, to the
copiers, to the textbooks…everything
will be negotiated!
Negotiation
This negotiation may be a long term
process…
Ex: Madison City & Limestone
County
FACTS TO REMEMBER
2. “Nothing in the law prevents a
county board of education from
operating a school within a
municipality with its own school
system”
--Alabama School Journal
March 21, 2005
FACTS TO REMEMBER
“All too often, a city will break off and the
children who live outside the city limits
but attend the county school in town
have to be bussed all the way across the
county to the nearest county school.”
--ASJ March 21, 2005
Does this thought
cause you concern?
Remain calm…
Here is a key fact to
remember…..
FACTS TO REMEMBER
“The COUNTY COULD CONTINUE
TO OPERATE ITS SCHOOLS FOR
THOSE CHILDREN, and would
prevent those buildings from
standing empty if they aren’t sold”
--Alabama School Journal
March 21, 2005
(Ex: Talladega County & Sylacauga City)
Current enrollment (within existing city limits)
School 40 day Millbrook Elmore Co.
City Students Schools
ADM
Students
Coosada 586 321 (55%) 265 (45%)
Robinson 555 317 (57%) 238 (43%)
Springs
Millbrook 1,514 858 (57%) 656 (43%)
Mid/Jr.High
Stanhope 1,113 587 (53%) 526 (47%)
TOTALS 3,768 2,083 1,685
(55%) (45%)
Enrollment Projections (Proposed annexation)
School 40 day Millbrook Elmore Co.
City Students Schools
ADM
Students
Coosada 586 457 (78%) 129 (22%)
Robinson 555 447 (81%) 108 (19%)
Springs
Millbrook 1,514 1,195 319 (21%)
Mid/Jr.High (79%)
Stanhope 1,113 825 (74%) 288 (26%)
TOTALS 3,768 2,924 844 (22%)
(78%)
Contingency Plan A
• Convert Coosada Elementary from
K-1 to K-6 school by utilizing bond
issue monies
• Retain Stanhope Elmore High
School to house 7-12 population
Contingency Plan B
• Convert Coosada Elementary to K-
6 school utilizing bond issue monies
• Retain current Millbrook Middle/Jr.
High facilities as a 7-12 school and
complete proposed capital projects
Contingency Plan C
• Convert Coosada Elementary to K-
6 school
• Build a new 7-12 facility
Special Guests
• Mr. Craig Pouncey
Assistant State Superintendent
Administrative & Financial Services Division
Alabama State Department of Education
• Mr. Perry Taylor
Director, School Architect
Alabama State Department of Education
Creative Funding Solutions
• The Talladega Plan
• Georgia’s SPLOST (Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax)
GOAL:
Improve and foster the teaching and learning
environment by planning, organizing, and
implementing a program of construction,
renovation, and maintenance; outlining
systematic procedures and schedules that will
ensure safe, well-maintained, and attractive
schools
HEADED TO THE FUTURE
Questions??