Vision 20/20
11/5/14 Committee Meeting Notes
Welcome: Geoff Palmer . We’ll be reviewing where we are, where we’ve been
Why? Issues in Current Buildings
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Our buildings are too small and classroom sizes are restrictive – need for specialized rooms
Instructional techniques have changed and include 21st century skills – collaboration,
communication, creativity and critical thinking
Roof/structural problems
HVAC problems
Technology upgrades needed
Trailers
Bassett
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Spaces converted into classrooms
Walls separating
Dover Elementary
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Space is an issue
Hallways used for storage and tutoring
Hilliard
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Paint issues
Structural issues
Holly Lane
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Space issues
Not ideal situations for space sharing
Facility Plan Committee Recommendation
Committee narrowed 18 options to 2 and recommended both to the Board for further study
1. Six building neighborhood configuration (2 K-3, 1 PK-3). 6 buildings 5 sites. Renovate Parkside
and new K-4 at Bassett, and K-4 at Holly Lane. $44.5 million
2. Five building grade-level configuration clustering grade levels (4-6, 2-3, PK-1). 5 buildings on 4
sites. Renovate Parkside. $34 million.
Revised Grade-Level Configured Option
1. 1 PK-4 site at Parkside, 4 buildings, 3 sites.
Why Now?
A ballot or bond issue could be structured to take advantage of a 2017 drop in debt to achieve Phase II
requirements. In 2016 the district has a significant drop already built-in for its assets. Intentionally done
to address major capital needs. We could fund Phase II at little or no cost by taking advantage of that
millage drop (2 mills drop).
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Could make ballot/bond issue smaller than anticipated
May provide opportunity to introduce a permanent improvement (PI) levy (money dedicated to
permanent improvements/capital projects)
Retain relative tax position among peers
Would not be an increase in taxes
Taking money spent on buses, technology and other improvements from the operating budget and
placing that into a PI levy means freeing up those dollars in the operating budget.
If you want to put an issue on May 5, 2015, deadline to file is Feb. 4, 2015. For a Nov. 3, 2015, issue,
deadline is Aug. 5, 2015. Possible to go in 2016. Only caveat is consideration of a combination issue with
some form of operating + bond + PI levy.
How?
Tied into understanding those financial pieces and having an understanding of what fits into that
opportunity area. We had questions about renovation v. new buildings. There are logistical issues of
renovating while operating.
Renovation v. New Construction
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Estimated renovations costs for 4 elementary buildings is $35.3 million ($45/year per $100,000
home valuation)
Highest new construction estimate with 2 new buildings is $38.2-$38.5 million ($49-50/year per
$100,000 home valuation)
Lowest new construction estimate for one PK-4 building is $34.3 million ($44/year per $100,000
home valuation)
Our elementary buildings range from 50 to 70 years. There are additions and transitions that could be
problematic.
Lesko options:
1. 2 new elementary grade level schools = $38.5 million at Bassett, Bradley Road, Dover , Parkside
2. 2 new elementary neighborhood schools = $38.3 million at Bassett, Bradley Road, Dover,
Parkside
3. Building 1 new elementary = $34.3 million at Bradley Road, Dover, Parkside
Thoughts on neighborhood v. grade level concept v. single building?
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What happened to original 3 building – new Holly Lane, Bassett, renovate Parkside and
eliminate Dover and Hilliard?
o Estimate is $10 million more with 3 buildings and phased out.
Bradley Road is on all options. I thought that was not in the discussion with its environmental
problems.
o City put in culvert to help drain it out from year to year. Frees up 25 good acres of land
to use.
Numbers of students attending PK-4 would mean more students than the high school. Would
Bradley Road be able to accommodate the traffic?
o Relying on the experts. General rule of thumb is 10 acres for an elementary building
with an additional acre for every 100 kids. Bradley Road would cover it. We have 3
different access points onto that property.
o Any PK-4 building would be two main structures.
Thought still heading into neighborhood concept. Why was it taken off the table?
o Last spring these weren’t the recommendations discussed. It was the two buildings and
the addition of a PK-4 building.
With different concepts, is there a chance we may have vacant school buildings? Wouldn’t that
make it open to charter schools?
o There are some laws that deal with it – they have to exist in our boundaries already. It
can’t be an outside school coming in. if we’re not using some of the resources we own,
do they become viable opportunities for city or other partnerships? Nothing is written in
stone. This is a fluid process. Bradley Road is our most attractive asset to the city and
others.
Do we have more current survey information about the population? This will tie into overall
good will the community feels toward the schools. Coverage of our neighborhood schools
reveals support for operating levies. Has there been thought to catering this to create more
good will to avoid continual ballot issues?
o We need to do this. These buildings are community buildings. We have to get the best
read of the community to serve their needs. There will be more 20/20 meetings, more
community updates. We need to communicate. We have non-scientific feedback survey
going on now.
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Demographics on east end are older, long-time generations. Most younger families on the west
end. Look at the real estate values. Real estate values don’t do well with one elementary
building. What about socialization of our kids? Most kids in our area went to Dover. My kids are
surrounded by kids they don’t go to school with.
o That’s a big part of the Citizen Advisory Committee’s task. They are expecting at the next
Board meeting to give some updates. This has never been an easy topic for any
community. It’s a challenging topic, one where we need a lot of input and hear the
people out and let voices be heard. We know there are real benefits in neighborhood
schools, and benefits in consistency in curriculum and instruction with grade-level
configuration.
Is there research about what’s better for the kids? I think neighborhood schools have a lot of
developmental advantages, but I don’t know.
o At our next meeting we should have some of that feedback from the CAC. One of the IB
visitors was impressed with the 4th graders helping kindergartners. On the other end you
can focus your culture more age appropriately in a building. Doubt there will be one
answer. Depends on the feedback from this community.
Bradley Road – does the city share a property line?
o Golf course is a back property line.
I would like to see the schools reach out to the city to work cooperatively to maximize our
taxpayer dollars. I came back to Westlake because I believe in the schools.
o We have reached out to additional city officials to be a part of the process. We’ll
continue to do that and have ongoing conversations.
Gyms and cafeterias are crowded. One large school doesn’t serve us well.
o There are a variety of things you can do. We need to look at it as what’s best for our
students.
Is there a core unit that shows cost efficient number of students to have in a physical plant?
o Ohio has the Ohio School Facilities Commission that has specific guidelines that set the
framework from which everyone works from.
Assets/Partnership Opportunities?
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Empty buildings have to be offered to any community/charter school within Westlake. There is
only one on the Ohio Department of Education website. They have 60 days to indicate interest.
You have to offer at market value and have an appraisal. If no interest can do an auction or offer
to another public entity.
Could you raze the facility and use it for recreational opportunities?
o Yes. Years ago the city bought the old Kmart property to use as athletic fields.
Each property should be studied for recreational opportunities to see what the best use is.
Wouldn’t the sale of Bradley Road exceed the value of going to Hilliard or another school and
building?
o If the concept does not include using Bradley Road, could consider using funds toward
another project. Don’t give assets up until you know you don’t need them.
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What about eliminating Dover?
o We think that gives us ways to address traffic issues and ease up Bassett traffic.
Millage Drop?
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A lot of other things came onto tax bills with the bond issue. With this drop, are we able to time
it when there won’t be additional things on the ballot?
o It’s hard to predict when other entities will be on the ballot. You try to monitor that. We
try to avoid being on when others are on.
Can we leverage the drop to address everything at one time so people understand what’s on the
table?
We have to do what’s best for kids. We need to do what pumps out the best educational
product. If you pick the most educationally sound option, the community will buy into it.
Teachers want to get together more often and collaborate. Right now it’s a challenge.
Operating before Phase II?
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It’s a crapshoot no matter how you do it. If you do the operating levy before Phase II, if it’s
voted for, Phase II will never pass. If you do it together, one might drag the other down – or not.
o We’ve been able to stretch our financial issues. We’re getting to a point where we can’t
do that. Ballot fatigue is a real issue.
How long would a bond and PI last from an operating perspective?
o Bond would address building new facilities. If we continue to operate the way we are, it
would extend our operating budget. Depends on how much you get with a PI levy.
Opposition says the schools are sitting on significant reserves. You don’t want to be
irresponsible and operate out of your reserves. Investing those reserves in productive capital as
part of Phase II would allow building out what you wanted and build more PI into that drawback.
o Spending down cash reserves to facilities, we’ve been doing that and eliminating staff
and programs. We don’t have an abundance of cash reserves. There is value to the
packaging and making sure the message is there. We are in tough times and doing
everything we can to be responsible with tax dollars. We are not flush with cash.
What’s next?
The CAC report on elementary structures is slated for January.
20/20 Committee meetings:
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3-5 meetings over next 2+ months
Community survey/staff input
Recommendation to Board in early January