Facilities Usage Committee: Frequently Asked Questions
As part of Jeffco Public Schools effort to reduce costs and identify efficiencies, the district is examining all areas of operation, including how schools and facilities are used throughout the district. More than 30 community and district volunteers were chosen to serve on a Facilities Usage Committee to help the district determine the most efficient and effective use of its buildings.
Please click on a question below to view the answer.
Q: What is the Facilities Usage Committee?
A: The Facilities Usage Committee was created to study district facilities usage and to provide options for more efficient and effective use of schools. Over 30 community and district volunteers were chosen to serve on the committee.
Q: Is the purpose of this Facilities Usage Committee to close schools?
A: The purpose of the committee is to look at ways to reduce costs and identify efficiencies. The committee has analyzed data and explored many options for the past eight months. Draft recommended options have been submitted for public comment. Final recommended options will be presented to the Board of Education in January.
Q: Can't we just pass a bond program for the next ballot and forget about these options?
A: Even if the district were successful with a bond election in 2010, the district would still be faced with making budget reductions. The money saved through the facilities usage process will reduce the impact to the classroom and the district’s operating budget.
Q: What will happen to my child's teacher if you close my child’s school?
A: If children are moved to a different school, their teacher will generally go with them. Administrators (principals, assistant principals) may be reassigned to different locations throughout the district.
Q: What if I don't want to move my child to the school that he/she is being reassigned to?
A: Parents who wish to enroll their student in a school other than their newly-assigned neighborhood school can go through Choice Enrollment to enroll at another Jeffco school. Forms are available on the district Web site at
www.jeffcopublicschools.org. Choice Enrollment begins in January for the following school year.
Q: If the district is short on resources, why are we considering some of the options that include expenses in order to reap the savings?
A: Most options will have upfront implementation costs but are intended to save money in the long run.
Q: Why is the district talking about closing schools while at the same time the district is celebrating building dedications for new schools that were just built?
A: As the largest school district in the state, Jeffco has over 150 schools with very different needs and challenges. Some schools are experiencing a decrease in enrollment, while other schools are located in growth areas of the district. The new buildings and additions are a result of the successful 2004 bond election when taxpayers approved a $323.8 million bond to renovate or rebuild older facilities.
Q: When will a final decision be made about the options and who will make it?
A: Members of the Board of Education will make a final decision about the proposed options in January 2010. Implementation of the approved options may take effect as soon as the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.
Q: Why would it save the district money to demolish buildings already in place?
A: By demolishing buildings that the district no longer needs the district will save yearly costs on utilities (electricity, gas, water and sewer), maintenance and custodial services. The district estimates that this savings is $3.84 per square foot (SF). For a 50,000 SF building (average size elementary school) this is a savings of $192,000 per year.
Q: What is the district's plan regarding getting rid of temporary buildings (temps) – the modular temporary classrooms placed at some schools?
A: The Purchasing Department could issue a surplus property bid, which would mean that the district could accept a $1 bid from a non-profit, or another school district, to haul away as many temporary buildings as possible. The district would only do this with those temps that have a low value. For temps that are newer and in good condition, the district would not surplus or demolish them, but would winterize and mothball the temps for possible future use. This minimizes the cost of maintaining the structure. Newer temp buildings that are deemed surplus can be sold to other organizations. There are a few school districts that may be interested in some of these buildings (probably no more than 15 to 25 of them). The district will certainly market them to determine interested. With the significant cost to move temp buildings, it would better in some cases to sell them for $10 and require them to be hauled off by the buyer.
The district does not have a place to store surplus temp buildings. In some cases, the least expense to the district is to demolish the buildings we cannot “sell” to other entities.
Q: How much does closing a temporary building save?
A: Closing a temp building will save the district utility, custodial and maintenance cost of $3.84/SF per year. Our temp buildings average 960SF each so this is a savings of $3,686 per temp per year. If the district is able to eliminate 100 temp buildings, this is an annual savings of $386,640 per year. Temp buildings in good condition will be put up for sale to other school districts for reuse. The district will incur a one time demolition cost for temp buildings not sold for reuse.
Q: When would the options occur if they are approved by the Board of Education?
A: The options would tentatively be implemented for the 2010-2011 school year.
Q: What boundary changes are being proposed?
A: After the board makes the final decision about options, then the most efficient and effective boundary modifications would be addressed by the board.
Q: Open enrollment is causing some of the overcrowding issues, what is being done to curtail overcrowding due to choice?
A: School choice is regulated by state law. However, the district is looking at restricting the use of temporary buildings by schools wanting to increase their choice enrollment.
Q: Why can't the budget reserves be used to fix the shortfall instead of causing so many problems for parents with these options?
A: Fortunately, Jeffco has been very responsible in building reserves to prepare for tough times and the current economic challenges. Following the 2004 voter approved mill levy override, the district did not allocate all of the additional revenues for the first three years. The district intentionally built reserves with a plan to spend down the reserves over the next four years. Without the reserves, the district would be making much larger budget cuts. At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, the district had close to $160 million in reserves. The district needs to maintain approximately $60 million in reserves to be in compliance with TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights) and Board of Education policy. The district plans to spend down reserves over the next four years – between $20 million and $40 million per year depending on reductions and state rescissions. At that rate, the district will be very close to the reserve amount required by law and board policy.
Q: When will the board make a final decision?
A: The Board of Education will review the final options on January 14, 2010 and is expected to make a decision at a subsequent meeting, possibly January 21, 2010.
Q: Are high schools being considered for closure?
A: High schools were reviewed but were not considered to be viable options by the committee. Closing a high school will significantly impact the entire articulation area of that school and the surrounding articulation areas. When you close a high school, the middle school and elementary schools that feed into the high school will need to be redistributed to other articulation areas. This causes significant disruption of multiple articulation areas.
Q. Where can I find dollar amounts saved per option/per articulation area or district as a whole?
A. Cost estimates for both savings and implementation costs are currently being developed. Projected cost estimates will be available by November 11, 2009, in time for the public forums, on the district website:
www.jeffcopublicschools.org.
Q: What other money saving options are being looked at besides facility usage?
A: Other cost savings options being implemented are more efficient bus routes and HVAC and electrical/lighting upgrades to decrease energy use. In addition, every school and department will be cutting at least nine percent from budgets over the next three years.
Q: What if I have specific questions about the option in my child’s school?
A: The only information available at this time is what is listed on the options sheet on the Web site. Once the committee makes their final recommendations, more information about those options will be provided as available.
Q. Who would be interested in purchasing a closed school? Won't the school just sit dormant and end up costing money to maintain?
A: The procedure that the district has established in disposing of surplus schools and property is to offer to sell the building/land to other government entities first. Possible uses include recreation centers and meeting facilities. If other government entities are not interested in the facility, the district will market the property to developers for reuse to serve the community needs. Depending on market conditions, the property will be sold as soon as possible.
Q: What about charter and option schools? Why were they not looked at first for cuts?
A: Charters have their own oversight boards so they were not considered.
Q: The Jeffco Board Ends include little or nothing about academic excellence or growth in academic excellence. Given the overarching goals that Colorado and the Country often tout improving education how can improving academic excellence not be part of the ends?
A: The Board of Education previously had an ends statement that addressed achievement in all content standards. The current Board of Education is working to revise our ends statements. While we have not formally adopted those ends we currently have an ends drafted that states:
Students are prepared for a changing global environment. Sub-points related to that Ends Statement include:
- Students graduate from Jeffco schools proficient in oral and written communication, mathematics, and reading.
- Students graduate from Jeffco schools with an understanding of the world and the scientific process.
Q: Why have upper administrative positions been expanded substantially at a time when enrollment was flat and budgets were shrinking? During the period of steady enrollment, between 2004 and 2008 the district has added many highly paid positions - more than 34 by our count.
A: Even in times of tight budgets, the District has continued its efforts to meet legislative mandates and serve the students of Jeffco. With the changes in student populations/demographics and student needs, the District has been intentional in staffing changes. Increased Full-Time Employees (FTEs) were primarily for targeted areas of need and improvement. Although we did not reconcile to the 34 increase which you refer to, following is a summary of the major changes between the 2005/2006 and 2008/2009 school years:
- Administrative staff for schools with increased high risk student populations (mostly Assistant Principals) – 12.75 FTE
- Assessment staffing for implementation of research based interventions for reading & math – 1.50 FTE
- Dropout Prevention – 2.0 FTE
- English as a Second Language Staffing ensure compliance with Federal Mandates – 4.0 FTE
- Executive Director in Community Superintendents Office for direct support of Schools – 1.0 FTE
- Positions moved from Grants and other funds to the General Fund – 4.25 FTE
- New School Admin. Staffing (Brady, Wayne Carle, Meiklejohn) – 4.0 FTE
- Reclassification of Staff from Licensed or support to Administrative – 19.80 FTE (such reclassifications do not include significant pay increases, but result in less overtime and increase accountabilities and performance requirements).
NOTE: These changes are based on Actual FTE’s versus Budgeted FTEs.
The majority of positions added are for direct support of schools and programs helping to ensure the advancement of student achievement. Unfortunately, the 2010/2011 budget will reflect reductions in all areas of staffing.
Q: What is the plan to pursue future Bond measures to more permanently address the fiscal situation at Jeffco?
A: Bond issue elections relate to building improvements. Jeffco passed bond issues in 1997 and in 2004. The 2004 Bond Program is being completed. The plan for the next bond is being developed based on an independent evaluation of all facilities in Jeffco. However, we currently have no plans for an election.
Mill levy override elections provide operational funds. Jeffco passed mill levy overrides in 1999 and in 2004. Again, we have no plans currently for an election. While tax elections are the only way to provide additional funds for school districts, we must see that our community supports increases in property taxes during these hard economic times.
Q: Where is the plan for improving academic excellence and instilling an ethic to strive for academic excellence at Jeffco?
A: Improving and striving for academic excellence is what we do every day. Jeffco is committed to continuous improvement. Centrally and at every school we analyze data, develop plans for improvement, and implement the appropriate staff development and instructional changes to strive for the success of every student. We believe that All means All and that there simply are no excuses for ensuring that all students are successful.
Our specific plans are included in our
Strategic Plan that can be accessed on the
Superintendent's homepage. Visit our public website:
www.jeffcopublicschools.org for more information.
Q: Where is master budget reduction plan?
A: You can find information on the reductions planned on the
Finance and Budget Web site. There is a Budget Development Process voiceover that outlines the planned reductions for the next four years.
Q: What are the actual cut targets and from where does this requirement stem?
A: The cut targets are changing and are dependent on what happens with the State Budget. Governor Ritter's budget cuts were released on November 6 and are included in the targets. Current targets are $18M for 2010/2011, $18M for 2011/2012, $20M for 2012/2013 and $20M for 2013/2014.
Q: What has and has not been done regarding overarching budget cut targets and allocation of such cuts to different areas/approaches?
A: The District has maintained a very transparent and community outreach budget process for several years. Efforts include stakeholder meetings as well as informational mailings and public presentations. All departments continue to implement efficiencies and trim programs. Parallel to these efforts, the district has remained committed to improving student achievement. New programs have been implemented and existing programs have been modified to bolster achievement. Please refer to current and past Budget Executive Summaries which include detailed information on the budget process.
Q: Where is the master set of options for achieving the budget cuts, including all tools available (furlough days, pay cuts, staff reductions, class size increases)?
A: The master list of potential reductions is still being developed. The initial school budget committees will start with remaining proposed reductions from the 2009/2010 budget process. From there, budget workgroups will modify, develop and enhance the reduction list. See the
Budget Development Process web site for a complete timeline for the budget process.
Q: There have been no communications with parents regarding overall budget cut process or plans (besides facilities). What is your plan for improving this communications regarding budget cuts?
A: There has been and will continue to be external communications on the budget development process. The district is committed to building public understanding. On October 16, 2009 a publication which was distributed to all Jeffco parents, "
Chalk Talk", communicated information about the budget cuts and the budget development process. There are also several documents, including the
2009-2010 Revised Adopted Budget and a "voice over" on the
Budget Development Process web site. Our annual Budget Development Process involves members of the community in Budget Workgroups, Accountability Committees, Budget Forums and on the Stakeholder Panel. Information on the process will continue to be posted on the
District's Web site as well as in communications in the local newspapers.
Q: How many teacher positions will have to be eliminated to make up the approximately $17M/year of cuts required that are beyond what any facilities changes can save?
A: We are looking at several areas of reductions – not just teaching positions. The average salary and compensation for a teacher is $73,000 . Reductions usually occur at the less experienced level (lower paid), so we look at reductions to save $50-$55,000 per position eliminated.
Q: Where is the long-range budget plan to provide context and guidance to making the annual cuts and transitions that may be required?
A: The long range, 5 year outlook is presented in the Executive Summary of every adopted budget. Throughout the budget process, the Board reviews and provides direction on the district's strategic direction.
Q: Who is responsible for overall decisions regarding cuts? What is the process?
A: The Board of Education is responsible for adopting the budget. They provide guidance, input and direction through the process. Two public hearing are held before adoption. A copy of the Budget Development Process is provided.
Q: Where is the timeline for decision-making about the cuts and for implementation of any cuts?
Q: Why was there not more progress made on cuts in the 2009 Budget?
A: The district has been strategic in its build up and planned spend down of reserves. Due to economic impacts and resulting rescissions from the State, reduction requirements have increased. In addition, it was the Board of Education’s decision to preserve our programs as long as possible and these education-driven decisions were made knowing what was coming in the future.
Q: How much office space does Jeffco Administration lease and at what cost?
A: Jeffco does not lease any office space for administration.
Q: How much office space does Jeffco Administration own?
A: The
Education Center is our main admin space and it is owned by the district. It is 123,937SF. There is also Support Services admin space at 809 Quail in Building 1 and Building 4. The district owns both of these buildings. The Support Services admin space used in these 2 buildings is about 110,000SF.
Q: How much unused space is there in the under-utilized schools ?
A: We do not have an exact amount of unused space in our schools. Any unused space in schools is spread out over multiple buildings throughout the district. If the thought is to divide up our admin space needs and distribute it throughout the district, the inefficiency of this would be huge. Since we are not paying a lease on any space, it is not practical to consider this.
Q. Does Jeffco own or lease the Denver West auditorium that the School board and the facilities committee use to hold their public meetings in? If it is leased, how much does it cost?
A: The board room where all of our meetings have taken place is the 5th floor of the
Education Center. The school district owns the building so there is no cost to hold the meetings there.
Q: How is Title I, Part A – Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged funded?
A: The U.S. Department of Education based the 2009-2010 allocation on various factors including numbers of children living in poverty, school-age population, and total resident population. They factor in-state per-pupil expenditures and other data on children in neglected or delinquent institutions, foster homes, and families receiving assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The estimates are based on income year 2007 census data.
Q: How does Jeffco allocate Title I funds to schools?
A: Jeffco allocates funds to schools based on a per-pupil amount times the number of free lunch students. The per-pupil amount is determined by the amount of available funds and fluctuates from year to year. In addition, a school with a higher free lunch ratio receives a higher per-pupil amount. Schools with lower ratios receive a lower per-pupil amount. This year the allocation ranged from $1,276 to $826 per pupil.
Q: How does Jeffco determine which schools are Title I?
A: Jeffco uses the Free Lunch ratio (number of students on free lunch/total school population) to determine what schools will be classified as a Title I school.
Q: Is there a threshold for Free and Reduced lunch counts to make a school Title I eligible?
A: The law mandates that any school with a free lunch ratio of greater than 75% free is considered a Title I school. For 2009-2010 Jeffco elementary schools that had a free lunch ratio of greater than 43% are considered Title I. Middle schools are funded at 56% or higher and high schools at 75% or higher.
