Port Monmouth School & New Monmouth School Consolidation Proposal Board of Education Presentation February 26, 2020
Policy 7130 - School Closing “The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient program of free public education and appropriate facilities to house that program. The Board further recognizes that declining enrollments, diminished resources, district reorganization, and/or other good cause may require the use of one or more district facilities for educational purposes be abandoned.”
Policy 7130 - School Closing “The Board will not commit itself to the closing of any school facility without first having collected and considered appropriate information regarding”: 1. Student enrollments 2. Educational adequacy of school facilities 3. Relevant safety and traffic factors 4. District revenues 5. Alternative district organizational plans
1. District Student Enrollment History 2011 10,057.0 2012 10,050.0 Resident enrollment has dropped 680.5 students 2013 9,742.0 since October 2011, or 6.8%. Resident enrollment is a significant component of the 2014 9,606.5 state aid allocation formula. 2015 9,591.0 2016 9,528.5 2017 9,448.0 2018 9,425.0 2019 9,376.5
New Monmouth School Enrollment and Building Information PM/NM Consolidation Proposal - combined enrollment projection: 467 ❏ ❏ In 8 of the past 17 years NM enrollment exceeded: 500* 2009-2010 school year student enrollment at NM: 558* ❏ Classrooms available at NM (with relocation of Pre-K classes): 31 ❏ Classrooms needed with current projected enrollment 28 ❏ ❏ Other available rooms include: Art Room, Music Room, Band Room, OT/PT/Sensory Room, Teacher of the Deaf Space, Small Group Instruction Rooms, Media Center & MakerSpace *Prior to the NM renovations to create new classrooms and small group instruction rooms (Summer 2013)
Port Monmouth/New Monmouth School Consolidation Proposal Projected Students Enrollments for 2020-2021 School Year As of 2/24/2020 Port Monmouth 2020-21 Projections New Monmouth 2020-21 Projections Combined NM & POMO 2020-21 # Students per # Classes per Average # Students per # Classes per Average # Students per # Classes per Average Grade Grade Level Grade Level Class Size Grade Level Grade Level Class Size Grade Level Grade Level Class Size K 38 2 19 48 2 24 86 4 22* 1 34 2 17 40 2 20 74 4 19 2 31 2 16 49 2 25 80 4 20 3 22 1 22 49 2 25 71 4 18 4 25 1 25 43 2 22 68 4 17 5 45 2 23 44 2 22 89 4 22 Total 195 10 20.3 273 12 23.0 468 24 19.7 *Monitoring for possible class size reduction using ESSA funds. Significant Pros: ● Overall positive impact on class sizes for both schools. ● Ability to consolidate entire Port Monmouth Elementary population into 1 location without significantly impacting that schools’ operation of specials, lunches, small group instruction, related services, etc. ● APR capacity for lunch service at New Monmouth is 346 with tables and chairs. All classes can be served lunch in the APR. ● Ability to retain Autism classes at New Monmouth. ● Opportunity to socialize and grow academically with a variety of peer groups during their elementary school experience. Significant Cons: ● Requires reassignment of 6 Pre-K classes. ● Possible need for an additional bus route for students who live in excess of 2 miles from New Monmouth School. ● Requires transition for students at Port Monmouth and New Monmouth
2. Educational Adequacy of School Facilities Port Monmouth School Information : ● 92 year-old facility ● Limited space in APR to offer lunches and physical education instruction - current APR capacity with tables and chairs is 132. ● The floor plan of Port Monmouth makes ADA accessibility limited. There are very few spaces available from the main or other entrances of the building without going up or down stairs. The APR cannot be reached without going up/down stairs. New Monmouth School Information : ● Newest elementary school in the district; renovations in 2013 created 6 new classrooms and several small group instruction spaces; total of 31 full size classrooms. ● Largest elementary APR. Current APR capacity with tables and chairs is 346. Multiple physical education classes can be instructed simultaneously to ensure the new unfunded mandate for 150 minutes of Health & PE instruction can be scheduled accordingly throughout the year. ● ADA accessibility includes features such as an elevator and bathrooms. ● Expansive outdoor recreational space including a secure, fenced playground.
3. Relevant New Monmouth School Safety & Traffic Factors ● Secure, fenced playground. ● Multiple on-property parking lots and spaces. ● Dedicated drop-off lane to facilitate safe, efficient student arrival and dismissal. ● Dedicated left turn lane from New Monmouth Rd (westbound) into the school entrance. ● Dedicated crossing guard at New Monmouth Road and the entrance to the school. ● School is set back from major highways and intersections. ● Currently, 13 buses transport students to New Monmouth School each morning (12 in the afternoon); the proposed consolidation plan includes a projected need for 10 buses. ● Approx. 50 current Port Monmouth School students are projected to keep their designation as “walkers” when registered at New Monmouth School (live less than 2 miles). ● Currently, 25 New Monmouth School Integrated Pre-K students are dropped off by parents/guardians during AM arrival and 28 during PM dismissal. This vehicle traffic would be eliminated under the proposed consolidation plan.. ● Overall, 3 buses and 25-28 necessary parent vehicles will be eliminated from AM/PM traffic at New Monmouth School under the proposed consolidation plan. ○ Requests for transfer to Harmony School by PM students not meeting the busing requirement will be considered
4. District Revenues ● Implementation of the new school funding law, S2, has resulted in a reduction in state school aid for Middletown in the amount of $2,045,127 to date plus another $3,697,982 in projected reductions for a total of $5,743,109 over 7 years. ● 2020-2021 Proposed Budget assumes a 2.74% tax levy increase (2% max allowable by law plus banked cap): Total Projected Revenue $167,565,450 Total Projected Appropriations $170,122,145 Current budget shortfall $2,556,695 (1.5%)
5. Alternative Organizational Plans Reviewed ● Student enrollments and school facility conditions/operating expenses were reviewed to determine where opportunity exists for consolidation that would not require redistricting of students, which is a concept that will need to be explored and considered as future steps as a result of the Strategic Planning process and changing student enrollments districtwide. ● River Plaza, Leonardo and Navesink schools were analyzed. It was determined that no other school(s) within their middle/high school receiving areas could accommodate their current student populations, thus requiring redistricting, which cannot be accomplished for next school year. ● Multiple consolidation plans were developed that could accommodate the discontinuation of operations at Port Monmouth Elementary (see next slides that are in addition to the current New Monmouth/Port Monmouth proposal).
Consolidation into Two Schools in Thorne Zone ● Port Monmouth students would be enrolled in both Ocean Avenue and New Monmouth Schools: ○ Students residing south of Rt 36, as well as students living north of Rt. 36, east of Main St., and south of Broadway would be enrolled in New Monmouth School. ○ All other students living north of Rt. 36 would be enrolled in Ocean Avenue School. ● Port Monmouth students would be enrolled in Ocean Avenue and Harmony Schools: ○ Students residing south of Rt 36, as well as students living north of Rt. 36, east of Main St., and south of Broadway would be enrolled in Harmony School. ○ All other students living north of Rt. 36 would be enrolled in Ocean Avenue School. Significant Pros: ● Positive impact on the district operating budget for 2020-2021 school year. ● Potential for other savings: Port Monmouth students who live north of Rt. 36 are currently transported, but most of these would not meet the requirement for busing to Ocean Ave. Significant Cons: ● Current Port Monmouth students would be enrolled in two different schools, dividing the current Port Monmouth community without redistricting of the school community. ● Ocean Ave. would not be eligible for Schoolwide Title 1 status; less flexibility to reduce district class sizes.
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