West Babylon Facilities Study Group Report to the Board of Education January 7, 2014
The West Babylon Facilities Study Group was created by the Board of Education to study the effective use of present school facilities in light of declining enrollment and budgetary concerns. We thank the Board members for involving us as stakeholders in this important work and commend them for taking this step. Recognizing the crucial nature of our task, we approached it with seriousness, openness and great energy. The West Babylon administrators were very helpful in providing information and data and were extremely responsive to all of our requests.
Study Team Members Mike Keany Henry Bianco Stephanie Russell Facilitator Transportation Supervisor Parent/Community Member Jennifer Buscemi James Lauritsen JoAnn Scott Executive Director for Attendance Officer Principal, South Bay School Finance & Operations Anthony Cacciola Thomas Leonbruno Roger Smith Superintendent of Schools JHS Special Education Chairperson District Architect Kristen Catapano Donna Mucaria Nancy Smolenski Parent/Community Member Teacher, High School Parent/Community Member Donna Pomilla William Doran Yvonne Szpilka Speech Pathologist, JHS Music/Art Chairperson Teacher, Santapogue School Tooker Avenue School Christine Tona William Elefterion Julie Powers Executive Director for Parent/Community Member Teacher, Junior High School Curriculum & Instruction Yiendhy Farrelly Robert Pulver Joan Townley Assistant Superintendent Parent/Community Member Western Suffolk BOCES Ray Graziano Theresa Raimondi Kevin Walsh Plant Facilities Administrator Nurse, Forest Avenue School BBS Architects
Charge to the Study Team The West Babylon Facilities Study Group is to study options involving facilities which would enhance West Babylon’s budgetary situation while maintaining West Babylon’s educational excellence.
Why This Study Needed to Occur � Over the past 8 years, the District has experienced declining enrollment. � The Property Tax Levy Cap poses additional challenges to our District. � The District is experiencing declining fund balance.
Meeting Schedule April 8, 2013 August 21, 2013 April 24, 2013 September 18, 2013 May 15, 2013 October 9, 2013 June 26, 2013 October 30, 2013 July 10, 2013 November 6, 2013 July 31, 2013 December 11, 2013
Guiding Principles � We seek to do what is best for all of the children of West Babylon. � We plan for the future of our schools and for the future in which our young people will live and work. � We are conscious of the need to plan with an eye toward flexibility to adapt to possible unforeseen future factors impacting enrollment. � We explore options that are consistent with our District’s values. � We seek to explore changes with the awareness of the emotion and anxiety we know comes about with change.
Guiding Principles � We recognize the need to seek alternative uses of buildings that may no longer be used as schools. � We value diversity, keeping it in mind in any options we study. � We recognize that our goal is to investigate all plausible options while seeking to maintain the quality of our educational offerings in a fiscally sound manner. We understand our role to be study and investigation, not recommendation. We see our role as a resource to the Board of Education. � We recognize the strengths and limitations of demographic planning and enrollment predictions. Specifically, we understand that five-year predictions can be made with reasonable accuracy but more long term predictions are prone to greater error. � Recognizing the decrease of enrollment at each level, we are guided by the need to look at the population as a whole rather than the present population of any given elementary school.
Resources � The Study Team utilized many resources during its deliberations � District Administration � Attorney for the District � District Facilities Administrator � Architect for the District � SCOPE Administration and Staff � Western Suffolk BOCES Demographic Service
Methodology � The Study Group studied all available data on enrollment, building utilization, budgetary costs associated with District owned facilities and related information. � The Group studied reports from Dr. Joan Townley, Western Suffolk BOCES demographer, about projected enrollments. � The Group met frequently with the District’s architects to explore building usage presently, and possible usage in the future based on projections. � With this information, much discussion ensued and three final plausible options for investigation resulted.
Three Options � Increasing Efficiencies, Increasing Revenue � Establish a Pre-K Program � Rethinking the Use of District Schools
Increasing Efficiencies Increasing Revenue &
Utility Costs Compared to Surrounding Districts 2012-13 West District 2 District 3 School Year Babylon Sq. Ft. 732,225 776,560 1,052,238 Electric 461,817 852,665 840,717 Gas 251,930 224,082 145,840 Fuel Oil 0 509,045 1,150,598 Total $713,747 $1,585,790 $2,137,155 Cost per Sq. Ft. $1.03 $2.04 $2.03
Enhance Revenues The following revenue enhancement and cost saving measures have been on- going and partially implemented by the District prior to the commencement of the Long Range Planning study group: � Maximize state aid: � The District has been able to generate and recoup an additional $307,461 in General and Special Aid Fund State Aid. � Maximized Medicaid Revenue: � The District is in the process of implementing procedures which will enable a claim of approximately $50,000 of Medicaid Reimbursements. � Investigating the use of a commercial credit card to pay some of the District’s bills: � The District would receive a percentage back as a cash reward for using the credit card for payment.
Increase Efficiencies � Energy performance contract: � The District’s guaranteed savings over an 18 year period will be about $6,561,888. � Contract with Utility Check: � This company is in the process of conducting a complete review of District utility bills going back six years to determine if they can secure any savings, credits and/or refunds. � Re-negotiated XEROX contract: � The contract originally provided for a monthly allowance of copies. The District was charged excess copy fees for going over the allowance for several months. The contract was renegotiated to provide the District with an annual allowance. � Continually issuing Request for Proposals throughout the year for Professional Services � Continually trying to find savings in every area of insurance: � The District recently changed dental carriers for our teachers and administrators – this change saved the District about $50,000.
Future Revenue Enhancements and Cost Savings � Potential Sale of Property � 100 feet from the back of Santapogue to create 5 plots; no variance needed but student limit would be changed from 500 students to 400 students according to SED guidelines � area at the high school field known as the “chute” � portion of land at bus garage, including possible “wetlands”
Santapogue Elementary School Proposed Sale of Property ❖ John A Robinson, Land Surveyor, has been contracted to do a survey of the entire Santapogue School property. ❖ The surveyor has also been asked to survey 5 separate 100’ x 100’ building plots on the extreme north end of the property between 11th Ave. and 12 th Ave. ❖ In informal discussions with The Town of Babylon Division of Planning, the District would need to file for a 5 plot subdivision prior to the sale. ❖ Contact with a local real estate indicated the property sale would generate approximately 150K - 160K per lot for a total of $750,000 - $800,000. ❖ The reduction in total property for the school, based on SED guide lines, would limit the number of students attending the school to 400. SED does offer a variance if that number is exceeded.
High School Proposed Sale of Property The High School currently has a piece of property referred to as the “chute” located on the west end of the athletic fields. ❖ This property already has its own property tax/lot map # ( 100. 213. 2. 35. ) ❖ The property, if sold, would be zoned residential. It measures approximately 65’ X 200’ and would require a variance by the Town of Babylon to be built upon. The realtor indicated if the variance is granted , the property would have an approximate value of $130 – $150K.
Bus Garage Proposed Sale of Property ❖ The Bus garage has 2 parcels of property located in the back that also have individual tax/lot map numbers. ❖ Lot number 100. 220. 1. 1. measures 276’ X 476’. However we believe it is zoned “wet lands” and is not buildable. ❖ Lot number 100. 220. 1. 2. measures 276’ X 100’. ❖ The realtor indicated the area’s location may be less desirable but with a possible subdivision into 2 plots the value could be $125K – $140K each. It is assumed a Town of Babylon variance would be required for the division.
Wet lands
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