Madison-Plains outlines 10-year plan

By Dean Shipley

Staff Writer

The crowd was sparse last Wednesday evening at Madison-Plains High School for the Madison-Plains School district. Outside of school board members, administrators, and action committee members, attendees were few.

“Did anyone miss the drive (way),” Superintendent Boone Hall quipped.

Those who did make the driveway heard Board of Education members, the superintendent and treasurer talk about the state of the school district and their vision for the district through 2021.

Yes, 10 years from now. Hall and treasurer, Tim Dettwiller, have stretched their vision plan for the district from five years to 10 because they felt five years is not long enough.

“Schools are long-term businesses,” Dettwiller said. “You have to look farther out.”

In the 10-year plan goals were stated as follows:

• to be transparent

• focus on academics not money

• create a stable financial foundation

• improve staff recruitment abilities so we can offer job security.

Dettwiller said the district’s largest expenses are salaries and benefits for its employees. They comprise of 77 percent of the district’s expenditures. Dettwiller said at 77 percent, the district slides beneath the average for most of the other Ohio school districts. He said their expenditures for the aforementioned stand at 80-85 percent.

Dettwiller said to get to the 77 percent the management and union have partnered “to keep costs in line.” An example of their partnership on the district’s insurance coverage will bring about a savings of $700,000 through 2016.

Key to the financial well being of the district will be the school district’s residents’ support of two tax levies, one on the ballot Nov. 6, the other planned to be on the ballot in 2013, either in the spring or fall.

The issue up for voters’ consideration on Nov. 6 is a replacement of the current permanent improvement levy of 2.5 mills. Dettwiller said the replacement is needed. The replacement levy, if passed, will be collected at the full 2.5-mill rate. The current levy is collected at a rate of 1.25 mills.

The difference in collection rate will result in an additional $278,662. Those additional taxes will have a huge list of proposed uses through 2017, as recommended by the MPAC community group. Some of those uses, spaced out over a period from 2013-2017 include:

• new buses

• window and door upgrades on the buildings

• heating and ventilation upgrades

• iPads

• improvements to auditorium, gym, lunchroom

• technology improvements to infrastructure and servers

• storage building addition

Dettwiller also said the current operating levy needs to be replaced next year with a levy which will be collected at the full millage amount. The current eight-mill levy is currently collected at 5.6 mills.

Dettwiller said without passage of the 2013 levy by 2021 the district deficit has been projected to be $19.8 million. With the new taxes the deficit is projected to be $12.023 million.

A way to cut deficit spending has been put in place this year with the issuance of iPads. Information shared contrasted the purchase of textbooks versus the purchase of the iPad. For 700 students the cost of textbooks (average four per student per year) is $1,680,000.

An iPad, with a cost of $600, but capable of having textbooks downloaded thereto, times 700 students equals $420,000.

The iPad was shown as just one area of improvement to the district’s curriculum. Other areas under curriculum progress included online classes, dual enrollment (high school and college), a student-centric learning academy and common core state standards, incorporating Race to the Top.