08-12-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Why is ths School District In dsbtT There arc two interrelated reasons the District has carried various levels of debt since 1990. 1) In 1988. and again in 1994. local operating levies failed, which meant a loss of approximately SI million annually in operating funds. 2) Open enrollment became available in 1989. creating competition among school districts vying to offer educational programs that would meet their community's demands. After the local levy losses in 1988 and 1994. the School Bv-ard faced difficult choices. In order to survive in an open enrollment environment, the Westonka Schools needed to remain competitive by offering as many educational opportunities as possible. Doing so, however, would come at a price: taking on debt that would take years to eliminate. Believing it would be easier to recover from debt than to lose students to open enrollment, the Board chose to preserve as much of the educational program as possible. Budget cuts were made, but they were made in areas that were considered to be the least harmful to the educational program. The School Board has been on u debt reduction plan for the past several years. In 1999. the Board adopted financial principles, one of which requires yearly balanced budgets, llie School District is committed to paying off all debt by 2005, and is continuing to work within balanced annual budgets. How will tho Wootonka Schools cImmhio if tho proposod oporatlnp lovy falls? The major changes you will see include: • larger class sizes • fewer course offerings • longer student walking distances to bus stops and schools (primary students will walk up to one mile; middle and high school students up to two miles) • reduced co-curricular opportunities • higher numbers of students qwn enrolling to other districts • teachers and other employees looking for more stable opportunities in other school districts Doaa Wastonka eompata with iialghborina school districts for now famllios? Yes. Many families choose a school district before they shop for a specific home, so a competitive academic program is important. The choices that relocating families make regarding where to enroll their children directly affect the property values in the communities where they buy —or don’t buy —their new homes. Local operating levies help pay for a strong academic and co-curricular program, which is one way the School District stays competitive. Simply stated, the School Board believes that the Westonka Public Schools need to be as excellent as possible so that students who live here will choose to attend here. Hew has the Scheel District Impreved In reeent years? The Westonka School District of today is quite different from that of IS years ago. The best evidence of change can be found in the bright and talented students who graduate every year, but here are some other examples: • High tMt tcorss. A detailed research analysis by the Star Tribune found that Westonka students had higher- than-predicted passing rates on sute tests. • Acciiiimsd achools. Grandview Middle School and Mound Westonka High School were nominated by the State of Minnesota for the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award, the highest national recognition possible. • National racognitlon. The Westonka School District has earned the “What Parents Want” award from SchoolMatch. a national school research, performance auditing, and consulting firm, every year since the award’s inception. • Talantad staff. Westonka can boast of the 2000 Minnesota Music Educators Association Teacher of the Year (Mary Gorder), and the 2001 Principal of the Year, representing more than 250 schools in Hennepin and Carver Counties (Gene Zulk). • Growing posHlvs rsputation. In a recent sun-ey of area realtors who attended Westonkc’s annual “Realtors Day” workshop, 100% of the respondents said the Westonka Public Schools provide a high quality education. 96% said the District is developing a more positive reputation. 83% said they consider die Westonka Schools an asset when they list a home in the area. A Fall 2000 survey found that 86% of Westonka residents agree that “high quality public schools increase property values for homeowners in the districL” ThisfHMifaiion wasprtparedaiklpaiJfitrtyliidtptmitMSeliootDuihct277. WeucnJta Ptibik Schools. u> thart bfformaiioti wiik eommmitji rtsidmU. Jhb ptMletaUm is mu eirmUutd on bthtdfcf my cmdidak or ballot qutsiicn.