Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study December 2009 (This page intentionally left blank) Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Process and Purpose III. Geographic Analysis Introduction High School Boundaries......................................................... 32 Project Timeline ......................................................................... 2 Analysis of all 2 HS Options ................................................. 34 Board of School Directors - Work Session #1 Three HS Analysis ................................................................... 46 Determining Criteria ................................................................ 3 Transportation Analysis ......................................................... 47 High School Options ................................................................. 3 Bus Routes ................................................................................ 49 Criteria ......................................................................................... 4 Key Questions ............................................................................ 4 IV. Options Analysis Planning Assumptions ............................................................. 52 Options .................................................................................... 53 II. Background Information Operating Cost Savings ......................................................... 60 Summary of Existing High Schools ........................................ 6 Bonding Cost Analysis ........................................................... 66 Student Profile ............................................................................ 8 Historical Enrollment ................................................................ 8 Projected Enrollment ................................................................ 9 V. Community Engagement Student Achievement.............................................................. 10 Community Dialogue Results Summary ............................ 68 Map of Students ....................................................................... 11 Program Impacts ............................................................ 12 Appendix Staffing .............................................................................. 16 Options Comparison Table .............................................. 100 Extracurricular Activities ............................................. 18 Athletics/Sports .............................................................. 19 Transportation ............................................................... 25 Utility Costs .................................................................... 30 Charter Schools ............................................................. 31 December 2009 Page 1 (This page intentionally left blank) Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study PROCESS AND PURPOSE INTRODUCTION In the spring of 2009, the Warren County Board of School Directors contracted DeJONG to conduct a high school feasibility analysis to evaluate master plan options based on various enrollment, program, transportation, community, and cost criteria. The analysis involves evaluating a variety of two high school scenarios and a four high school scenario. These scenarios will have potential impacts on the remaining facilities in the school district. This report describes the process used to determine the facilities options and criteria, and details the impacts of each option. PROJECT TIMELINE As shown in the following diagram, work on the High School Feasibility Study began in May with the definition of criteria, and continues through the summer with the culmination in December. The front end of the process included a heavy emphasis on data gathering and analysis. Throughout the process, the entire Board of School Directors was engaged through Work Sessions. In November, a Community Dialogue was held to gather additional insight into the high school options. Project Timeline: 1. Define Criteria May 2. Board of School Directors Work Session #1 June 1 3. Gather Data/GIS Mapping June/July 4. Develop Scenarios/Preliminary Analysis July/August 5. Board of School Directors Work Session #2 September 2 6. Community Dialogue October/November 7. Draft Report November 8. Board of School Directors Work Session #3 Nov./December December 2009 Page 2 Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study DETERMINING CRITERIA OVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS The Warren County School District Board of Directors held a The Board of School Directors determined prior to the work session to begin the High School Feasibility process in beginning of the process that the High School Feasibility Study the afternoon of June 1, 2009. Board Members worked with would examine the existing four high school configuration and district administration and educational facility planners from all two high school options. These options include existing DeJONG to identify and discuss high school options and the high school sites and new locations. criteria to measure each option. The following summary details the activities and outcomes of the Board Work The following table displays the high schools options: Session. OPTIONS The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the High School N/A Current Model - 4 High Schools Feasibility Study and determine the process, timelines, and 1 2 HS Option - New Location/New Location data to be used in conducting the study. The focus of the 2 2 HS Option - Warren/Sheffield study is to analyze the possibility of reducing the four high 2 HS Option - Warren/Eisenhower schools to two schools. This could be accomplished through 3 a variety of different options or configurations. 4 2 HS Option - Warren/Youngsville 5 2 HS Option - Warren/New Location 2 HS Option - Sheffield/Youngsville Seventeen participants attend the work session. In addition to 6 seven current Board Members, two future Board Members 7 2 HS Option - Sheffield/Eisenhower participated. Additionally, two high school principals and one 8 2 HS Option - Sheffield/New Location assistant principal were in attendance. District administrators 9 2 HS Option - Eisenhower/Youngsville representing facilities, finance, and technology were all present 10 2 HS Option - Eisenhower/New Location along with two representatives from DeJONG. 11 2 HS Option - Youngsville/New Location December 2009 Page 3 Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study CRITERIA The following list was identified as the criteria by which each high school option should be measured: • Program Impacts • Community Impact • Overall Costs • Staffing • Transportation • Implementation • School /Class Size • Facilities Impact • Extracurricular • Attendance Boundaries • Athletics/Sports KEY QUESTIONS While discussing the criteria, questions developed by DeJONG were addressed as follows to help guide the planning process: Question: Does the District want 9-12 high schools, 6-12 schools, or a combination of 9-12 and 6-12 Answer: The District wants to consider high school (grades 9-12) separately from middle school, even if the actual facilities share a site. Question: What is the minimum/maximum size high school you want to have? Answer: The District wants to consider a difference of no more than 400 students between the two schools. Since the planning number will be 1,700 students, this means the minimum size for a high school is 700 students, and the maximum size for a high school is 1,100 students. Question: What is your target for desired class size for core academic classes? Answer: The District wants an average of 20 students for class, although core academic classes may have a range of 12-25 students. Question: How would you define a comprehensive high school? Answer: A comprehensive high school provides core academic classes, AP programs, career tech programs, art/music/band, athletic programs, a full complement of electives, intramurals/extra-curriculars/co-curriculars, and foreign language programs. December 2009 Page 4 Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study Question: Is the desire to have special education programs at each school, or to be provided on a district-wide basis? Answer: Special education students should be accommodated in their home schools whenever possible. Question: Should career tech in each high school, or in a central location, or a combination? Answer: Currently the career tech program is located in a central location. The District would like to know for each high school option the ability to deliver career tech in each school, in a central location, or as a combination. A list of other considerations for the planning process was compiled as the criteria were discussed: • Feeder Impact • Relationship with Higher Education (Grades 13-14) • Should there be a separate LEA? • Open enrollment • Excess space – alternative education, central office, higher education • List the reasons how options will improve education in Warren County December 2009 Page 5 Warren County School District High School Feasibility Study BACKGROUND INFORMATION A large amount of background information has been collected and analyzed in order to consider the many factors related to the high school options. This information has been summarized for presentation and also for use in comparing the options. SUMMARY OF EXISTING HIGH SCHOOLS Overall HS Enroll. Grade Building SF per Site Area Capacity Capacity SCHOOL Enroll. [Grades 9-12] Config.