Of all the cost cutting measures considered by the appointed 15-member Cost Savings Committee, the most important issue was the possible re-alignment of the E-B School District’s attendance centers. This was not only a cost savings issue, but the committee members made it a point to state in their report to the School Board that “buildings should be viewed to best position Eddyville-Blakesburg with possible consolidation in the future. How do we attract communities to see our district as attractive? Be pro-active to make sure we do not become the district who is split.”
With declining enrollment and a reduction in state funding, the committee felt its mission or goal was to review all school expenditures and list various ways to reduce costs and still maintain a high quality level of education in the district. As indicated in the above paragraph, the committee did not feel that long term goals should be sacrificed for short term gains.
The Cost Savings Committee did not make a direct recommendation on realigning the attendance centers, but listed various options and rated those options on a 1 to 5 scale with “5” being the highest rating and “1” the lowest. The following is the Committee’s list.
Re-aligning the E-B School District Attendance Centers
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Option
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Rating
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Committee Comments
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A
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7th & 8th Grades at High School Campus
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4
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New facility and long term building needed.
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B
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6,7,8 at EEAC with a three section elementary,
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3
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C
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6,7,8 at BAC with a three section elementary
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3
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Not a long term goal. Minimum amount of savings.
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D
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6,7,8 at BAC with a two section elementary
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2
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E
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Centralized Location
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1
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Should be viewed if consolidation with other districts is considered.
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The committee also listed the pros and cons for each option, as shown in the following tables:
Option A: 7th and 8th Grades at the High School Campus. (Rating of 4)
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Pros
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Cons
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High school staff could teach exploratory courses.
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Middle school students would be in a building with high school age students.
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Choir and Band would meet everyday.
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New Mobiles needed or renovation to existing mobiles. PPEL. (Not believed long term solution, building needed)
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Increase instructional time by 70 hours in an academic year.
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Students would be outside all winter long. (Classrooms would be in mobiles)
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Possible savings of 200K to 250K with reduction in workforce, utility cost and transportation
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Restrooms are inside the door, but they are away from the classroom.
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Maybe use the Fremont gymnasium. (This constitutes a contract between Fremont and EB).
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May need innovation for instruction and passing time.
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Consolidation with other districts not as challenging
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Science room would need running water.
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Morning practices would be required for high school or junior high. Scheduling everything would be difficult.
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Gymnasium use at Blakesburg for JH athletics would need to be heated, but would require reconfiguration.
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Locker-rooms at EEAC for JH athletics would need renovation.
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Option B: 6, 7 & 8 at EEAC with a Three Section Elementary (Rating of 3)
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Pros
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Cons
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Increase instructional time by 70 hours annually.
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Locker rooms for PE courses
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Possible saving of 200K by reducing workforce, utility cost, and transportation
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Practice area for band and choir would need sound proofing.
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Need to add a science lab.
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Disciplinary rules and ISS area.
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Bleacher space needed to host basketball games.
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Science room would need running water
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Morning practices would be required for HS or Jr. High. Scheduling everything would be difficult. Shuttle for practice?
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Gymnasium use at Blakesburg for JH athletics would need to be heated, but would require reconfiguration.
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Locker-rooms at EEAC for JH athletics would need renovation.
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Scheduling PE courses for the K-8
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Possible new bus route.
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Consolidation in the future would be challenging.
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Option C: 6, 7 & 8 at BAC with a Three Section Elementary (Rating of 3)
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Pros
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Cons
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Balanced class sizes 6,7, and 8
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Increase or maintain the shuttle cost of 40K
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Save 90K in reduction of the 6th grade staff.
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Challenge on consolidation with other districts.
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Option D: 6, 7 & 8 at BAC with a Two Section Elementary (Rating of 2)
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Pros
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Cons
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Balanced class sizes
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Increase or maintain cost of shuttle of 40K
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Reduction of staff cost by 9 to 11 instructors saving 300K
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Student could be in one building one year and another the next year.
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Safer long term fix.
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Determining who is going to be shuttled in each direction.
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Elementary classes of 21 to 26 students
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Open enrollment increases away from EB
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Consolidation challenges with other districts.
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High resistance.
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Option E: Centralized Location (Rating of 1)
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Pros
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Cons
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High School staff could teach the exploratory courses.
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Middle School students would be in building with high school students.
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Choir and Band meet everyday for 6th, 7th & 8th
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New mobiles needed or renovation to existing mobiles PPEL
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Increase instructional time by 70 hours for Middle School students.
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Elementary students would need to travel 20 miles by bus.
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Utility costs for Blakesburg campus reduced dramatically.
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Blakesburg community would not have a local elementary.
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Staff at the elementary working collaboratively more easily.
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Gymnasium use at Blakesburg, oversight, use?
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Instructors of specials traveling less and spending more time in the classroom.
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Student could open enroll away from EB because of increased class sizes.
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Elementary principal on site.
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Centralized lunches in the past did not work well.
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Utilize staff resources more effectively
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Very high resistance.
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Centralize the lunch program and satellite to other building.
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The Cost Savings Committee has provided a list of options for cutting costs and realigning the district’s attendance centers. Now it is up to the school board to decide what options to approve.