Report of the Withdrawal Study Committee Committee Studying the Withdrawal of the Town of Goshen from the Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School District Pursuant to RSA 195:25 1
2
Background The towns of Goshen and Lempster are rural communities located in Sullivan County. Both of these towns have a long history incorporated in 1781 and 1735 respectively and currently have approximately 36 persons per square mile. In 2011, Goshen had a population of 805 (108 aged 5-19) and Lempster had a population of 1,147 ( 239 aged 5-19). Goshen s per capita income is $29,057 with a median household income of $52,344 and 4.3% unemployment. Lempster s per capita income is $24,581 with a median household income of $58,594 and 5.5% unemployment. (Appendix A: Economic & Labor Market Information Goshen and Lempster) The State Board of Education authorized the Goshen School District and the Lempster School District to organize the Goshen- Lempster Cooperative School District pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 199 of the Law of New Hampshire of 1947. At a special meeting held on June 19, 1954, the two districts voted to establish the Cooperative School District with an effective date of operating responsibility of July 1, 1954. It is believed that By-Laws or other organizational documents were drafted and approved, at that time but they were not located due to a loss at the NHDOE. Therefore, the Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School District re-stated its Articles of Agreement in September 2008 with no changes pursuant to RSA 195:8 (Appendix B: Articles of Agreement). In December 2012, the Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School Board received a petition from the Town of Lempster pursuant to RSA 195:14-a that requested a change in the Articles of Agreement for Article 5: Apportionment Formula from a 50% equalized valuation and 50% on average daily membership to an apportionment based upon 100% average daily membership of the pupils in each pre-existing district of the Cooperative School District as determined by the New Hampshire Department of Education. (Appendix C: Lempster Petition to Change Articles of Agreement). This petition was sent to the State Board of Education for review and after approval was placed on the School Warrant for the 2013-14 year as Article 8 for the Annual School District meeting, March 5, 2013. This Article voted was passed by a vote of 126 in favor, 67 against or passed by 65.28% (Appendix D: NHDOE Letter Approving Petition) (Appendix E: Minutes from Annual School District Meeting). On Saturday, May 4 th, the Town of Goshen had a Special Town Meeting where they passed Article 2 - To see if the Town will vote to direct the School Board of Goshen-Lempster School District to conduct a study of the feasibility and suitability of the 3
withdrawal of the Town of Goshen from the School District as set forth in RSA 195:25 (Ballot Vote Required) This vote Passed 120 for and 4 against. (Appendix F: Minutes from Town of Goshen Special Meeting). On May 20, 2013, a letter was sent to the Select Board Chair of each town inviting them to an initial meeting to commence a Withdrawal Study Committee. The initial meeting was held on June 20, 2013 where the guidelines for a Withdrawal Study were outlined and the procedure for adding committee members was outlined. Monthly meetings were held during July, August and September, and then bi-weekly meetings were held in October, November, and December. Data collected by the Withdrawal Study Committee to assist them in determining the feasibility of the withdrawal is included below. Per Section RSA 195:26 RSA 195:26 Withdrawal Plan A plan for the withdrawal of a member of district cooperative shall include the following: I. The name of the withdrawing district and the grades. The name of the withdrawing district shall be the Goshen School District. This district shall oversee and provide for the children residing in the Towns of Goshen grades Kindergarten through grade 12 and pre-kindergarten as required by RSA 186-C:2. The remaining district Lempster School District shall oversee and provide for the children residing in the Town of Lempster for grades Kindergarten through grade 12 and pre-kindergarten as required by RSA 186-C:2. ll. The number, composition, method of selection, and terms of office for the school board of the withdrawing district and of the Cooperative school board. The Goshen School Board shall be the governing entity of the Goshen School District and shall be comprised of 5 members, elected by the voters at large of the Town of Goshen for three year staggered terms. In the first year of the school board elections 2 positions shall be for 3-year terms, 2 position(s) shall be for 2-year terms and 1 position shall be for a 1-year term. The Lempster School Board shall be the governing body of the Lempster School District and shall be comprised of 5 members, elected by the voters at large of the Town of Lempster for three year staggered terms. 4
In the first year of the school board elections 2 positions shall be for 3-year terms, 2 position(s) shall be for 2-year terms and 1 position shall be for a 1-year term. lll. The method of apportioning the operating expenses and capital expenses among the members of the cooperative school district if a change is to be proposed in conjunction with the withdrawal procedure. The Town of Goshen will assume all costs for operating the Goshen School District. The Town of Lempster will assume all costs for operating the Lempster School. IV. The proposed date of operating responsibility, at which time the withdrawing district shall be responsible for the education of its pupils and after which the cooperative district will no longer have such financial and educational responsibility. As of July 1, 2015, the Goshen School District will be responsible for the education of all Goshen students. As of July 1, 2015, the Lempster School District will be responsible for the education of all Lempster students. V. The liability of the withdrawing district for its share of any outstanding indebtedness of the cooperative school district in RSA 195:27. There are no capital costs within the meaning of RSA195:27 in the Goshen Lempster Cooperative School District to be shared by the withdrawing district. Any liabilities outside RSA 195:27 shall be negotiated. Vl. A plan for the education of all students in the withdrawing school district and for the continuation of the school system of the cooperative district. This shall detail the proposed assignment of students in grades operated by the cooperative and withdrawing district or districts, including, if any, tuition arrangements or contracts. 1. Educating grades K-8. The Goshen School District shall create a budget to raise and appropriate all funds necessary to provide for the education of its students. They will contract with and pay tuition and transportation costs to a nearby school district to be determined by the Goshen School Board to ensure the adequate education of students in grades Kindergarten through 8. Letters of intent from the Newport School District, The Sunapee School District, and the Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School District School Board (Lempster School District) are provided in (Appendix G: Letters of Intent). 5
The Lempster School District shall create a budget to raise and appropriate all funds necessary to provide for the education of its students. The Lempster School District plans to maintain the current school and make it available for grades Kindergarten through Grade 8. Tuition students may be accepted. Transportation costs will also be provided for grades 1-8 and for Kindergarten on a space available agreement. 2. Educating Grades 9-12. The Goshen School District shall contract with and pay tuition to a nearby school district(s) to be determined by the Goshen School Board to ensure the education of students in grades 9-12 as is currently being done. The Goshen School District may enter into area agreements with other school districts or continue with the tuition arrangement currently established with Newport or Sunapee. The Lempster School District will continue their agreement with the Fall Mountain School District and their arrangements to pay tuition to the high school of choice for the education of students in grades 9-12. 3. Pre-Kindergarten special education. The Goshen School District will contract with and pay tuition under RSA 186-C:10 to one or more nearby private or public preschool programs, to be determined by the Goshen School Board and the child s family, to ensure the adequate education of the students requiring special education services after the age of 3 as identified in RSA 186-C:2. The Lempster School District will continue with its interagency agreement with SWC Community Services/Head Start, Together We Grow, Cinnamon Street on a space available agreement as determined by the Lempster School District Team and the parents of the PreK special education students. The Lempster School District will contract and pay tuition under RSA 186-C:10 and RSA 186-C:2 for students. 4. Bus transportation. The Goshen School District shall contract to provide bus transportation for its students to the contracted elementary and middle school. Pre-school transportation shall be contracted as needed. A letter of intent from Community Transportation is provided in (Appendix H: Community Transportation Letters of Intent). The Lempster School District shall provide bus transportation for its students to the Lempster School and will continue its contract with Community Transportation.(Appendix H: Community Transportation Letters of Intent) 5. School Continuity 6
The Goshen School District will determine arrangements with Goshen parents or guardians and the Lempster School to develop procedures and guidelines for school continuity arrangements. The current Goshen-Lempster Cooperative School Board has indicated they will accept Goshen students on a tuition basis. (Appendix F) 6. SAU Status There are no plans for withdrawal of the Goshen School District from SAU #71 at this time. Following certification of withdrawal, the Goshen School District may consider withdrawal. There are no plans for withdrawal of the Lempster School District from SAU #71 at this time. Following certification of withdrawal, the Lempster School District may consider withdrawal. 7. Remaining town(s) Being a two district coop, the Goshen Lempster Cooperative School District will be dissolved and there will be only the Goshen School District and the Lempster School District serving the towns of Goshen and Lempster respectively in SAU #71. Vll. Any other matters, not incompatible with law, which the planning committee may consider appropriate to include in the withdrawal plan. 1. It is understood that the Town of Goshen shall vote to appropriate the funds to pay for any contractual obligations outlined in their plan. The Goshen School District shall have no staff. They will work with SAU #71 to establish their contracts and meet their Superintendent, financial and special education obligations and other actions as outlined in RSA194 -C:5, and RSA 189. 3. The Town of Lempster shall vote to appropriate the funds to pay for any contractual obligations outlined in their plan to maintain the current school and staff as appropriate for its reduced enrollment and will continue their work with SAU #71 to meet their Superintendent, financial and special education obligations and other actions as outlined in RSA194 - C:5, and RSA 189. 7
Background Data reviewed By the Withdrawal Study Committee Enrollment 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Special Education 2012 2013 Goshen - K-8 66 64 70 67 57 54 53 17 18 9-12 36 36 24 31 25 24 21 Out of District 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 Goshen Total 105 101 95 99 83 79 75 Lempster K-8 93 104 90 92 101 108 118 33 35 9-12 60 54 45 43 40 43 35 Out of District 5 5 7 7 3 2 3 Lempster Total 158 160 142 142 144 153 156 8
AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP (ADM) THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDING FULL DAYS 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Goshen K-8 65.25 67.8 68.75 63.0 60.71 59.15 9-12 31.88 26.58 22.62 27.39 25.82 25.97 Out of District 2.08.90 1.0.90 1.0 1.0 Goshen Total 99.21 95.28 92.37 91.29 87.53 86.12 Lempster - K-8 96.79 101.84 92.29 96.16 97.83 104.72 9-12 52.24 42.48 40.87 44.46 39.74 43.6 Out of District 3.52 3.86 5.41 4.51.62 2.05 Lempster Total 152.55 148.18 138.57 145.13 138.19 150.37 GLCS COST PER PUPIL - DOE 25 $12,329 $13,153 $14,100 $15,716 $16,984 $17,199 NEWPORT COST PER PUPIL DOE 25 $12,407 $10,393 $11,729 $11,168 $11,705 $14,586 $11,864 $11,864 $13,335 $13,426 $13,947 $15,156 $13,956 $12,336 $17,080 ELEM. MMIDDLE HIGH SC SUNAPEE COST PER PUPIL DOE 25 $13,558 $16,297 $17,725 $15,302 $21,457 $16,629 $15,764 $20,198 $20,623 $16,943 $21,224 $21,208 $18,057 $21,047 $19,210 ELEM. MMIDDLE HIGH SC 9
District COMPARISONS STUDENT 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 ENROLLMENT GLCS (K-8) 159 169 160 159 158 162 NEWPORT 1,144 1,109 1,096 1,076 1,040 1,003 (K-12) SUNAPEE (K-12) 481 461 461 451 455 422 REVENUES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADEQUACY AID, CATASTROPHIC AID*, SPECIAL EDUCATION, PK, & TITLE 1 GOSHEN LEMPSTER NEWPORT SUNAPEE ADEQUACY AID $414, 638 641,239 6,644,815 18,441 CAT AID* 25,637 250,374 134,543 SPED - IDEA 49,284 260,421 107,786 PK-IDEA 507 9,334 2,933 TITLE 1 53,815 483,842 47,821 10
All assessment data information comes from NHDOE Website. NECAP PERCENT PROFICIENT OR ABOVE BY GRADE LEVEL - TEACHING YEAR MATH 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun Gr. 3 56 54 69 82 68 60 100 63 80 75 57 86 72 66 92 86 67 87 Gr. 4 56 53 84 72 55 74 63 68 69 69 60 71 70 81 91 80 72 86 Gr. 5 59 60 80 24 65 76 55 53 87 61 67 83 78 60 86 72 72 84 Gr. 6 50 43 66 45 59 83 31 60 77 47 67 84 77 80 94 65 58 77 Gr. 7 43 46 75 40 49 67 52 44 72 21 53 73 56 55 69 75 67 79 Gr. 8 67 54 51 27 53 71 45 51 70 50 37 75 43 69 72 67 61 88 NECAP PERCENT PROFICIENT OR ABOVE BY GRADE LEVEL - TEACHING YEAR READING 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun GLCS/New/Sun Gr. 3 73 62 72 100 75 77 75 70 64 90 81 82 85 83 83 86 75 78 Gr. 4 69 65 81 60 56 63 90 82 65 69 66 74 83 72 86 73 64 80 Gr. 5 83 67 74 41 80 91 72 64 80 72 75 91 67 68 74 78 71 84 Gr. 6 50 58 74 50 68 86 44 79 88 48 68 79 77 90 97 71 71 75 Gr. 7 48 60 72 55 75 79 62 63 78 43 64 89 39 63 82 50 70 88 Gr. 8 67 69 76 40 59 80 50 69 83 78 59 86 43 77 83 73 81 91 11
Graphic Representation of NECAP Data Percent Proficient and Above Math and Reading 2006 2012 GLCS, Newport, Sunapee, and the State of NH Grade 3 Math 100% 90% 80% Percent Proficient 70% 60% 50% 40% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 30% 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 12
Grade 4 Math 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 13
Grade 5 Math 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 14
Grade 6 Math 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 15
Grade 7 Math 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 16
Grade 8 Math 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 17
Grade 11 Math 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 18
Grade 3 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 19
Grade 4 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 20
Grade 5 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 21
Grade 6 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 22
Grade 7 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 23
Grade 8 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 24
Grade 11 Reading 100% 90% 80% 70% Percent Proficient 60% 50% 40% 30% Goshen Newport Sunapee State 20% 10% 0% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year 25
FIVE-YEAR TREND OF NECAP SCORES: PERCENT OF STUDENTS SCORING AT PROFICIENT AND PROFICIENT WITH DISTINCTION LEVELS 26
Apportionment 50% ADM & 50% Eq Value Vs. 100% ADM $1,800,000 $1,600,000 Goshen 50/50 $1,400,000 Goshen 100% ADM Lempster 50/50 Apportioned Expense $1,200,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 $600,000 Lempster 100% ADM $400,000 $200,000 $0 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 School Year 27
Tax Rate 50% ADM & 50% Eq Value Vs. 100% ADM $20 $18 $16 Goshen 50/50 Goshen 100% ADM Lempster 50/50 Lempster 100% ADM Tax Rate per $1,000 $14 $12 $10 $8 $6 $4 $2 $0 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 School Year 28
Equalized Assessed Value Goshen and Lempster Year Goshen Lempster 2003 $40,016,564 $47,237,080 2004 $38,358,803 $46,220,204 2005 $49,037,004 $59,991,904 2006 $54,388,098 $77,544,964 2007 $64,664,049 $82,458,016 2008 $78,445,221 $99,942,068 2009 $81,851,038 $116,327,194 2010 $93,077,857 $117,557,843 2011 $80,347,321 $122,328,582 2012 $74,834,540 $185,095,602 2013 $75,682,210 $170,981,876 $200,000,000 $180,000,000 $160,000,000 $140,000,000 $120,000,000 $100,000,000 EQUALIZED ASSESSED VALUE $80,000,000 $60,000,000 $40,000,000 $20,000,000 $0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Goshen Lempster 29
Goshen Expenditures Tuition to Newport and Tuition to Sunapee Expenditures Regular Ed Tuition Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Total Tuition Special Ed Paraprofessionals 1:1 Paraprofessionals Enrollment 40 14 25 79 Paras Newport 3.25 2 Totals Sunapee Totals 13,082.00 13,315.00 15,045.00 523,280.00 186,410.00 376,125.00 1,085,815.00 18,500.00 18,500.00 18,500.00 740,000.00 259,000.00 462,500.00 1,461,500.00 13,868.76 37,500.00 45,073.47 75,000.00 13,868 37,500 45,073.47 75,000 OOD Tuition w/transportation 69,500.00 69,500.00 4,500.00 4,500.00 16,000.00 16,000.00 108,500.00 108,500.00 268.90 96,804.00 96,804.00 4.00 ESTIMATE NEWPORT 28,800.00 1,529,992.47 1,529,992.47 28,800.00 1,905,677.47 1,905,677.47 3,367,177.47 PK Tuition SAU #71 salaries, benefits, auditor, supplies, etc. Transportation/Busses Days 2 180 Fuel/Gallons 20 180 Totals Total Estimated Budgets State Revenue 2013-2014 Adequacy Aid Retained Tax Total Current State Aid *Estimated Local Tax Assessment Rate FI N School Board AL Services for PT, OT, Speech 414,638.00 181,729.00 ESTIMATE SUNAPEE 414,638.00 181,729.00 596,367.00 596,367.00 933,625.47 1,309,310.47 30
Cost for Lempster Alone using 65% of 2012-13 Actual Costs Lempster School District-In House Actual expended Lempster's portion for 2012-2013 of 2012-2013 expenses at 65% Regular Education 1,809,596.10 1,176,237.47 Special Education 694,098.65 451,164.12 Instructional Coaches 14,283.37 9,284.19 Guidance 27,371.79 17,791.66 Health 67,705.94 44,008.86 Services 241,578.75 157,026.19 Professional Developmen 8,637.68 5,614.49 Media 15,554.32 10,110.31 Technology 106,103.65 68,967.37 School Board 32,885.29 21,375.44 SAU Office 231,924.16 150,750.70 Principal's Office 183,947.50 119,565.88 Lunch 32,292.41 20,990.07 Operations 309,292.96 201,040.42 Transportation 213,657.14 138,877.14 Total Budget 3,988,929.71 2,592,804.31 2013-2014 apportionment 2,428,239.00 Increase 164,565.31 31
Estimated Costs for Tuition out for Goshen Students and In-house Lempster Costs Using 2012-13 Information and Current GLCS Costs at 100% ADM *Goshen to Newport PK-12 **Goshen to Sunapee PK-12 # 2013-14 Goshen Share For GLCS PK-8 + HS 100% ADM ***Lempster In-house 65% @ 2012-13 Costs ##2013-14 Lempster Share For GLCS PK-8 + HS 100% ADM Estimated $1,529,992 $1,905,677 $1,538,053 $2,592,804 $2,428,239 Expenditures Current State Aid State Revenue 2013-14 - 414,638-414,638-414,638-641,240-641,240 Retained Tax - 181,729-181,729-181,729-288,430-288,430 Estimated Total Cost $ 933,629 $1,309,310 $ 941,686 $1,663,134 $1,498,569 *BASED UPON TUITION, SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, PARAPROFESSIONALS FOR 1:1 NEEDS, OOD COSTS, SCHOOL BOARD COSTS, SAU COSTS, TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL FOR 2 BUSES ** BASED UPON TUITION, SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS, OOD COSTS, SCHOOL BOARD COSTS, SAU COSTS, TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL FOR 2 BUSES # BASED UPON 39% OF APPORTIONED 2013-14 BUDGET AT 100% ADM from new tax apportionment ## BASED UPON 61 % OF APPORTIONED 2013-14 BUDGET AT 100% ADM from new tax apportionment 32
Appendix A Economic Labor Market Information Goshen and Lempster 33
Appendix B Articles of Agreement 34
Appendix C Lempster Petition for Change to Articles of Agreement 35
Appendix D NHDOE Approval of Petition 36
Appendix E Minutes from Annual School District Meeting 37
Appendix F Minutes from Goshen Special Meeting 38
Appendix G School District Letters of Intent 39
Appendix H Community Transportation Letters of Intent 40