Spring 2018 Financial REPORT Commitment to Taxpayers Building for Students Dedication to Education Maintaining Stability
Message from the Superintendent Please visit our district website www.cwschools.org and click on Financial Informa on for addi onal materials Dear Canal Winchester Community: School finance is not always the most exciting topic to discuss or to even try to understand, but we believe it is important for our stakeholders to have a clear understanding of our financial status as we move forward. We are pleased to share our district financial newsletter with you. This newsletter presents the Canal Winchester Local Schools financial report in an easy-to-understand format. The financial success of our district is a direct correlation to our community and we want to thank you for your continued support. The Board of Education and staff of Canal Winchester Local Schools understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and accountability while providing a quality education to our students. Over the last several years, we have made vast improvements to our programs and to our technology infrastructure, all while being a good steward of taxpayer money. These changes are a critical part of preparing all our students for success. We would like to reaffirm our commitment to our taxpayers: Canal Winchester Local Schools will continue to find innovative ways to save taxpayer money while still striving for excellent academic standards we have set for ourselves. Canal Winchester Local Schools will reaffirm its commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability. All budget information will be readily available and easy to access for every citizen. Canal Winchester Local Schools will continue to incorporate the district s commitment to achieving the goals laid out in the Financial Plan. As you read this report, please keep this one thought in mind: children are our most valuable resource, and it is our responsibility to provide them with a nurturing educational environment that meets the needs of all students while preparing them for their future. CWLS receives 47.50% funding from the State, while 52.50% is funded through personal and property tax. While this can be a financial burden on our families, these tax dollars go to our students, our community, and our future. A strong community equals strong schools, and strong schools equal a strong community. We will continue to focus on academic excellence while being conservative in our financial planning. Thank you for your continuous support and all you do to make the Canal Winchester community a great place to live and raise a family. Respectfully, Jim Sotlar, Superintendent BOARD of EDUCATION As we go about our job of setting policy and direction for our District, we value input from community members. We encourage you to attend Board meetings. Many of our issues are difficult and complicated. Your participation allows all of us to be better informed. If you, at any time, have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any of the Board members. Thank you, The Canal Winchester Board of Education The Board of Education meets the third Monday of each month at 7PM. Canal Winchester Education Center Room 204/206 (Second Floor) 100 Washington Street, CW 43110 *Contact Info for Board Members is on our district website www.cwschools.org
Building for Students High School Addition & Renovations Creating an optimal educational environment is important as we prepare students for their future. The high school addition and renovation plans continue to move forward. The district capitalized on the opportunity to use Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) credits to pay for the majority of the project. Due to fiscal responsibility and the continued support of the community the district portion TOTAL COST $27.1 million was funded STATE PAYING $19.6 million without asking DISTRICT PAYING $7.5 million taxpayers for additional funds. A new unfunded mandate requires part of any new school building to have a storm shelter, an area that can withstand 250mph winds. This requirement slightly altered building plans and cost. Continuing to achieve success requires us to adapt to the needs of our students. Current plans will expand and modernize Canal Winchester High School while taking advantage of state dollars for this project. The design will solve many issues currently facing the students of our high school with overcrowded hallways and classrooms. Modernizing current spaces will also update learning environments for students as they prepare for today s colleges and jobs after high school. Renovation updates will be available on the district website Please see below a list of just some of the updates: New Library/Media Center Current main/administrative offices turned into student area - Creating large corridor for easier travel between classes Admin./main office area moved to old library area - Making the front of the building (Washington St.) truly the front of the building with main entrance - Visitor parking will be created by current flag pole East wing 4 classrooms added (2 on 1st, 2 on 2nd floor) - Renovations made to current classrooms North wing addition - 3 blended learning labs may be broken into 6 classrooms - 5 small group classrooms or combined into 2 classrooms - New restrooms - Will meet the structural standards required to act as a storm shelter West wing addition of new 2nd floor restrooms (currently no restrooms on 2nd floor) - renovations to current classrooms New Auxiliary Gym - 1 collegiate size basketball court or 2 high school sized basketball courts - Portable bleachers - No new restrooms or locker rooms Projected Project Timeline SUMMER 2018 Begin work on all additions LATE 2019/EARLY 2020 FALL 2020 FALL 2021 Utility work begins; parking lots move current/add new LATE FALL 2018 Begin classroom renovations Additions should be completed Estimated finish for entire project
School Finance Canal Winchester Local School District operates using a combination of state funds, local sources such as property & income taxes and federal funds. The amount of state funds that the District receives is based on a formula that takes into account the student enrollment and the property wealth of the district. The annual increase is capped to a percentage (%) based on the prior year revenue. The District is a capped district currently receiving 89% of the calculated formula. The District has been significant beneficiaries of Governor Kasich s funding formula beginning in fiscal year 2014 with an annual growth of 8%. Prior to Governor Kasich s term in office the district s funding averaged $13.1 million for six years with an annual growth of 0.2%. The district has flourished under Governor Kasich s funding plan. Where Does the Money Come From? Local Funding (property taxes, school district income tax, student fees, pay-to-participate, building rentals, etc.) State Funding (state legislature approved funding for public education, homestead exemption, tax rollback) Source: October Five Year Forecast Where Does the Money Go? Dedication to Education Renewing Commitment to Our Students The Canal Winchester School District continues to grow, serving the needs of today s students and providing an excellent academic springboard to their future. The current 5-year emergency levy is set to expire December 31, 2019. The district will be going back on the ballot in 2019 to ask for continued support from the community, but only in the form of renewing the current emergency levy. The district will not ask for new money but for taxpayers to just keep doing what they have been doing, by supporting the renewal of the emergency levy. The last time the district asked for new money was 2009. Since then, through community support and good fiscal management the district continues to thrive. By renewing the current emergency levy in 2019, which would last another five years, the district could continue financial stability. Since the levy would be a renewal the 12.5% rollback would stay in place benefitting taxpayers. In addition, with the renewing of the emergency levy in 2019 the district would continue its trend of not asking for new money from taxpayers for a period of 16 years, through 2025. We will provide more information as 2019 nears and we hope for the continued support as great schools equals a great community and a great community equals great schools. Thank you for your support. Salaries (regular pay, overtime, coaching, supplementals) Benefits (retirement, Medicare, insurance) Purchased Services (utilities, tuition, professional services) Supplies (instructional, custodial, maintenance, office) Transfers (debt, permanent improvement, OFCC project) Other (capital expenses, tax/auditor fees) Source: October 2017 Five Year Forecast
Responsibility to Our Community If you have any ques ons regarding the informa on in this newsle er, please contact the Canal Winchester School District Office 614 837 4533 L e t t e r f r o m t h e Tr e a s u r e r The Canal Winchester School District is pleased to share a snapshot of our financial standing through this newsletter. We have demonstrated to be efficient and responsible stewards of state & local dollars over the last several years by operating a balanced budget. Since fiscal year 2015 the district has added more than $10 million to cash reserves. In addition, the district has set aside $7.5 million for an OFCC renovation project that will add nearly 50,000 square feet to the high school building and update existing square footage. We are receiving more than $19.5 million from the state for the project. The added square footage at the high school is expected to withstand any significant influx in student enrollment. The district has established a short-term and long-term capital spending plan to maintain and improve facilities. We do not have a permanent improvement tax levy to maintain facilities thus we must plan accordingly to better use the resources available. In the short-term, we allocate funds in the annual budget for paving, roofing, busing, equipment and other minor improvements. In the long-term, we are transferring general fund dollars, equivalent to a 1-mill tax levy, into a permanent improvement fund for significant improvements. The permanent improvement funds are restricted to only expenditures to enhance or improve our aging buildings and facilities. We are proud that the district has not requested new tax dollars from our community since 2009 and the forecast projects this to continue through at least 2023. This is due to several factors: increased state funding, controlled expenditures, more stable economy and population growth. It is extremely important that the district continues to support the renewal of the emergency levy expiring in 2019 to continue operating without deficit spending. The district will continue to be proactive in managing the finances to ensure longterm stability without requesting new tax dollars. Thank you for your endless support of Canal Winchester Local School District. It is an honor to represent the Canal Winchester Local School District. Respectfully, Nick Roberts, District Treasurer Central Ohio School Districts Expenditures Per Pupil Grandview Heights City $16,013 Upper Arlington City $15,207 Columbus City $14,816 Bexley City $14,183 Worthington City $13,019 Dublin City $12,874 Berne Union Local $12,246 Franklin County Average $12,194 Hilliard City $11,769 New Albany-Plain Local $11,764 Groveport-Madison Local $11,719 State Average $11,603 Amanda-Clearcreek Local $11,585 Gahanna-Jefferson City $11,550 Pickerington Local $11,230 Walnut Township Local $11,119 Westerville City $10,972 Whitehall City $10,898 Canal Winchester Local $10,830 Fairfield County Average $10,771 South-Western Local $10,502 Fairfield Union Local $10,485 Liberty Union-Thurston Local $10,357 Lancaster City $10,076 Reynoldsburg City $9,760 Bloom Carroll Local $9,530 Hamilton Local $9,232 Source: Ohio Department of Education, FY 2017 Cupp Report
Looking to the Future MAINTAINING STABILITY The Canal Winchester School District continues to look at the anticipated housing growth for our community and with that growth come school age children. Based on numbers from the City of Canal Winchester there are expected to be close to 1,000 new homes built in the school district over the next seven years. With these new builds it is estimated there will be.7 children per household. Superintendent Sotlar will be putting together a growth committee in the near future. The committee will examine how these projections will impact the district and explore solutions for continuing to offer an outstanding education while empowering all students for success.