CONSOLIDATION DATA / RATIONAL

 

Decreasing enrollments combined with the current educational funding process employed by the State of South Dakota has increased the necessity that the Corsica School District and the Stickney School District consider school consolidation in order to continue to provide quality educational programs for our students.  The two school districts formed sports cooperatives in football, boys basketball, boys and girls track in the 2009-2010 school year, girls basketball and volleyball were added in the 2010-2011 school year, and golf was added in the 2012-2013 school year.  A combined marching band has complimented our schools for many years.  These combined activities have been very well received with students, staff, and the Corsica and Stickney communities in general.

 

For a number of years the districts have shared staff as needs and opportunity occurred.  Although teacher turnover has been very minimal for each district, that concept may change as attrition could affect a number of the personnel.  It has become increasingly difficult for schools our size and in our location to recruit and maintain highly qualified teaching staff.  Consolidation would enable the two districts to view the larger picture of a viable district for the future.  Teachers may also look for opportunities which allow for greater student numbers within their classrooms and therefore offer students a more competitive and effective learning environment.

 

The Corsica and Stickney School Districts currently have a good working relationship and feel there is a need for each community to maintain their identity.  To accomplish this goal, the combined districts must maintain an excellent educational program for their children now and into the future.  The boards of education in each community feel the need to have an educational entity in their community.   A school in each community may be a welcome sign for individuals with families that have a desire to relocate.

 

 

                                                                                     FACILITIES

 

School buildings in each community will be used to educate the students.  The organizational structure will be grades K-6 in Stickney and grades 7-12 in Corsica.  The facility in Corsica that will be used will be the High School (1980) /Middle School (2003) Buildings.  This facility contains twelve classrooms, music and shop area, library, gym, commons area and lunchroom.  A five stall bus garage is located at the back of this facility.   Complete wireless internet access is available throughout the building and Corsica is an original laptop initiative school.  

 

The Corsica District also has a separately located Elementary School (1968) with six classrooms that currently houses the Pre-school, K-4, Title I, and Mid-Central special services.   Attached to the Elementary School are a gymnasium, locker rooms, and two additional rooms (one with kitchen equipment) which is often used for family and community activities. 

 

The facility in Stickney consists of 16 classrooms, music and shop areas, library, lunchroom, gym, commons area and study hall area.  Complete wireless internet access is available throughout the building.  The original building consists of 11 classrooms, library and a study hall area.  The second addition consists of two (2) classrooms, vocal music area, gym, lunchroom and commons area.  The blue addition consists of three (3) classrooms, instrumental music and shop/industrial arts area.

 

 

 

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TAX AND VALUATION DATA

 

Assessed Valuations of Taxable Property for 2013 taxes paid in 2014:

Corsica School District #21-2

 

Class                                      Douglas                                                Aurora                                  Total

 

Ag                                           144,740,175                                        162,930                 144,903,105

OO                                           15,745,757                                                                                           15,745,757

M                                                      86,111                                                                                                  86,111

M-OO                                          217,830                                                                                                 217,830

Other                                        9,103,184                                           14,900                                     9,118,084

Utility                                           464,402                                                                                                 464,402

 

Total                                      170,357,459                                        177,830                 170,535,289

 

Stickney School District #01-2

 

Class                                      Aurora                                                  Davison                                Total

 

 Ag                                            116,010,489                                    8,784,240                           124,794,729

OO                                               9,836,967                                    925,525                             10,762,492

M                                                       45,261                                                                                                  45,261

M-OO                                            470,223                                                                                                470,223

Other                                          4,932,808                                      93,690                         5,026,498

Utility                                             308,485                                                                                                 308,485

 

Total                                         131,604,233                                9,803,455                  141,407,688

 

Consolidated Corsica –Stickney Valuations                                                                                        

             Ag                              269,697,834                 OO         26,508,249          M               131,372

             M-OO                             688,053                   Other    14,144,582          Utility        772,887

                                                                                                                                                               

PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX OPT-OUT

 

The Corsica School District presently has a five-year property tax opt-out of $150,000.00 per year.  This opt-out became effective in 2011(payable in 2012) and will go thru 2015 (payable in 2016). The Stickney School District presently has a five-year property tax opt-out of $300,000.00 per year which became effective in 2011(payable in 2012) and will go thru 2015 (payable in 2016). 

 

 OPT- OUTS DO NOT CARRY OVER TO THE NEW DISTRICT UNLESS THEY ARE PART OF THE PLAN AND MUST BE ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATUTORY OPT-OUT REQUIREMENTS.  Both the Corsica and Stickney School Districts will ask for only the 1st ½ of the 2014 pay 2015 taxes which would be for April 2015 and neither district will be asking for the 2nd ½ of the 2014 pay 2015 taxes.  By ending the opt-outs with the 1st ½ of the 2014 pay 2015 taxes only, this allows the newly consolidated district to begin operation July 1, 2015 without any opt out dollars.  Projections are that the newly consolidated district will be financially stable for at least two to three years, and by not having opt-out dollars in place at the time of consolidation, it will make the consolidation process easier to prepare and more appealing to the public.  However, given the uncertainty of state funding and enrollment, the new district could be looking at an opt-out beyond two to three years from the consolidation date.

 

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ENROLLMENT/ADM

 

Below is a listing of the previous, current and projected enrollments for both districts.

                                                                                               

                                                C=Corsica                            S=Stickney                          T=Total

 

Grade                                     2010-11                        2011-12                            2012-13            2013-14

                    

                                                C      S      T                     C      S     T                      C      S      T                       C      S    T       

 

K                                             9      8    17                   10     7   17                           7      8    15                        15      8    23

1                                            13    13   26                  9     7   16                              10      6    16                         6      7    13

2                                            16    10   26                    13 12    25                            8      7    15                          9      6    15

3                                            10      6   16                    15    8    23                         14    12    26                         8      7    15

4                                          9     13   22                       10    6    16                         17      8    25                      12     10   22

5                                              9      10   19                  10    9    19                           9      6    15                       15       8   23

6                                           12     10   22                    11 10    21                            8      9    17                         9       7   16

7                                         8        4   12                       10    8    18                         10    10    20                        9       8   17

8                                       10      11   21                        9     3    12                          11      8    19                      10       8   18

9                                       19      17   36                       11 11   22                             8      5    13                       12       7   19

10                                     15      10   25                      18 17   35                           11    10    21                        8       5   13

11                                     16        7   23                       14 10   25                           18    17    35                      12       8   20

12                                     15      13   28               15    7    22                                 13    10    23                      17     16 34

 

Total                                161    132 293                155 115 270                     144 116 260                142 105 247

                                                                                        

 

                                                C=Corsica                 S=Stickney                     T=Total

 

Grade                                   2014-15                     2015-16                      2016-17                                   2017-18

 

                                                C      S      T                  C      S      T                    C      S       T                          C      S       T

               

K                                            8     8    16                       8      7    15                     7      6      13                           6      6     12

1                                           15     8    23                      8      8    16                     8      6      14                           7      6     13

2                                              6      7    13                   15      8    23                    8      8      16                           8      6     14

3                                             9     6    15                       6      7    13                  15     8      23                            8      8     16

4                                             8      7   15                       9      6    15                    6     8       14                          15      8    23

5                                           12    10 22                        8      7    15                    9     6       15                            6      8     14

6                                        15     8   23        12    10    22                   8     7       15                            9      6     15

7                                             9      7   16                     15      8    23                 12   11      23                            8      7     15

8                                           10      8   18                      9      7    16                  15     8      23                         12    11     23

9                                           10      8   18                    10      8    18                 9     6      15                            15      8     23

10                                        12      7   19                    10      8    18                 10     9      19                            9       6     15

11                                          8      5   13                    12      7    19                 10     9      19                         10       9    19

12                                        12      8   20                      8      5    13                  12     8      20                         10       9    19

 

Total                             134     97 231                    130    96 226            129 100 229                            123    98 221                                                                                                                         

 

 

                 

4                                                                              

 

BUDGET COMPARISON DATA

 

Potential budget savings will occur primarily in the General Fund through attrition and the combination of staff teaching positions.  The capital outlay fund will continue to be used for technology, curriculum, transportation, maintenance and upkeep on current building facilities.   Additional buildings may not be necessary however additional transportation may be needed.  In the Corsica District only, patrons will be using capital outlay funds to pay bonded indebtedness.  The Pension Fund will be used to pay for the SDRS and will maintain its present level of funding.  The Food Service Fund should remain relatively the same as there will be the need for each facility to maintain a lunchroom.  Pre-Kindergarten opportunities will continue within the consolidated school district.  Note: Functions 2540-7000 is the total of both districts 2014-2015 preliminary budgets.  The savings in these functions will be reviewed in detail with decision being made by the new consolidated board of education.  (See attachments B: 2014-2015 Preliminary Appropriations and Means of Finance of both districts and a reasonably detailed budget of the consolidated district).

PROJECTED UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE AS OF JUNE 30, 2014

                                                      Corsica                                             Stickney                               Total

General Fund                      (   37,295.28)                                     125,492.00                         88,196.72

Capital Outlay                        873,230.45                                       255,405.99                   1,128,636.44

Special Education                 555,448.73                                       297,197.06                       852,645.79

Pension Fund                            6,094.66                                           6,459.82                         12,554.48              

 

CURRENT BONDED INDEBTEDNESS

 

 The Corsica School District has indebtedness from using Capital Outlay Certificates to construct a commons, kitchen and middle school classrooms at the high school in the amount of $1,090,000.00 and is to be paid off in 2021.  The current Corsica District will also be responsible for their Qualified Zone Academy Bond Series 2005 issue amount of 237,500 due in 2021 and Qualified Zone Academy bond Series 2009 in the amount of 237,500 due in 2024. Stickney School District has no bonded indebtedness.

(See attachment “CBI”- Current Bonded Indebtedness -for payment scale of the Corsica School District Debt.)                                                                                                                                      

STAFFING

 

The new district will maintain an administrative staff consisting of a superintendent, a business manager, a secondary principal and an elementary principal that will serve the consolidated district.

 

Teaching staff will include one K-6 teacher for each grade unless class size or special needs deem otherwise.  Special Education, Title I, music, P.E., technology, guidance counselor, and paraprofessional will be employed as necessary.  Grade 7-12 staffing needs will be determined based on enrollment (class size), accreditation requirements and state course requirements.

 

The staffing for the maintenance/custodial, secretaries, cooks and paras will be based upon determined needs within the consolidated school facilities.

 

Currently both the Corsica School District and the Stickney School District are working on a plan to bring both current district’s Negotiated Agreements together as much as possible prior to the consolidation of both districts.  Realizing that the final Negotiated Agreements will be determined by the newly elected Consolidated Board of Education, the final Negotiated Agreement will not be approved until spring of 2015.

 

All certified tenured teaching staff and classified support staff from both districts will be given equal opportunity to be employed for all certified and classified positions.

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BUS INFORMATION

 

There are currently two bus routes in each district.  To keep travel time to a minimum, these routes will likely continue.  All rural K-12 students will be offered bus service.    To begin and end the school day buses will shuttle the K-6 students from Corsica to a central meeting site on Highway 281 while a Stickney bus will transport any 7-12 from Stickney to the same exchange location.  The drivers only will switch buses thus providing a safe exchange for all the students.  Bussing will be evaluated closer to the start of the 2015-2016 school year to make sure all students that need bus service, and that the amount of time on the bus, is in the best interest of our students using the services.

 

 

OFFICIAL NAME, MASCOT AND COLORS

 

The official name for the new school district will be the Corsica-Stickney School District.  The mascot name will be the Jaguars and the school colors will be Cardinal Red, Black, White and Silver.

 

                                                                    SCHOOL BOARD

 

The newly organized school district will have seven (7) school board members.  The school board members may reside anywhere within the new school district and will be elected at large by all voters residing within the new school district with the initial positions designated as follows:

 Three (3) members to have a three-year term

 Two (2) members to have a two-year term

   Two (2) members to have a one-year term

Douglas County will be the county of jurisdiction as the Corsica School District, located in Douglas County, has the largest enrollment.  The Douglas County Auditor will conduct the election of the new school board consisting of seven (7) members (SDCL 13-6-62) in November 2014 (SDCL 13-6-62).  Interested persons who meet residency requirements as set forth in state law (SDCL 13-8) shall file a “declaration of candidacy” in the office of the Douglas County Auditor.

                                                                                                                                             

PRESENT CURRICULUMS

 

The present elementary and secondary curriculum for both school districts consists of all areas mandated by the State of South Dakota and recommended and approved by each school district. The majority of the curriculum materials used by the two school districts have been synchronized because of the sharing in the prior planning for reorganization. 

 

PROPOSED CURRICULUM

 

The proposed curriculum for the Corsica/Stickney School Elementary will consist of all areas mandated by the state of South Dakota and recommended and approved by the board of education.  This will include English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, Physical Education, Computer Education, and any other mandated curriculum.  Title I, Special Education, and Guidance Services will be continued.

 

The proposed curriculum for the Corsica/Stickney 7-12 grades will continue to use the distance learning system that is available within the State of South Dakota for those situations that warrant such use.  The secondary curriculum will require the mandated number of graduation units required by the State.  The new district for all grades will begin school at 8:35 AM and dismiss at 3:35 PM.

 

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Proposed 7th-8th Curriculum

 

7th Grade-Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education, Health, Computer, Family and Consumer Science, Band/Chorus.

 

8th Grade- Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education, Health, Computer, Family and Consumer Science, Band/Chorus.

 

 

Proposed High School Curriculum

 

English—Composition/Language Arts I, II, III, IV, Speech, British Literature, American Literature, World Literature AP or Dual Credit courses.

 

Science—Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human Anatomy, AP or Dual Credit.

 

Social Studies—World History, World Geography, US History, American Government, Sociology, Psychology, Current Events,  AP or Dual Credit courses.

 

Mathematics—Algebra I, II, Geometry, Career Ready Math (Ag, Bus. Medical, Carpentry), Trigonometry/Stats, Pre-Calculus, AP or Dual Credit courses.

 

Fine Arts—Chorus, Band, Drama, Oral Interpretation.

 

Computer Sciences—Computer Applications, Web Design, Computer Programming, Computer Building.

 

Foreign Language---Spanish I, II, III or Distance for other languages.

 

Family and Consumer Sciences---Health, FACS I, Parenting, Housing/Interior Design, Nutrition & Wellness, Human Development—Pre-Natal to Toddler, Human Development—Adolescent, Employability and FCCLA Opportunities.

 

Business Education---Accounting I, II, General Business, Business Law, Economics, Personal Finance.

 

Industrial Technology---I, II, III, IV (Depends on student interest and numbers)

 

Physical Education---Need 1/2 unit in high school

 

Special Education Services

 

Guidance and Counseling Services---College/Career Ready Preparation, Personal Learning Plan, ACT Preparation, PLAN Testing, Testing Coordinator.

 

 

ATHLETIC PROGRAMS – Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Track, Boys and Girls Golf, Boys and Girls Cross-Country, and Wrestling.

 

CO-CURRICULAR – Band, Chorus, Oral Interpretation, One-Act Plays, Yearbook, FCCLA

                                                                        

 

 

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LEGAL DESCRIPTION

 

A legal description for all existing property in both the Corsica School District and the Stickney School District are available in the attachment-Legal Descriptions.  All existing property of both the Corsica School District and Stickney School District will be included in the newly proposed Corsica – Stickney School District.  Minor boundary changes can be applied for and will be reviewed by the newly elected Corsica - Stickney School Board. (See attachment “L”– Legal Descriptions) A detailed listing of all legal

descriptions may be found in the business office of the Corsica and Stickney School Districts.

 

DISTRICT MAP INFORMATION

 

Attachment “M” shows maps of the existing school districts and the proposed school district.  Again, minor boundary changes can be applied for and will be reviewed by the newly elected Corsica-Stickney School Board. (See attachment “M”)

 

ADJUSTMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

Adjustment of Assets and Liabilities:  The assets and liabilities of the proposed district would be the combination of the assets and liabilities of the Corsica School District and the Stickney School District.  Pursuant to SDCL 13-6-82, the repayment of the capital outlay certificates issued by the Corsica School District in 2002 and the 2005 and 2009 Series QZAB bonds issued to the original Corsica Public School District shall be repaid through a continuation of the annual tax levy assessed against the real property located within the former Corsica School District.  The county of jurisdiction will be Douglas County and a statement regarding the proposed method of adjustment of assets will be prepared for submission to the Douglas County Commission for their approval.  SDCL 13-6-78 – Transfer of assets and liabilities on reorganization – Copy of the directive to the Secretary of Education.   All liabilities and assets shall be transferred according to directives prepared by the board of county commissioners and the consolidated districts legal counsel.   A copy of such directives shall be mailed to the Secretary of the Department of Education and all other parties enumerated in 13-6-48. 

 

DISTRICT LAND AREA DATA

 

The land area in square miles is as follows:                          

Corsica          192.50

Stickney        189.87

 

Combined     382.37

 

GENERAL CONSOLIDATION SUMMARY

 

-          Assets, liabilities and land area will be combined

-          Efficiency will increase throughout the schools

-          Greater educational opportunities will occur for all students

 

OTHERS

 

 An audit of both former districts financials will be scheduled in July 2015.  This will insure that the newly consolidated Corsica-Stickney School District will begin the fiscal year with audited financials and will be in compliance with all areas of the law that pertain to the district records. 

 

 

 

8

 

 

(others continued)

 

 

Other major decisions of the Consolidated Board of Education will consist of  –

 

                -The hiring of any positions that will need to be filled for the 2015-2016 school year.

 

                -A part of the new Negotiated Agreements.

 

-Determining  the needs of both  original districts gymnasiums for  the use of athletic events, concerts, plays and other extra-curricular activities as they may arise.  This will be done with respect to both communities to help maintain their identity.

               

-Number of bus routes and transportation needs will be assessed closer to the start date of the consolidated district.  Transportation needs of all the students of the consolidated district will be taken into consideration.

 

-Instructions regarding where the official records of each district will be stored, location of the district superintendent and business manager and other fiscal services will be determination of the consolidated board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESTIMATED PLAN DATES

 

1)      Public Meeting Dates:  November 25, 2013 – Corsica

            November 26, 2013 – Stickney

2)      Joint Public Meeting Date:  April 21, 2014 – Corsica (site was determined by a coin flip)

3)      Plan Adopted at Corsica and Stickney Board Meetings:   June 9, 2014

4)      Plan Submitted to DOE:  June 11, 2014

5)      Official Election Date to be determined by the Secretary of Education ( August 26, 2014 has tentatively been set)

6)      Election process for New Board:  November 2014

7)      New Board takes office:  January 2015

8)      Newly consolidated Corsica-Stickney School District to take effect July 1, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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