Building Enrollments & Recommended Capacities February 13, 2018

Elementary Schools In December 2017, the Business Services Department analyzed the size of every building and applied the formula from the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Guide for Planning Construction Projections in Minnesota.” The formula is 125 to 155 square feet of space per enrolled student at small elementary schools and 110 to 135 square feet of space per enrolled student at large elementary schools. The formulas, without regard to actual usage, give a total elementary school capacity range of 7,300 to 9,000. The midpoint is 8,150. A small elementary school has enrollment up to 500. A large elementary school has enrollment up to 1,000.

Elementary Schools Based on Jefferson’s unique configuration that includes seven self-contained classrooms for students who qualify under autism spectrum disorder, the building’s working capacity should be reduced by 150: Seven full-size classrooms are capped at 42 total students if those classrooms were Kindergarten, they would hold 140 total students if those classrooms were Grade 1, they would hold 168 total students if those classrooms were Grades 2-3, they would hold 203 total students if those classrooms were Grades 4-5, they would hold 217 total students Adjusting for Jefferson’s unique usage, the District’s capacity is 8,000 – not 8,150.

Small Elementary Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) Enrolled Capacity % Filled Bishop 504 350 144% Churchill 250 100% Elton Hills 525 150% Folwell 366 300 122% Hoover 288 115% Lincoln 424 121% Longfellow 330 94% Pinewood 329 132% Washington 341 97% TOTAL 3,357 2,800 120%

Large Elementary Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) Enrolled Capacity % Filled Bamber Valley 888 750 118% Franklin 873 850 103% Gage 708 800 89% Gibbs 863 115% Jefferson 623 750 600 83% 104% Riverside Central 503 700 72% Sunset Terrace 689 92% TOTAL 5,147 5,200 99% Due to the seven self-contained classrooms for students who qualify under autism spectrum disorder intensive program located within Jefferson Elementary School, it is not possible to reach capacity based on the standard square footage calculation. Seven full-size classrooms are dedicated to six students in each room. The capacity has been lowered by 150 to account for this intensive program.

All Elementary Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) Enrolled Capacity % Filled Total of Small 3,357 2,800 120% Total of Large 5,147 5,200 99% TOTAL 8,504 8,000 106%

Elementary Schools Current enrollment is 8,504. Projections range from 8,400 to 8,700 through 2035-2036, based on “normal” birth rates into the future. Projections range from 8,700 to 10,400 through 2035-2036, based on the last five years of “average” increases in elementary student enrollment numbers.

Elementary Schools Capacity is 8,000 

Elementary Schools What were the numbers before construction of the most recent elementary school? On September 25, 2007, at 102% average capacity, voters approved borrowing $17.4 million to construct a new elementary school north of 55th Street NW and west of 50th Avenue NW. Yes: 73.9% No: 26.1% In October 2009, Gibbs was open, and total elementary school enrollment increased to 7,728. Average capacity declined to 96% with the new school open. Without Gibbs opening, elementary schools would have been enrolled at 105% average capacity, with Gage, Sunset Terrace, and Bamber Valley needing adjustment.

Elementary Schools Why has their not been any planning for a new school in NW? At 106% average capacity, schools are more full than they were when a public vote was last held to approve the newest elementary school in NW (Gibbs). Planning documents back to 2003 indicated the District would need to build a new school somewhere between years 2011 and 2014 in an approximate location of 50th Avenue NW and Valleyhigh Drive NW. District officials prioritized using buildings to full capacity before asking for more taxpayer dollars in a referendum election. Mighty Oaks Early Learning School opened in January 2017 and Hoover Early Learning School will open in August 2018 for the purpose of consolidating early childhood special education programs and reducing enrollment at some elementary schools.

Middle Schools In December 2017, the Business Services Department analyzed the size of every building and applied the formula from the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Guide for Planning Construction Projections in Minnesota.” The formula is 170 to 200 square feet of space per enrolled student at small middle school and 160 to 190 square feet of space per enrolled student at large middle schools. The formulas give a total middle school capacity range of 3,100 to 3,700. The midpoint is 3,400. A small middle school has enrollment up to 500. A large middle school has enrollment up to 1,000.

(using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) Middle Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) School Enrolled Capacity % Filled Friedell 461 350 132% John Adams 1,137 950 120% Kellogg 922 1,000 92% Willow Creek 1,113 1,100 101% TOTAL 3,633 3,400 107%

Middle Schools Capacity is a range of 3,100 to 3,700 according to MDE’s guidelines. The midpoint is 3,400. Current enrollment is 3,633. Projections range from 3,800 to 4,000 through 2035-2036.

Middle Schools Capacity is 3,400 

Middle Schools Why has their not been any planning for a new middle school? In 2012, the Future Facilities Task Force noted that middle schools would be at capacity by the 2015-2016 school year. The recommendation was to pursue additional land for a new middle school. District officials have not yet committed a funding source to secure additional land in advance of a voter approved referendum.

High Schools In December 2017, the Business Services Department analyzed the size of every building and applied the formula from the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Guide for Planning Construction Projections in Minnesota.” The formula is 170 to 190 square feet of space per enrolled student at large high schools. The formulas give a total high school capacity range of 5,500 to 6,200. The midpoint is 5,850. A large high school has enrollment up to 2,000.

(using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) High Schools (using MDE’s midpoint as capacity) School Enrolled Capacity % Filled ALC 370 250 148% Century 1,518 1,650 92% John Marshall 1,704 2,000 85% Mayo 1,662 1,950 TOTAL 5,254 5,850 90%

High Schools Capacity is a range of 5,500 to 6,200 according to MDE’s guidelines. The midpoint is 5,850. Current enrollment is 5,254. Projections range from 5,600 to 6,600 through 2035-2036.

High Schools Capacity is 5,850 

District-Wide Total enrollment is projected to exceed 18,000 in 2018-2019 Projecting enrollment is approximately 19,000 by 2035-2036 Based on the District’s history of projecting conservatively, these numbers are likely low because the are primarily contingent upon 2017 births in Olmsted County Five years ago, projected enrollment was 16,856 on October 1, 2017 The real enrollment turned out to be 17,932 – 1,000+ more than projected

What’s Next? Short-term solutions for balancing enrollment with capacity: 1. Proposing boundary adjustments on February 13, 2018 for 2018-2019 to balance elementary students Decrease Students Increase Students Bamber Valley Churchill Elton Hills Hoover Gibbs Riverside Jefferson Sunset Terrace 2. Opening Hoover Early Learning School in fall of 2018 to consolidate Early Childhood classrooms which will open classrooms at some elementary schools

What’s Next? Long-term solutions for balancing enrollment with capacity: Retire the debt for Century and Riverside on February 1, 2020 Seek voter approval for building construction funding in 2018 or 2019 Determine the process and people for continued facility planning

Where to Build? District owns three parcels suitable for elementary school buildings (10-15 acres needed) NW on Overland Drive at Schmidt Park: 16 acres NE on 21st Street in Century Hills: 13 acres SE on Collegeview Road by sports dome: 17 acres District does not own suitable land for a middle school (25-35 acres needed) or a high school (60+ acres needed) Staff are researching land options in NW and SW