Castallo and Silky LLC Jessica Cohen and Alan Pole, Consultants School Facilities Use Study Oneida City School District Advisory Committee Meeting January 25, 2018 Castallo and Silky LLC Jessica Cohen and Alan Pole, Consultants

Purpose of the Study In considering 2-3 prioritized options, is there a better way educationally and fiscally to reconfigure the grades and facilities to provide a sound instructional program now and in the future? If so, how should the grades and facilities be arranged? Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

September Meeting Take Aways The purpose of the study is to answer the question, “In considering a number of options, is there a better way educationally and fiscally to reconfigure the grades and facilities to provide a sound instructional program now and in the future?” The study process will be open to ensure there is not a perception it is being conducted behind closed doors. The Advisory Committee was formed to assist the consultants throughout the process, but the final recommendations will be the consultants’. The district has seen declining enrollments and will likely continue to see enrollments decline. Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

October Meeting Take Aways The grade configuration (K-5, 6-8, 9-12) is a common arrangement. The most common grade configuration of schools in New York and the U.S. is K-5, 6-8, 9 -12 although there is no research that indicates that one grade pattern is necessarily better for student learning than another. The elementary instructional program is comparable across all four schools. The Middle School and High School programs are typical for a school district of this size. Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

December Meeting Take Aways The neighborhood school concept has been embraced by Oneida for the location of its elementary schools. The Building Condition Survey has identified approximately $20,000,000 of work to be completed in the district’s facilities. The current elementary school class sizes are well below guidelines set by policy, general procedures, and the teacher contract. The concept of grade center schools would reduce the number of elementary sections by approximately 8. Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Follow Up From Last Meeting

Option 1-Status Quo

Option 2-Grade Center Plan

Option 3-Close 1 Elementary School

Transportation Overview

The district is implementing a 5 year replacement plan for its fleet of buses Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Transportation Policies Walking Distance: Pick-Up Points Grades Pre-K & K will be picked up at home Grades 1-6 – walking distance to stop of up to .2 miles Grades 7-12 – walking distance to a stop of up to .5 miles Durhamville = 0 walkers (?) North Broad = 14 walkers Seneca Street = 4 walkers Willard Prior = 4 walkers Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Transportation Policies Bus Routes: A reasonable attempt shall be made to limit the maximum bus route time to one hour. Longest = 85 minutes Shortest = 3 minutes Average = 40 minutes Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Getting Students to School The district uses a double trip system bringing middle & high school students to school early & elementary students on a later a.m. run and reversing that in the p.m. There are currently 56 trips daily including shuttles to St. Patrick’s, Holy Cross, Pre-K, BOCES, and 3 late buses. Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Out of District Bus Runs VVS Middle school JD George McAllister Madison Oneida BOCES (CTE, Special & Alt. Ed) New York State School for the Deaf UCP Chadwicks OHM BOCES Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

The district’s elementary schools are located relatively close together Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

How would the Grade Center Plan impact transportation? On average, would students be on buses longer? It would not be anticipated. Would there be increased costs for additional runs or buses? Probably not. Would there be any savings for transportation? It’s hard to determine until a decision is made about the levels at each school. It might decrease the number of runs and some of the administrative transfers. Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

How would closing a building impact transportation? On average, would students be on buses longer? No Would there be increased costs for additional runs or buses? Would there be any savings for transportation? It would reduce the number of trips daily from 56 to 49 and would cut about 10 hours of staffing time daily (?) Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

The district has few students who walk to school The district has few students who walk to school. The average ride for students is about 40 minutes. The district uses a double trip system bringing high school and middle school students to school early and elementary students on a later a.m. run. This is reversed in the afternoon. There are 56 trips daily. Moving to a grade center plan would not impact transportation significantly. Closing one elementary building would reduce the number of trips daily and show savings in staffing. Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants

Questions ???? Castallo & Silky LLC-Education Consultants