It’s Not for Everyone….But it Should Be Shared Services It’s Not for Everyone….But it Should Be

Presenter Brad Romano Superintendent, New London Local Schools bromano@nlschools.org Twitter: @NL_bromano 1999-2008 - Teacher - Garfield Hts. HS 2008-2013 - Principal, New London HS 2013-Present - Superintendent NLLS Presenter

Basically - Reduce Costs, Improve Services, Increase Efficiencies Why Shared Services A collaborative strategy that is fundamentally about optimizing staff, equipment, and facilities and other resources to improve operational efficiencies and related outcomes. Basically - Reduce Costs, Improve Services, Increase Efficiencies

Beyond Boundaries Released in June 2012 - Comprehensive study of public policy recommendations and potential collaborations for Ohio’s public sector. Purpose was to propose ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency by presenting 10 recommendations: Meant to provide a roadmap for a cost -effective, collaborative way of doing business Beyond Boundaries

Who is New London Local Schools Small rural district located in South West Huron County District is comprised of many townships and villages over 84 square miles

Who is New London Local Schools 84 square miles in Huron County

Shared Services: Teacher August, 2013 - NLLS & Monroeville Local Schools share a P.E. Teacher Saved each district $25,000 More efficient use of staff Agreement lasted one year as enrollment changes forced need for FT NL Estimated an additional $38,000 in savings Additional savings from salary projections of steps and raises from an extra year of service to district

Shared Services: Fiscal August 2015 - NLLS & Cloverleaf Local Schools share Treasurer Case of you get what you pay for NLLS wasn’t satisfied with quality of candidates within our salary limitations Entered into shared service agreement District share was less than projected salary & benefits for full time August 2018 - NLLS & Mapleton Local Schools share payroll NLLS payroll dept. assumes payroll for Mapleton No additional cost for NLLS Regionalization and more efficient use of resources

Shared Services: Infrastructure August 2019 - New London Area Communication Collaborative 7 agency collaborative to fund/maintain/operate communication system New London Local Schools New London Police Dept. New London Fire Dept. New London Water Dept. Huron County EMA Huron County Sheriff Fireland’s Ambulance Service $100,000 Project split between entities Provides communication to busses for school district

Shared Services: Transportation Prior to 2008: Superintendent & Executive Secretary served as Transportation Supervisor 2008: Transportation Supervisor position created 2013: No new busses purchases in 10 years - Fleet of 12 routes Used buses purchased to update fleet Transportation Facility underutilized Part time mechanic with mechanic helper

Shared Services: Transportation 2019: Consolidated routes to 11 8 new Busses Shared services with 3 additional districts Maintain 35 busses fully, plus vans and box trucks Maintain 13 busses on as needed basis 1.5 Mechanics Managed Costs Department treated as a business, not entitlement

Shared Services: Transportation Early Days of Shared Services Trips - Multiple District share cost of busses Charter busses in some instances NLLS drops off, while other district picks up Special Routes Ohio School for the Blind Transportation of students from 4 other districts P.E.P. Special Education Placement Black River - Sub Mechanic, Busses Shortage of spare busses and sub mechanics during vacations Oberlin City - Busses during break downs Fleet size became a barrier South Central Local Schools - Sub Mechanic work Sudden loss of mechanic during yearly DOT inspections

Shared Services: Transportation Shared Service Maintenance Regional collaboration and relationship building Expectation is to use fleet maintenance as springboard to larger collaboration NL maintains same overhead expenses District incurred minimal additional expense Reduced costs of partner districts District 1: $40,000 in first year Consult on bus purchases, fleet maintenance, routing, & P.D. to transportation staff

Shared Services: Transportation - Impact District 1: Oldest partner with NLLS 3 year prior - averaged $62,950. 1st 3 year of agreement - averaged $29,166 - difference of $33,784 per year. Total est. savings - $101,352

Shared Services: Transportation - Impact District 2: Limited T-1 Data Available FY17 was first year of agreement - started in May for DOT

Shared Services: Transportation - Impact Impact on New London Local Schools Reinvestment into facility Expanded parking, equipment, connectivity infrastructure, garage doors Reinvest into our fleet WiFi enabled cameras on every bus - Spring 2017

Shared Services: Transportation - Impact Impact on New London Local Schools

Shared Services: Transportation - Impact Impact on New London Local Schools

Shared Services: How to Develop? How do you develop a successful model

Shared Services: How to Develop? Most important factor: Embrace failure

Superintendent, New London Local Schools Questions? Brad Romano Superintendent, New London Local Schools bromano@nlschools.org