GISU ACT 46 FORUM November 11, 2015

The GISU Community

Current GISU Structure ALBURGH GRAND ISLE ISLE LA MOTTE NORTH HERO SOUTH HERO K - 8 K - 6 K - 8 K - 6 K – 12 OR 9 – 12 GRAND ISLE SUPERVISORY UNION

VT Official Population Projections for Grand Isle County (2020 & 2030) Model B (latter trending option)

Equalized Pupil Trend (includes phantom students)

Vermonters Are Paying for GISU’s “Phantom Students”

Education Spending Per Equalized Pupil

Student to Teacher Ratios

What is Act 46? Act 46 of 2015 creates a multi-year process that provides three phases of incentives for communities that voluntarily merge into the most common governance models.

What is Act 46? Districts that do not pursue or achieve a voluntary merger must evaluate their ability to meet or exceed State goals and make proposals to the State Board.

What is Act 46? In 2018 the Secretary will develop a proposal and the State Board will issue a final statewide design that realigns unmerged districts into more sustainable models of governance that meet State goals - to the extent realignment is necessary, possible, and practicable for the region.

Act 46 General Options Voluntary Involuntary

Voluntary Options Deadlines + Public vote by June 30, 2017 Operational by July 1, 2019

Voluntary Options Present “alternative model” for consideration

Successful Voluntary Action Tax incentives (4 or 5 years) Implementation grant ( ≤ $150K)

Lack of Action (includes failed vote) Secretary and State Board... state-wide plan No further opportunities for incentives Loss of some current protections (Small Schools grants, phantom students, etc.)

Vermont Grades 7-8 Middle Schools A Grand Isle-wide Middle School for grades 7 & 8

Vermont Grades 6-8 Middle Schools A Grand Isle-wide Middle School for grades 6 - 8

Vermont Grades 5 – 8 Middle Schools

2016 Homestead Tax Rates TownHomestead Tax Rate Alburgh$ 1.55 Grand Isle$ 1.63 Isle la Motte$ 1.63 North Hero$ 1.52 South Hero$ 1.53

What if... 4 year tax incentives... Beginning in 2018 – On a $200,000 home...

Est. Tax Savings Per Assumptions

GISU Act 46 Study Committee’s “Issues List” Hearing citizens’ hopes and concerns High quality education Sustainability of local tax base Long range considerations Middle grades Voluntary approach to Act 46? The voluntary options

What Do Citizens Value? Best education options for students? Taxpayer incentives? Managing ongoing projections of declining enrollment and increased taxes? Exclusive on-islands governance? Secondary choice? Avoiding consequences of state action? Other?

Non - options MUUSD (no current union high school district in GISU) Layered Merger (no current union high school district in GISU)

An Option UNION (merger) (accelerated or conventional timeline) – All 5 districts become 1 district – Forced choice: one grade span for entire district (either PreK-6 or PreK-8) – > 900 students – Accelerated voted by July 2016/operational by July 2017 – Conventional voted by July 2017/operational by July 2019

Another Option Regional Education District (RED) – 4 districts OR 1,250 students – 1 more schools operating minimum of grades PreK – 6 – For non-operating grades tuition other grades OR voters designate 1 – 3 high schools

Another Option RED Variation: Side by Side 2 new districts formed (from at least 2 each) Need not be contiguous May come from different SU’s Both “sides” end up in the same SU Each “side” responsible for PreK – 12 One “side” must operate PreK-12 Vote by July 1, 2017 Operational on same day by July 1, 2019

Chittenden “Off Island” Conditions Supervisory Unions: – Chittenden Central (only until July 1, 2017) – Chittenden East (MUUSD; may become SD/Union) – Chittenden South (studying a union district)

Chittenden “Off-Island” Conditions Supervisory Districts (preK-12) – Burlington – South Burlington – Milton – Colchester – Essex-Westford (2017) – Winooski

Franklin “Off Island” Conditions Supervisory Unions: – Franklin Northwest (preparing to study) MVU 7-12; Franklin, Swanton & Highgate = PreK-6; Sheldon = PreK-8 – Franklin Northeast Enosburg & Richford PreK-12; Bakersfield, Berkshire & Montgomery = PreK-8 (preparing to vote) – Franklin Central BFA Union; St. Albans City, St. Albans Town, Fairfield = PreK-8 (preparing to vote) – Franklin West BFA Fairfax PreK-12; Fletcher PreK-6; Georgia (PreK-8) (preparing to study)