1. LEADERSHIP BILLINGS STATE OF THE DISTRICT JACK COPPS, SUPERINTENDENT Billings Public Schools January 7, 2009

2. We Are Billings Public Schools Billings Public Schools = 15,481 Students

3. We Are Billings Public Schools 15,481 Students = 29 Montana Counties

4. Putting our size in perspective  Largest District in MT: 15,481 students  Larger than MSU/Bozeman or UM  1 out of every 10 Montana students is educated in Billings  One of Largest Employers in the County: 2,100  Two Districts: High School (9-12), Elementary (K-8)  22 Elementary Schools  4 Middle Schools  3 High Schools  1 Career Center (only one in Montana)  Adult Education  Community Education

5. Successes The proof is in our schools  High Quality Staff  Recruitment & Retention Teachers - The Best National Board Certified Administrators Support Staff

6. Successes The proof is in our schools  Learner Focused  School Improvement Process On Site Accreditation Reviews  Data-Driven Decisions  Competitive Test Scores

7. Successes The proof is in our schools  Learner Focused, continued  Individualized Learning Gifted and Talented Subject Promotion Advanced Placement Honors Courses

8. Successes The proof is in our schools  Learner Focused, continue d  Individualized Learning, continued At Risk Students Intervention Programs (READ 180, SuccessMaker, STAR) Credit Recovery Native American Achievement Project Partnerships (Tumbleweed, YBGR, MSU-B, RMC, COT, HeadStart, Young Families, United Way, Yellowstone Boys & Girls Club, CASA, Rimrock Foundation) Special Needs Students Technology as a Learning Tool

9. Successes The proof is in our schools  Learner Focused, continued  Individualized Learning, continued Orchard School (We Can!) Career Center Increased Enrollment Curriculum Expansion Full-Time Opportunities Employer Connected Career Center/COT Partnership Articulation of Curriculum (I.e., Allied Health) Workforce Connection

10. Successes The proof is in our schools  Learner Focused, continued  Individualized Learning, continued Neighborhood Schools (More to Do) Energy Conservation (On the Way) Community Connection (We’re Getting There) Chamber of Commerce Yes For Kids Area Businesses Business and Community Leaders Thank You School Volunteers Donations (Coats, Computers, Playgrounds) Angel Fund

11. Challenges  Enrollment and Overcrowding  State Funding  Needs of Urban School Districts  Local Mill Levies

12. Challenges  Enrollment and Overcrowding Has been flat, though trend is changing BPS High School population decreased by 333 over the past two years, 6% decrease since 2006 (October, 2008) Middle and Elementary Populations increasing Middle School increased over past two years by 3.7% Elementary Schools increased by 2.2% (greatest increases in K-3 rd grades)

13. Challenges  Enrollment and Overcrowding, continued  How Does Billings Compare to Montana? MT enrollment peaked in 1995-1996 Since then, MT has had a 20,000 student decrease due to decrease in MT live births 2002, MT had one of the lowest birth counts in the country Live births started to increase in 2000 and are expected to continue to increase in the next 10 years Kindergarten enrollment began to increase again in 2003-2004

14. Challenges  Enrollment and Overcrowding, continued  Is Overcrowding an Issue in Billings? All Billings schools are at or near capacity (except Lewis and Clark Middle School) Billings is seeing a growth rate of nearly 2,000 per year. We must plan for this growth and anticipate some growth in enrollment.

15. Challenges  Enrollment and Overcrowding, continued  Is Overcrowding an Issue in Billings? Research supports strong Neighborhood Schools. With growth in the West End, our west end schools are full to the maximum. West High and Arrowhead schools are full beyond capacity. The result is students are sometimes bussed past their neighborhood school, and sometimes past 1, 2 or 3 schools until they are at a school that has room for them. Students need to be able to attend schools that are within walking and biking distances IN their neighborhood.

16. Challenges  Enrollment and Overcrowding, continued  We Used to Have Space, Why is it Different Now? Educational delivery has changed over time. Full Day Kindergarten added 550 full time students Intervention programs demand extra classroom space Technology as a 21 st Century learning tool requires space for computer labs and equipment.

17. Challenges  State Education Funding  Governor’s Proposed budget includes 2.5% for education and an average of 9.7% for other state agencies  How does that 2.5% translate for Billings? It would increase our High School district by less than 1%.  Even with a voted mill levy this spring, the total increase for the high school district would be about 1.5% - a $1.5million shortfall

18. Challenges  State Education Funding, continued  Elementary District would see a 2.4% increase, however because of previously negotiated wage increases of 3.75%, the elementary district would be unable to maintain the services and level of instruction currently provided

19. Challenges  State Education Funding, continued  State K-12 Education Funding as a Share of the State General Fund is only 63%  Appropriation as Percentage of State General Fund has decreased since 1991

20. K-12 Appropriation as a % of State General Fund

21. Challenges  Needs of Urban School Districts  State Constitution defines a component of quality education – the needs of urban schools with high population density

22. Challenges  Needs of Urban School Districts, continued  Sustain Elementary Neighborhood Schools  Address the Needs of Large High School Populations Basic Entitlements Decrements

23. Challenges  Needs of Urban School Districts, continued  Infrastructure Needs Facilities Repair and Replacement of Schools For Billings to implement a schedule that would replace an elementary school (K-6) every 100 years, we need to build a new school every five years. Last new Billings school = 20 years ago. Experts also recommend a major renovation for each school every 50 years. We would need to renovate an elementary school every 2.5 years.

24. Challenges  Needs of Urban School Districts, continued  Infrastructure Needs, continued Bonding Capacity One successful bond election since 1986, and that was paid off in 4 years State contribution Technology Needs 6,500 computers in the District and one of the largest networks in the state Space and funding for computer labs Ability to recruit staff that can educate and support technology

25. Challenges  Needs of Urban School Districts, continued  Local Mill Levies SD2 Taxes Have Decreased over the Past 6 years $170,000 home = -5.71% $270,000 home = -9.6% Why? Increased Tax Base Only one voted mill levy since 2002

26. The Road Ahead  A Time to Invest  The Price of Indecision/Delay  The Process  Hard Work  Timelines  Roles: School District, Committees, Community Leaders  Coming Together

27. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION  Thank You  Resources Presentation information at: www.billingsschools.org/overview2009 BPS News and Information (RSS Site) www.WeAreBPS.com