What do we do with the money?

What do you do with the Money?

How bad do we need a new middle school?

 Here is the reason for the question.  There is a strong possibility that there is MOLD inside the ceiling and walls of the current middle school.  No assessment has been done to determine if MOLD is a problem or not.

The middle school is the oldest school in the district, and has lots of issues such as classroom sizes, lighting, safety, and general layout.

The estimated cost of a new middle school is between 10 and 18 million dollars.  The exact price depends on what “bells and whistles” are added to the base design.

The state offered a possible BEST grant to pay for 87% of the price of a new school, if the district would pay 13% of the cost.  The District decided not to use any of the $4.8 million dollars in reserve to cover the cost of the new school.  The state said that if the district would not participate, then the grant would go to some other district – and it did.

We might be able to get another grant offer, but we will need to agree to pay the 13% cost of construction rate. We currently have reserve funds in the amount of $4,810,333 dollars, and depending upon the final cost of a new school, the 13% will be between $1,300,000 and $2,340,000.

How bad do we want to pay off our current school district debts?

The district has two types of long term debts.  First there are 2 “bond” debts, where the district has borrowed two large amounts of money to build and repair the middle school and elementary school, the district also has a “certificate of participation” loan.  One bond has a remaining balance of about $91,000 dollars, and is scheduled to be paid off in 2012.  The second bond is in the amount of about $3,140,000 and has over 20 years remaining.  The “certificate of participation” has a balance of about $1,135,000 and will not be paid off for 6 years.  The payment for the two bonds is about $400,000 per year. The payment for the “certificate of participation” is about $244,000 per year.  There is a “bond reduction account” with about $2,135,000 in it and other reserve accounts, that total about $2,675,000.  We have sufficient funds to pay off all the debt, and still have a small reserve balance of about $445,000. Payoff of the debt will result in about $665,000 per year savings, although almost $400,000 of that would be in the form of lower property taxes.

How bad to we want to pay teachers and get new equipment?

At the beginning of this school year, the district froze all teachers’ pay because funding may have been a problem. 

To do a better job in teaching, many teachers want additional new equipment and teacher’s aids in the classroom.  The current estimate for the additional equipment and aids and to restore the teacher’s salaries is about $1,150,000. 

We have the reserve funds to cover the cost, but if we use the funds for new equipment and aids, then there will only be sufficient funds to either pay off all the debt, or to build a new middle school, not both.

Or we could do nothing and wait

What choice would you make?

Well it could be worse - I guess

According to a national school rating service - great schools.org, our believe that the Ellicott schools needed a lot of improvement in our CSAP scores has been validated.  This national organization rates the Ellicott District at 4 out of 10.  Miami Yoder is rated at 5, Calhan, and Falcon at 7's and Peyton at 8. The district administration say we are growing - but this national school rating services says we are failing. Check out the site:  http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/ellicott-school-district-22/

Oh, and for the record, channel 13 news just reported, that the Governor has announced his plan for next years school funding program - bottom line - what you got for the 2009/2010 school year is what you will get for the 2010/2011 school year. 

The District Mission Statement

Last night at the District 22 board meeting - the board and the superintendent were asked if anyone could recite the the district mission statement.  No one could - the school board and the school superintendent could not (or chose not to) recite the district mission statement.  How sad that the leadership of the district does not appear to know what the mission of the school district is. 

If we don’t know what the mission is;   if we don’t know what our goal is, how can anyone expect success?

The board is responsible for leading the district.  The board is responsible for setting the District goals.  Sadly they have not done that - they didn't even know the mission statement; and it was hung on the wall behind them!.

There was no discussion on the MOLD issues - How a major potential problem like that could be ignored is beyond me.  One board member did leak out to me that a company had been contacted to do an assessment of the problem - but the company and district had not yet decided when they would allowed to do the MOLD assessment.

There was a discussion on retirement of a bond the district has outstanding - In that discussion, the representative from the bonding company stated that the new financing of the old bond, would result in a saving of $144,000 over the next 6 years.  The board seemed happy with this idea.  A question from the citizens in attendance was asked about the outstanding balance of the bond, and could it be paid off at one time.  The bond representative stated that the amount was about $1,135,000, and could be paid off at any time.  If the bond were to be paid off, then the savings would be about $244,000 per year for the next 6 years.  If you assume the bond was paid off from the general fund reserve, that reserve will still have over $1 million dollars.  The board did not seem interested in saving what would amount to $1,464,000 over the next six years, but were far more interested in saving the $144,000.  My resources management instructor would be turning over in his grave if I ever made a statement like the board did.  By paying off the bond, I would still have over 1 million in reserve, and actually save more than the payoff amount of the bond over six years.

There was a discussion about the possible BEST grant funds for a new middle school.  Mr. Ebert admitted that he had turned down the first offer of getting a new middle school because he did not want to meet the BEST grant committee request that the district pay for 13% of the cost.  Mr. Ebert has changed his estimate of the cost of a new middle school from $6 million to $12 million or maybe $18 million - I guess it's inflation.  The board plan now is ask the district voters to agree to "bond" something between $750,000 for a 6 million dollar middle school to about $1.56 million on a 12 million dollar school, or maybe it's $2,340,000 for a 18 million dollar school.  They want to ask the voters for another bond - while having over $4.800,000 in reserve - can you believe that.  Further, they did not jump at the first offer.  If someone offered me a $6 million dollar house - or even a $12 million dollar house and all I had to do was pay $780,000 for it, I would have been running to the bank. But no one on the board has any common sense, and certainly no financial sense.

We Can Do Better

Ellicott Teachers did you know that your salaries are the lowest in El Paso County?  The school board froze your salaries based upon H. Terry Ebert’s recommendation. Ebert made his recommendation just a few weeks after he convinced the board to give him a pay raise of nearly $4,000. Now Ebert says that freezing teacher salaries was necessary because of the “cutback” in state funding.  It that true?  The committee believes WE CAN DO BETTER in supporting our teaching staff.  The committee believes you should get your pay back, and actually need to be better compensated for what you do. 

The committee knows you are doing a fantastic job.  We know you put your blood, sweat and tears into your work, and we have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for what you do.  But we also know that the administration and the board can do a better job in supporting you in your efforts.   Talking about CSAP scores does not reflect on the teachers.  Talking about budgets does not reflect on the teachers – it reflects on the administration and school board for not doing everything possible to support the teachers.

Not only do we know that WE CAN DO BETTER, we know we should do better in supporting the teaching staff.  We must and WE CAN DO BETTER in getting the students ready for adult life.

Teachers, join the Citizens for Excellent Ellicott Schools, so our united voice will bring the changes we need. 

What will help you the most?  teacher aids in your classrooms – better more up to date text books – a better daily plan –more academic freedom – Join the committee or just let us know what you need and we will do everything possible to get it for you.

If you don’t agree with something – tell us because that is the way we will be able to fix problems.  You the teacher’s are the heart and soul of the system – we need to hear your voices

A new Beginning

Ellicott Teachers, Administrators and Staff

A new Beginning

Many of you have been told that you should fear a new school board.   It’s not true. 

The committee thinks that Ellicott school teachers should not be the lowest paid teachers in El Paso County .  We have the money, so why don't we pay the teachers what is fair?

The committee wants to know what the teachers need in the classrooms to be better able to teach the students – We want to help you get what you need. 

The committee wants to know if the teachers need additional support in your classrooms like teachers aids.  We want to help you get them.

The committee has the utmost respect and admiration for everything the techers do.  We need your input and will actually listen to you and your needs.

The committee has a plan to buy updated text books for each grade – Please help us by letting us know what text books you need. 

The committee has a plan to pay “Rewards for Excellence” bonuses to exceptional teachers  as identified by the teachers.

The committee has a plan for a “teacher of the year” which would provide a significant reward.

Do you want your voice heard – join the Citizens for Excellent Ellicott Schools. 

Do you want your educational needs met - join the Citizens for Excellent Ellicott Schools.  

Questions call us at 683-2520.

District CSAP Scores

Ellicott CSAP Comparison scores
2006 to 2010
Source = Colorado Department of Education
Reading	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Grade 3	50	55	63	73	47
Grade 4	51	53	59	65	65
Grade 5	63	47	54	47	68
Grade 6	49	65	52	61	53
Grade 7	60	47	51	52	61
Grade 8	52	51	56	67	60
Grade 9	39	61	59	66	68
Grade 10	68	48	59	67	75
Writing	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Grade 3	42	43	41	44	31
Grade 4	33	38	38	52	34
Grade 5	41	20	38	27	58
Grade 6	41	53	41	42	45
Grade 7	55	43	43	39	45
Grade 8	45	36	34	42	39
Grade 9	21	41	39	42	38
Grade 10	44	27	31	38	38
Math	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Grade 3	49	51	69	58	50
Grade 4	66	59	59	76	70
Grade 5	56	54	45	31	68
Grade 6	32	49	44	43	63
Grade 7	27	36	33	41	32
Grade 8	24	25	27	42	34
Grade 9	14	18	23	22	26
Grade 10	15	14	15	20	21
Science	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Grade 5	31	22	29	27	47
Grade 8	21	35	30	47	45
Grade 10	40	25	37	51	34
	Between 75 and 100% met Proficiency
	Between 60 and 74% met proficiency
	59% or less meet proficiency

Compare Ellicott's CSAP scores to other rural El Paso County schools

Ellicott CSAP Comparison scores
2010 scores
Source = Colorado Department of Education
		Miami
	Ellicott	Yoder	Peyton	Calhan
Reading	2010	2010	2010	2010
Grade 3	47	58	61	76
Grade 4	65	58	81	71
Grade 5	68	62	72	56
Grade 6	53	59	73	74
Grade 7	61	71	66	66
Grade 8	60	86	62	73
Grade 9	68	59	75	74
Grade 10	75	52	70	88
Writing	2010	2010	2010
Grade 3	31	42	40	60
Grade 4	34	42	60	53
Grade 5	58	52	66	45
Grade 6	45	24	56	59
Grade 7	45	54	58	55
Grade 8	39	67	64	56
Grade 9	38	34	70	62
Grade 10	38	43	52	58
Math	2010	2010	2010
Grade 3	50	65	74	76
Grade 4	70	52	90	76
Grade 5	68	59	66	60
Grade 6	63	47	69	70
Grade 7	32	36	53	48
Grade 8	34	62	55	61
Grade 9	26	17	49	34
Grade 10	21	13	20	23
Science	2010	2010	2010
Grade 5	47	38	68	60
Grade 8	45	57	53	63
Grade 10	34	35	57	63
	Best Score
	Second Score
	Third Score
	Worse score