03-07-2017 Minutes Community Meeting SCMS

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• Seventy-nine percent of the nation's 6th graders are in a middle school setting; • Administration has looked at possible concerns; such as, increased behavior problems, lower test scores, and increased influence of older students; • Saving money seems to be important to this community. Moving 6th graders and building a new middle school will be more cost effective than building or adding on to elementary schools; and • Both Sandcreek MS and Rocky Mountain MS are growing; another middle school is obviously needed. V. Financial Presentation - Mark Bird, Finance Committee Chairman Bird invited Mark Bird to present information from the District Finance Committee relating to bonding necessary for any additional building for the district to accommodate the student growth in the district. Mr. Bird presented information that answers the questions of what is the bonding capacity that district is now at and what can we can do without raising taxes? Main points were: • Current bond capacity is $34.5 million without raising taxes • Conservative assumptions include 4% market value growth, supplemental levy increase to $5.8 million, and a 17.5 year bond. • Increasing our bonding capacity would require waiting for the market value growth to increase, raising the levy rate, lengthening the bond terms, or using lower or no -coupon bonds. • Building a middle school is needed due to growth and is the best solution relating to cost. • If 6th graders remain at the elementary level, 1-2 new elementary schools will need to be built. VI. Public Input Chairman Bird invited any patrons to express their suggestions and concerns relating to the increase in student growth in the district. The main topics discussed were: • There are many issues that need attention: school building options, timeline for boundary changes, and moving forward with a bond in August. • If a middle school is built, it will include the 6th grade students. • Benefits for 6th graders moving into a middle school are more extracurricular opportunities, elective classes, and advanced math classes. • Involve the current 6th grade teachers in this discussion. • Sixth grade teachers will move with the 6th grade students; many 6th grade students need more one-on- one help and support from the teacher. They are fundamental in the transitioning of the students. • Collect input from the 6th, 7th and 8th graders. • Core standards are different for the level of certification that teachers hold, either K-5 or 6-12 certification. Therefore, it is more sensible to have the 6th graders in middle school. • Support is needed for both the student and the teachers. • Timeline for bonding for new buildings will need to be on the August ballot. • Proposed opening timelines would be 2019 for elementary school and 2020 for middle school. • It costs more to expedite the construction process. • When bonds are paid off, the available funds are then used to pay existing principle payments on other bonds. • There is a possibility of bonding for a middle school without raising taxes if there would be an increase in the market value growth. • Required off-site county improvements, such as traffic lights, will rise the cost of bonding. • Retention of teachers will come with smaller classes. • Student education suffers with overcrowding; parking lots are not safe with increased parent traffic. • Options for the overcrowding at current elementary schools could include boundary changes, adding more modular trailers, bussing students to other schools that have available classrooms, andlor relocating special needs programs. • Empty classrooms are at Fairview, ikon, Tiebreaker, Falls Valley and Hillview elementaries. • Community concerns with the age of Ammon Elementary — refurbish or rebuild? • A survey could be sent out to the community and parents to see if they would support a small tax increase in order to bond for more. • Not all the district schools are over capacity; it is just a few areas. • There is growth at both the north and south ends of the district. Both areas need to be considered with the building plans.