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PROGRAM OVERVIEW
October 17, 2016

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

Discussion Agenda
Proud accomplishments
Local area review
Financial situation & forward looking analysis
Summary & conclusion

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Academic Success
Ithaca Public Schools is consistently a high performing district in:
Math, Literacy, SAT
Ithaca High School offers advanced placement courses in:
World History, US History, Statistics, Biology, Physics & English Literature
25% of Ithaca High School Students take an AP course!

Dual credit options are offered in collaboration with Alma College

and Mid Michigan Community College

We are Future Farmers of America (FFA) members with an
Agricultural Career & Technology Education (CTE) program
US & World Report Silver Ranking High School (2012 & 2015)
Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters
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Ithaca scored above the State Average and peers

in 3rd Grade combined M-Step results !

Source: Munetrix
Source:
Munetrix
using
State Pride
of Michigan
Data
Ithaca
Public
Schools
Where
Still Matters

Athletic Success
Boys Football State Champions
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Girls Cross Country State Champions
2014

Girls Track & Field

2016
Girls Bowling State Champions
2016
The 2016 graduating Quarterback from Ithaca High School

Go Yellowjackets !!!

received a scholarship to Harvard !

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

Extracurricular Offerings
Jr./Sr. High School has the only active school theater in Gratiot County
Extracurricular opportunities in the following areas are offered:
Band
Business Professionals of America
Model UN (United Nations) Won 23 league championships
Student run paper (The Growler) is the 2nd highest ranked school paper in the state
German Links foreign exchange program
Also, Science Olympiad, Quiz Bowl, Tech Club, Writing Team - plus more!

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Ithaca The City

Ithaca is a small, rural farming community with a median income of $42,176

(2013) and a median property value of $79,556 (2013)

Ithacas 2015 population of 2,834 is 2.5% lower than in 2010 and 8% lower
than in 2000.
The City of Ithaca has experienced a Taxable Value decline of 20% since its
peak in 2013
Taxable Value per capita for the City of Ithaca is $26,150.
Scholars suggest that anything below $20,000 is unsustainable

Ithaca (the city) has been in a slight decline over the last decade, but one thing
it does have is an Outstanding School District. These go hand in hand.
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Ithaca The School

The districts current enrollment is 1,195 - down nearly 12% since 2010
However, 91% of the students in district are enrolled in the district
The districts combined free and reduced lunch population exceeds 40%
Today, 14% of our students qualify for Special Education Services

Ithaca, both the District and the town, are

hardworking, involved and community-centric
Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters
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Ithaca Public Schools Staffing

Over half of Ithaca Public

School employees are local

residents
Over one-third of Ithacas staff
graduated from Ithaca High
School
We have fewer district
employees than any of our
peers - and are even down
one FTE from 2015-2016
Source: Munetrix
Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters
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Student Centered Spending

Within our peer group, we spend

the largest percentage of our

budget on instructional service
and athletics
The results speak for themselves

We have the lowest spending per

student at $8,640 versus the

regional average of $9,341!
Source: Munetrix
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Ithaca is the Little

Engine that Could !!

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However
Past performance is not an indication of future
success. One thing is for sure though - without
your help, our future is at risk!

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

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State Aid Withholding Penalty

Ithaca is saddled with a $1,033,432 school aid withholding penalty

caused by no-one currently employed at the district

Was there an issue? Yes. Caused by inexperience which resulted in
poor oversight but perhaps even fraudulent intent by the provider
The district received more per-pupil money than it should have

Ithaca Public Schools has already repaid almost $250,000, but any

further retraction from state-aid funds will put the district in an

unrecoverable tailspin.

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

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Ithaca is being asked to pay back almost 10x more

than we received !
$1,033,432 (State Aid Payments received in 2013-14 and 2014-2015)
- $ 942,567 (Amount paid to MEP in four installments)
$ 90,865 (Money retained by Ithaca Public Schools)

We have to pay back money we did not keep !

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

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How this Compares

Vassar, an almost identical district in every regard (except for Ithacas

exceptional sports program and high academic achievement) was also caught
up in the same sham from MEP
Vassar also owes the state nearly $1,000,000

Ironically, this year Vassar received $750,000 from the Michigan Department

of Education as a Section 1003(g) School Improvement Grant (SIG)

The SIG funds are only granted to the persistently low achieving schools in the
state
In other words, Ithaca, is not eligible because its doing too well!

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

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The Company (MEP)

There is an ongoing criminal investigation against the four owners of

Michigan Educational Partnership (MEP)

The individual that contracted with MEP is no longer employed by
Ithaca Public Schools
The State Aid penalty is coming out of the hides of staff, students
and families of Ithaca all innocent parties to the travesty
We cannot even consider CPI increases in future budgets, and
We will be unable to update our curriculum to align with Michigan
Department of Education standards
WE NEED YOUR HELP, OR THIS DISTRICT IS GOING DOWN!

Ithaca Public Schools Where Pride Still Matters

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Impact on Ithaca Pick a Path

Source: Munetrix
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Scenario Definitions
Baseline
Student count does not change for the period through 2017-2020.
Reduction of FTE in 2017
Scenario A
Compounded loss of 15 students per year through 2020
Reduction of 1 FTE in 2018 and 1 in 2020

Scenario B
Compounded loss of 30 students per year through 2020
Reduction of 2 FTE in 2018, 1 in 2019 and 1 more in 2020
Scenario C
Compounded loss of 30 students per year, but without $206K per year penalty (2018-20)
No staff reductions 2018-2020

Scenario D
No student loss and no penalty repayment, no staff reductions. (Best possible Outcome)

Summary: Focus on a Sustainable Future

With declining enrollment, we cannot make any further budget cuts without

negatively impacting the quality of education and the safety of our students
For the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year we have:
One less FTE than in 2015-2016, even though state student to staff ratio analysis show that

we run very lean already

Maximized Federal grant opportunities to fund state mandated professional development
(we could sure use some state help here!)
Made spending cuts that do not impact educational quality or safety

In 2017-2018 through 2019-2020, we will be forced to:

Reduce staffing levels by approximately one teacher for every 20-25 students our
enrollment declines

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Conclusion: We no longer control our own destiny

Without forgiveness from the State of Michigan, Ithaca will not be able to

maintain its financial independence or continue with its academic and

extracurricular excellence. Nor will we be that Involved, Community Centric
Partner that connects our town and school together.
An expected decline of the district will become a self fulfilling prophecy.

Parents will not wait around to see what happens.

School of choice losses will become increasingly difficult to manage
The financial model clearly shows that all scenarios point down

AGAIN - WE NEED YOUR HELP

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Thank you for your time and attention !

Please share your thoughts

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