Martin County Board of Education Reorganization Study Overview
The Martin County Board of Education conducted a comprehensive study on Edna Andrews Elementary School as part of a wider reorganization plan for the school system. The study focused on various factors such as student welfare, facility costs, enrollment changes, and inconvenience to students. The plan includes merging elementary schools and restructuring the district into one high school, one middle school, and five elementary schools. The study explores the feasibility of merging school populations and provides insights on enrollment, finances, curriculum, and transportation. This initiative arises from declining county and student populations, necessitating resource optimization.
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The Martin County Board of Education Edna Andrews Elementary Study PRESENTED BY DR. CHRIS MANSFIELD, SUPERINTENDENT FEBRUARY 2018
In keeping with North Carolina General Statute 115C-72: What follows is a thorough study of Edna Andrews Elementary School, having in mind primarily the welfare of the students to be affected by a proposed closing or consolidation and including such other factors as geographic conditions, anticipated increase or decrease in school enrollment, the inconvenience or hardship that might result to the pupils being affected by such closing or consolidation, the cost of providing additional school facilities in the event of such closing or consolidation, and such other factors as the Board shall consider germane.
Rationale and Objectives On September 14, 2015, the Martin County Board of Education approved a motion to pursue the reorganization Option 3 . This plan calls for the reorganization of Martin County Schools into a new facilities configuration consisting of one high school to be located at what is now Riverside High School, one middle school at what is now South Creek High School, and five elementary schools.
Rationale and Objectives continued The study explores the feasibility and rationale for merging the elementary school populations of East End and Edna Andrews into a single elementary school serving the western end of Martin County. This step is a precursor to the reorganization of the system into one high school, one middle school, and five elementary schools. This study also provides board members current information on the enrollment status, curricular and extracurricular considerations, financial impact on the school system, and transportation considerations.
Background The Martin County Board of Education is confronted with the fact that county population, student population, and the resources needed to operate the county s schools continue to decline.
Current Trends for Martin County
County Population The 2010 census reported that Martin County lost over 4% of its population between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the county s population was 25,593 and in 2010, the population was 24,505. A 2016 estimate placed the county population at 23,172. Martin County also has an aging population. The median age of its citizens in 2000 was 38.2 and in 2010 the median age was 44. The 2011-2015 American Community Survey placed the median age at 46
Martin County Population by Age 0-19 years 24.00% 20-29 years 10.00% 30-39 years 10.20% 40-49 years 13.00% 50 years & older 42.80%
Student Population The Department of Public Instruction studies show that Martin County Schools had an average daily membership of 4,998 during the 1997-98 school year. Since that time, there has been a steady decline in membership. By the 2002-03 school year, average daily membership had fallen to 4,539. That trend has continued so that in 2016-17, the 9thmonth enrollment was 3,139, and in the current 2017-18 school year, 2nd month enrollment is currently 3,058 (not including PK).
Student Population continued This equates to a total loss of 1,859 students between 1997-1998 and 2017-2018, or 38.8%. Department of Public Instruction projections indicate that average daily membership will continue to decline and hit 2,573 by 2025-26.
Martin County Schools ADM Average Daily Membership (NCDPI projections vs. actual) 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018
Resources For some time, the Martin County Board of Education has struggled to operate its schools with fewer and fewer resources. Local, State, and Federal monies available to the Board have been reduced over the past several years.
Financial Resources Fund Balance Appropriated Local State Federal 2011-2012 5,635,713.48 25,604,945.54 5,232,348.25 2012-2013 5,296,261.20 24,037,379.00 4,048,172.83 2013-2014 4,947,024.75 23,888,543.59 3,602,577.35 318,718.63 2014-2015 4,821,592.25 24,016,144.98 3,305,013.58 356,727.05 2015-2016 4,988,144.24 23,866,906.41 3,302,587.47 260,551.78 2016-2017 5,039,163.51 23,556,130.25 3,520,935.14 1,127,005.00 (budgeted) 2017-2018 5,140,158.00 23,654,435.23 3,327,123.86 575,209.00
Personnel Total Licensed Employees Classified Employees Employees 2008-2009 665 393 272 2012-2013 552 328 224 2013-2014 541 321 220 2014-2015 533 319 214 2015-2016 512 311 201 2016-2017 503 308 195 2017-2018 499* 299 198 *does not reflect current vacancies or part-time employees.
Personnel Position Reductions (2008-09 through 2017-18) 94 Licensed Employees 74 Classified Employees 25 % Reduction in Total Staff Teacher Assistant Time Reductions Reduction in Teacher Assistant Hours Per Week 40 hrs. per week 35 hrs. per week for most Reduction in Teacher Assistant Days 215 days per year 203 days per year
Edna Andrews Students Merging with East End Students Edna Andrews Students Merging with East End Students
Enrollment at Edna Andrews Elementary School 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 134* 136* 140* 128* 124* 111** *9th school month **2nd school month Does Not Include PK
Enrollment at East End Elementary School 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 295* 286* 313* 290* 305* 286** *9th school month **2nd school month Does Not Include PK
Pre-K Enrollment at Edna Andrews and East End 2012- 2013 2013- 2014 2014- 2015 2015- 2016 2016- 2017 2017- 2018 EAE 16* 13* 16* 14* 10* N/A** EEE 43* 41* 28* 28* 29* 32** *9th school month **2nd school month
Some Benefits of an EE-EA Merger Easier Access to the Boys and Girls Club Full-Time Access to a Child Family Support Team Full-Time Access to a Guidance Counselor Full-Time Access to Resource Teachers (Art, Music, PE) Full-Time Access to an Assistant Principal Reduced Isolation Among Classroom Teachers Pooling of resources and funding such as technology and Title I.
Other Factors to Be Considered by the Board 1. New K-3 Class Size Limits Grade Level Combined Number of Students 56 Allotment Ratio & Maximum Number of Teachers Allotted Number of Teachers Needed Average Class Size K 1:18 21 3.1 3 18.67 1 56 1:16 19 3.5 4 14.00 2 63 1:17 20 3.7 4 15.75 3 68 1:17 20 4.0 4 17.00 4 79 1:24 N/A 3.3 3 26.33 5 73 1:24 N/A 3.0 3 24.33 (20.65 Teachers Allocated; 21 Teachers Needed; 3 Resource Teachers Needed)
Other Factors to be Considered (continued) 2. Potential Savings on EA Capital Improvements* Replace Windows...........................................$210,000 Paving...............................................................$48,000 New Playground Equipment.............................$24,000 Total................................................................$282,000 *(Improvements are from a 2014 long-range facilities survey conducted by MBAJ Architects & the Masonborough Group. ) 3. Approximate savings on utilities costs by closing EA. $47,221(2013-14) 4. If EA enrollment drops below 100, MCS has to pick up the cost of the principal. 5. The Board has received copies of resolutions from the towns of Hamilton, Hassell, and Oak City opposing the closing of Edna Andrews Elementary School.
Other Factors to be Considered (continued) 6. Staff Savings (if no hold-harmless provision is adopted) Savings Amount 1 Receptionists/Bookkeeper/Data Manager $35,742 2 Custodian Positions $50,584 1 Media Coordinator Position $49,780 3 Child Nutrition Employees $42,272 1 Principal Allotment $57,096 (for 2 years) Total Savings (annual) $235,474
Other Factors to be Considered (continue) 7. Total enrollment at East End PK-5 would be 429 (if merged today) East End = 318; Edna Andrews = 111 8. Total cost to transport 100% of all current K-5 Edna Andrews students to East End = $63,800 (estimated). Not all students will ride the bus. The state will pick up the cost of bus transportation.
BUS RIDE TIMES (Edna Andrews K-5 Students Attending East End) In working with the Transportation Department to estimate the ride times to East End for students that live in areas of western Martin County, we began by examining similar routes for students attending South Creek Middle and High, since they involve the same roads. Those route times were then adjusted by adding the travel time between the SCMS and East End campuses. The following represent the longest routes. Bus 183 picks up its first student at 6:31am and arrives at SCMS by 7:39 am. The bus would arrive at East End about 7:45 am. Max. ride time of 74 minutes. Assuming a 3pm dismissal, the last student would be dropped off around 4:32 pm. This route extends almost to Palmyra at farthest point but picks up mainly around Oak City. Bus 180 picks up its first student at 6:29 am and arrives at SCMS at 7:37 am. The bus would arrive at East End about 7:44 am. Max. ride time of 75 minutes. Assuming a 3pm dismissal, the last student would be dropped off around 4:23 pm. This route includes Oak City, Hamilton, along 124 and 903 finishes in Robersonville. Bus 165 picks up its first student at 6:21am and arrives at SCMS by 7:27am. This time could be shifted back a few minutes to pick up first student about 6:30 am and arrive at East End by 7:45 am which would result in a max. ride time of 75 minutes. Assuming a 3pm dismissal, the last student would be dropped off around 4:18 pm. This route is mainly in Hamilton and on Roy Beach Rd. Bus 172 picks up its first student at 6:46 am and arrives at SCMS at 7:37 am. The bus would arrive at East End around 7:45 am. Max. ride time about 59 minutes. Assuming a 3pm dismissal, the last student would be dropped off around 4:06 pm. Bus 193 picks up its first student at 6:01 am and arrives at SCMS by7:40 am. The bus would arrive at East End by 7:46 am. Max. ride time about 105 minutes. Assuming a 3pm dismissal, the last student would be dropped off around 4:34 pm. This route includes the most outlying areas extending almost to Hobgood on County Line Rd. The similar bus route originating from Edna Andrews picks up its first student at 6:30 am and arrives back at Edna Andrews at 7:30 am. If this same Edna Andrews route was utilized but adjusted forward about 5-10 minutes with the first pickup around 6:20 or 6:25 am, the bus would arrive at East End by 7:45 am in line with the other routes. Max. ride time on that route would be about 75-80 minutes.
BUS RIDE TIMES (Edna Andrews K-5 Students Attending East End) Version 2 The transportation department has run simulated bus routes in which current Edna Andrews students are transported to East End. All three simulated routes assume a 7:30 am arrival at East End. A change in the arrival time would translate into a like change in the pick-up time. Simulated Route #1 Bus starts at West Martin. First child is picked up at 6:13 am. Bus route extends out as far as Roy Beach Rd. Longest ride is 77 minutes. Shortest ride is 21 minutes. Simulated Route #2 Bus starts at the Edna Andrews campus. First child is picked up at 6:35 am. Bus route extends around Hamilton and Hassell areas. Longest ride is 60 minutes. Shortest ride is 15 minutes. Simulated Route #3 Bus starts at West Martin. First child picked up at 6:26 am. Bus route extends out to County Line and Mayo Farm Rds. Longest ride is 64 minutes. Shortest ride is 22 minutes.
Other Factors to be Considered (continued) 9. Housing K-5 at East End Elementary School and housing PK at the Edna Andrews building provides a secondary option. Potential benefits to this option include: 1. Provides more space for K-5 students at East End. 2. Provides space to expand PK services, if necessary. 3. Provides space for PK assessment and observation. 4. Maintains a school facility in Hamilton. 5. Provides space for auxiliary services personnel. 6. Multipurpose room allows for all-weather play/activity space. 7. No immediate need to construct a PK building if SCMS is renovated into an elementary school.
Potential Costs to moving PK to Edna Andrews would include: Cost to transport PK students to Edna Andrews (approx. $18,000) Maintain a receptionist at Edna Andrews (approx. $22,000 half-time) Maintain a custodian at Edna Andrews (approx. $30,000) Child nutrition costs (either maintain two CN workers or transport meal items (approx. $30,000 for staff; lower if meal items are transported) Utility costs (approx. $47,000 depending on usage) Renovation costs = $0 Six classrooms at EA are equipped with direct bathroom access, four of which have direct exterior egress.
Classroom Space Concerns East End has 27 usable classroom spaces. Of the two mobile units on site, one is being used by the Boys & Girls Club. The other is not used for instruction and would require renovation or replacement if used as classroom space. If PK-5 are all contained at East End, it is projected that 29-30 classrooms will be needed based on upcoming class size requirements. Pre-K (2); K (4); 1st (4); 2nd (4); 3rd (5); 4th (3); 5th (3); Music (1); Art (1); EC (2-3) While these classes could theoretically fit, it would most likely mean the loss of the second computer lab and the staff PLC/PD room and there would likely be no space for expansion. If Pre-K is located to the Edna Andrews facility, K-5 classrooms could easily be accommodated without the loss of the second computer lab or PLC room.
