The document discusses Marion Community Schools' proposal to restructure and consolidate buildings due to declining enrollment, budget constraints, and aging facilities. It provides an overview of the district's achievements and challenges, including decreased state funding. Potential scenarios are presented that involve closing two buildings and reconfiguring grades across the remaining buildings. A timeline is outlined for gathering public input on options through community forums before a final recommendation in October. The goal is to create a plan that provides equal opportunities for students through improved curriculum flow and consistency of instruction.

1. WE ARE …
GIANTS BY CHOICE!

2. Marion Community Schools
Restructuring/Consolidation
September 2015
Presentation to Community

3. • Centrality of student learning
Our focus:
• Equity and access for all
stakeholders
• Better learning,
better stewardship

4. GIANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2015
• Mission-motivated faculty, staff,
and administration
• Two National Merit Finalists
• 80% of our graduates earned 3+ hours
of college credit
• Over $5 million in scholarships
• AP scores well above national and
state average
• Math state runners-up and
16th in the Nation
• Brain Game state Elite Eight
• MJH state music champions (only
junior high in state)
• JROTC state and Midwest
regional champions
• Athletic, academic, performing
arts champions
• Little Giants, state and national
recognition
• Career tech opportunities
• Ivy Tech, IWU, and Taylor
University partnerships
• Marion alumni are difference-
makers – locally and globally
• State-rated “A” high school and
“B” district

5. Q: WHY are we proposing
restructuring/consolidation?

6. A: Population
A look at total population of the
city of Marion since 1900
*estimate
*
Source: U.S. Census

7. Marion population:
A closer look at recent numbers
estimateSource:
U.S. Census

8. A: Enrollment
A look at total
MCS enrollment
since 2005

9. TAP grant
A: Budget constraints
General Fund Revenue vs. Expenses
-- projected --

10. Decrease in per-pupil dollars!
2015 changes the Legislature approved to the
“complexity index” mean less money from the
state for the same number of at-risk Marion
children:
- 2016: Our children get $909K less.
- Specific school communities will see
increased funding, but children living in
communities like ours receive less funding.
A: State Funding

11.  Pension Debt Impact
- Annual obligation of $1.3M thru 2024.
- Must come out of CPF, Transportation,
Bus Replacement funds.
 Property Tax Circuit Breaker
- $1M loss for 2015 (expected to grow).
- Ours is by far the largest loss among
local school districts.
A: State funding regulations

12. Examples: Local
Impact of Circuit Breaker
Taxing Unit Est. 2015 Impact
City of Marion - $2,609,899
Marion Community Schools - $998,927
Eastbrook Schools - $11,169
Madison-Grant Schools - $9,060
Mississinewa Schools - $117,222
Oak Hill Schools - $52,078
All other taxing entities - $2,563,887
Grant Co. Total - $6,362,242

13. Local Tax Rate History
Grant County Schools
2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Marion .8821 .8876 .9424 .7629 .8822
Oak Hill 1.2380 1.0900 1.2397 1.3730 1.3657
Eastbrook .6884 .7767 .7990 .6526 .9258
Mississinewa 1.3176 1.3977 1.4539 1.2904 1.3991
Madison-Grant .7196 .7499 .7915 .8131 .8802

14. A: Budget constraints
Capital Projects spending since 2010

15. The following scenarios can work
with MCS owning and operating
two fewer buildings.
Q: HOW are we determining
which buildings to use?

16. >> Let’s take a look at pros and cons
of individual school facilities …
A: Building structure/space
It is important to find the best solution
that will create equal opportunity
for our children to learn, grow, and mature.

17. Allen
Assets
- Green space
- Transportation/traffic logistics
- Potential bus hub
- New HVAC
- Safety of location
(between firehouse & church,
school sits far back from
street)
Challenges
- Distance from other
schools
- Interior updates needed

18. Frances
Slocum
Assets
- Proximity to MHS
- Green space / athletic space
- Proximity to IWU/
College Wesleyan Church
Challenges
- Traffic/transportation
patterns
- Restroom updates needed

19. Kendall
Assets
- Proximity to Justice
- Green space
- Transportation logistics
(access road)
- High visibility
Challenges
- Interior updates needed
(walls)
- Traffic logistics
(pickup/dropoff)
- High-traffic location
(busy streets for walkers)

20. Riverview
Assets
- Neighborhood feel
- Building sits back
away from street
Challenges
- Location (landlocked, no green
space, no flexibility)
- Busing logistics very problematic
- Multi-story
- Parking/traffic patterns
- Playground distance from building
- Most expensive upkeep per sq. foot

21. Assets
- Recent updates (new HVAC,
lighting, parking lot)
- Proximity to Kendall
- Athletic space & green space
- Potential bus hub
- Capacity
- Versatility/flexibility of space
- Easy access / high visibility
Challenges
- Multi-story
- High-traffic location
(busy streets for walkers)
Justice

22. Assets
- Athletic facilities / green space
- Capacity
- Versatility/flexibility of space
(primarily newer sections)
- Historic building (multi-story
section built in 1908)
Challenges
- Academic design constraints
(multi-story portion)
- Age of building
- More expensive to renovate
- Interior updates needed
(multi-story portion)
McCulloch

23. Assets
- Versatility/flexibility
of space
- Location
Challenges
- Multi-story
- Millions of dollars in updates needed
(including new HVAC system, new
parking lot)
- Built for industrial use
- Underutilized
- Has long been considered for closure
(and updates have been put off)
Tucker

24. Assets
- Largest capacity
- Best facility / resources
- Recent updates (Walton Center, media
center, planetarium, stadium, and more)
- Versatility/flexibility of space
- Athletic space / feeder program potential
- Curricular opportunities
- Collaboration/alignment opportunities
- Bus hub
Challenges
- Event parking
As a Jr./Sr. High:
- Athletic space
for extended day
- Cafeteria
MHS

25. Grade
Aug. ’15
Enrollment
Pre-K Little Giants 187
Pre-K Head Start 168
K 294
First 302
Second 302
Third 318
Fourth 260
Fifth 228
Sixth 256
Seventh 253
Eighth 266
Ninth 274
Tenth 274
Eleventh 252
Twelfth 235
Total 3875
Total w/o
Preschool
3520
A: Student enrollment
(and how that relates
to available space)
Total Avail. Gen. Ed. Rooms
Allen 22
Slocum 18
Kendall 23
Riverview 20
Justice 28
McCulloch 29
MHS 80
Tucker 20
Total 226

26. Allen Kendall Riverview Slocum Justice McCulloch Tucker MHS
$201,782 $157,986 $210,352 $183,878 $395,959 $370,708 $422,677 $1.3 mil.
$4.07 per
sq. ft.
$2.94 per
sq. ft.
$4.63 per
sq. ft.
$3.68 per
sq. ft.
$2.96 per
sq. ft.
$3.10 per
sq. ft.
$3.29 per
sq. ft.
$2.93 per
sq. ft.
A: Operational costs of facilities

27. A: Upkeep/maintenance needs
Overall High Level Building Analysis

28. Q: HOW do we plan
to reconfigure?

29. …By Seizing Opportunities
We will seize this opportunity to
rebrand and reinvent Marion
Community Schools.
We will seize opportunities to
make best possible happen for our
children, our community, and our
future through this process.

30. We Are …
ONE GIANT NATION!
We Are …
MARION COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS

31. • Vertical articulation: Strong
curriculum flow P through 12
In making better happen
our key outcomes will be:
• Continuity of learning
• Consistency of opportunity,
instruction, and assessment

32. Possible Scenarios
 It is important to find the best right solution that
will create equal opportunity for our children.
 No scenario is set in stone.
 Specific buildings have been considered,
but no decision for closure has been made.
 Grade configurations must fit within existing
building capacity/structure.
 Recommendation will be made in October
after input from staff, parents, and public.
 BOTTOM LINE: We will move forward
with fewer buildings for 2016-17.

33. K – 2
--> Allen
5 – 6
Preschool / Ed. Service Center
3 - 4
MARION HIGH SCHOOL
9-12 & CTE
MARION JR. HIGH
7—8
Proposes
Closing
Two Buildings
K – 2
--> Slocum
--> McCulloch
--> Kendall
--> Justice

34. P-2
5-6
P-2
3-4 (District Office)
MARION HIGH SCHOOL
9-12 & CTE
MARION JR. HIGH
7—8
P-2
Proposes
Closing
Two Buildings
--> Allen --> Slocum
--> Kendall
--> Justice
--> McCulloch

35. imagine …
The new Marion
Junior High
Main MHS
entrance

36. imagine …
The new Marion
Career/Tech
Center
Main MHS
entrance

37. We are determined to find the
very best possible way forward to
the benefit of the entire school
community with our CHILDREN
being the Main Thing!

38. Phase II Timeline
Develop
Options • April
Study Team
brings 3 options
to the Board
• July 8th
Board
approves
options
• July 22nd
Board
Approval
• October
Implementation
• Nov. ’15 –
July ’16
Share options with
extended Study
Team (more
staff/community)
• August
Public
Forums
• September

39. Q: WHO will be involved in the
discussion/decision process?
A: We want input from all stakeholders!
Staff, parents, students, community members.
Please help us plan today for A Brighter Tomorrow !
Our Children, Our Community, Our Cause!

40. Schedule of Public Forums
• Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m. McCulloch
• Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. Riverview
• Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. Faulkner Center
• Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m. Walton Center
• Please consider filling out our
online survey at marion.k12.in.us

41. WE ARE …
GIANTS BY CHOICE!

42. We have shown a couple “what-ifs” …
Now we are asking the school community
to speak to possible solutions,
keeping in mind:
• Centrality of student learning
• Equity and access for all stakeholders
• Better learning, better stewardship