After several months of planning and discussion, Marion Community Schools officials on Thursday evening revealed their recommendation for reconfiguration of the school system, to bring costs down, improve academic programs, and enhance opportunities for local students.

1. Giants are difference-makers,
ready to change the world!
P-12 is just the beginning …

2. GIANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2015
• Mission-motivated faculty, staff,
and administration
• Two National Merit Finalists
• 80% of our 2015 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

3. WE ARE …
GIANTS BY CHOICE!
MCS School Board meeting | Oct. 15, 2015

4. Phase II Timeline
Discussions
& planning
• Feb. 17 Board work session
• March 11 Board meeting
• April 14 first Study Team meeting
Study Team
brings progress
report to Board
• July 8th
Board approves
continued study • July 22nd
Board
discussion &
approval
• October
Planning with
stakeholders for
implementation
• Nov. ’15 –
July ’16
Share what-if
scenarios with
broad stakeholders
• August
Community
forums &
online surveys
• September

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

6. Q: WHY are we recommending
restructuring/consolidation?

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

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

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

10. Decrease in per-pupil dollars!
2015 changes the Legislature approved to the
“complexity index” means we are receiving 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 (General Fund)

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

12.  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 regulations (tax-based funds)

13. Examples: Local Impact of
Property Tax 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

14. Local Property 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
*Tax rate = per $100 assessed property valuation

15. A: Budget constraints
Capital Projects spending since 2010

16. BOTTOM LINE:
• We will make better happen
with fewer buildings.
• Our expenditures will not
exceed our revenue
by the end of 2017.

17. School improvement
is a “WE” thing
 We have considered many factors, including
space and structure of each building,
operational costs, and enhancing curricular
and co-curricular opportunities for students.
 We have offered what-if scenarios as
conversation-starters.
 We have listened and learned.
 We have sought the best right solution that
will create equal opportunity for our children.
 We are making a recommendation this
evening for discussion.

18. Now, we are making a
responsive recommendation
for the 2016-17 school year.
Major concerns we heard:
Desire for neighborhood elementary schools.
Desire for longer span of years in same school.
Questions over seventh-graders in high school building.
Desire to slow the reconfiguration process down.
We’ve listened. We’ve learned.

19. Slocum
P-4
Kendall
P-4
Justice
5-6 (+ P)
McCulloch
7-8
Allen
P-4
Riverview
P-4
CTE
(+ district office)
Marion High School
9-12

20. Recommendation
is responsive to:
Desire to have neighborhood elementary schools, and
to have a longer span of years in the same school.
Concern over seventh-graders in high school building.
Desire to slow reconfiguration process down.
Reconfiguration will impact our schools and community
for years to come. Breaking it into phases allows us to
continue to gather essential information, so that we can
make best right decisions for the future.
Plan to bring our expenditures in line with our
revenues by the end of 2017.

21. We are recommending a second scenario
to consider as we plan with our teachers,
administrators, and parents for 2017-18.
A plan for the future:
We will continue to gather current and essential
information and collaborate with broad stakeholders.
We envision this 2017-18 scenario will be necessary to
provide best possible academic programming while
ensuring our expenditures do not exceed our revenues.
The provision: We will not adopt this scenario if
essential and current information (including enrollment
and revenues) would inform us otherwise.

22. Justice
5-7
CTE
Marion High School
8-12
Slocum
P-4
Kendall
P-4
Allen
P-4
Riverview
P-4
McCulloch:
repurposing for curricular
and co-curricular programs,
junior high athletics,
district offices

23. This recommendation:
Maintains neighborhood elementary schools.
Lengthens span of years in additional buildings
(intermediate school and high school).
Continues to address concern over seventh-graders in
high school building.
Provides opportunity for growth of co-curricular
(art, music) and extra-curricular (athletics, clubs) offerings
at intermediate level and at high school level.
Reduces number of building transitions to two!
Allows time for continued study; if forthcoming
information would lead us to adjust plan, we could.

24. • 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

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

26. NEXT STEPS:
We will plan and create together with
our teachers, administrators, parents,
community, and Board for reinvention,
improvement, and implementation of this
reconfiguration plan.
We will plan today for a BRIGHTER TOMORROW!
Our Children, Our Community, Our Cause!

27. Giants are difference-makers,
ready to change the world!
P-12 is just the beginning …