A progressive plan to right-size the district for better operating efficiency to better serve the children of the St. Joseph public schools. Used with permission from Dr. Melody Smith, Superintendent.

1. St. Joseph School District
Educating each child for success…
2009
Presented by: Dr. Melody Smith, Superintendent

2. Vision for the Future
Comprehensive School Improvement Plan
 Goal
4: Practice fiscal
stewardship of resources.
Objective 4.1: Manage SJSD operating funds to
provide sufficient resources to fund the educational
needs of all students as measured by an approved
budget.
Strategy 4.1.1 Develop and implement a financial plan to
provide sufficient resources to fund the District’s goals and
objectives in support of teaching and learning, including
appropriate technology to assist students in learning and
facilities to house educational programs for the 21st Century.

3. Vision for the Future
Ballot Question #1
Operating Levy

63 cent renewal

No increase

Make permanent


4. Vision for the Future:
Levy Information
The SJSD’s current operating levy is $3.67/$100

assessed valuation.
63 cents of the $3.67 (approved in 2004 as a

sunset tax) of the operating levy expires in
2009.

5. 2008-09 Levies
$7.00 MEC Other Northwest
Suburban Conference
$6.00
Debt Service
Operating
$5.00
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00
$1.00
$0.00

6. Vision for the Future
Ballot Question #1 Ballot Question #2
Operating Levy Infrastructure
 
63 cent renewal Debt Service Levy
 
No increase ~$45 Million @
 
Make permanent 22-25 Cents extra

~$3.50/month or
~$41.80/year on a
$100,000 home

7. Vision for the Future:
Background Information
 Right-size for the future
 From 18 to 16 elementary schools
 (Noyes and Webster)
 Determined by population, clusters, and size
of elementary buildings
 Accommodates shift of population to the NE
 Identify aging buildings
 Average age of buildings 70 years
 Newest elementary 1971-72 (Parkway)
 Newest middle school 1971-72 (Robidoux)

8. Vision for the Future:
Buildings-Phase I Components
1. Build a new school at Carden Park
Close Neely and Hall (100 years old-2009)


9. Neely Elementary School 1909

10. Neely Elementary School

11. Hall Elementary School 1909

12. Hall Elementary School

13. Vision for the Future
Current Office/Classroom
Photography by Kristi Rasmussen

14. Vision for the Future
Waiting for the Restroom Break

15. Vision for the Future
Typical Storage and Continuous Upkeep

16. Vision for the Future
Previous Restroom-Current Office

17. Vision for the Future
Century-old Boiler

18. Vision for the Future
Adjustments for Heat-Air Handlers

19. Vision for the Future
Hallway Learning

20. Carden Park

21. Vision for the Future
Phase I Components
2. Build a new school in the
Northeast at Cook and Bishop
Accommodate the shift in

population
300+ students live east of the Belt

Highway and north of Gene Field
Prepare for future increase in

enrollment

22. SJSD Property at Cook and Bishop Roads

23. Vision for the Future:
Buildings-Phase I Components
3. Prepare for new developments
in the Southeast
Add 4-6 rooms at Skaith

Build a multi-purpose building to share

with the community
4.Purchase property for Southside
Hyde soon will be 80 years old

Return Spring Garden to a K-6 school

Build a middle school complex in

Phase II

24. Vision for the Future:
Levy Information
The SJSD’s current operating levy is $3.67/$100

assessed valuation.
63 cents of the $3.67 (approved in 2004 as a

sunset tax) of the operating levy expires in
2009.
The SJSD’s current debt service levy (approved

by voters in 2000) is 31 cents. Vision for the
Future adds 22 cents to the debt service levy.
Current total/$100 assessed valuation is $3.98.


25. 2008-09 Levies
$7.00 MEC Other Northwest
Suburban Conference
$6.00
Debt Service
Operating
$5.00
$4.00
$3.00
$2.00
$1.00
$0.00

26. Vision for the Future: Q & A
“There is nothing more powerful than
an idea whose time has come.”
Victor Hugo
Educating each child for success
Achievement, Staff, Partnerships, Instruction, Resources, Environment