Instructional Support Levy Proposal - February 20, 2001

Voters' guide to PV Instructional Support Tax Levy referendum Feb. 20 / What is it? Why it's needed? How much will it cost school district residents?

What is the School Improvement Plan?


The school improvement planning process is required
by the state. The intent of this requirement is to provide for continuous improvement in the educational system. The hallmark of this process is improved student learning.

For Pleasant Valley, developing a school improvement plan was a natural transition from the strategic planning process that was initiated in 1994.

The original plan was the result of the efforts of 25 team members representing parents, business representatives, students, school board members, teachers, classified employees, and administrators. Goals outlined in the original strategic plan were substantially met last year and the planning team and Board of Education agreed it was time to focus our efforts more directly on teaching and learning.

The school improvement plan goals are as follows:



ï We will implement a plan to promote good citizenship for all students through their performance of community service.



ï We will implement a plan to increase student participation and proficiency in foreign language.


ï We will implement a plan to improve achievement in math skills, concepts, and problem solving.


ï We will implement a plan to promote respect.


ï We will implement a plan to encourage applied learning.


ï We will implement a plan to improve reading comprehension.


ï We will implement a plan to improve achievement in science skills, concepts, and problem solving.


ï We will implement a plan to give teachers and students more time to interact and learn.

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FIRST YEAR?


ï Continue work on class size reduction $65,000


ï Expand K-8 library services $55,000


ï Add a science specialist for grades 4-6 $45,000


ï Add remedial reading time at Pleasant View
and Riverdale Heights to provide a full-time
remedial reading teacher in every elementary
building $30,000


ï Add a fifth year of Spanish, French, and
possibly Japanese $45,000


ï Add an orchestral strings program for grades 4-12 $50,000


ï Provide on-going funding for the school-to-work coordinator $20,000


ï Fund the state-mandated district-wide
assessment program $30,000


ï Fund additional staff development $150,000

WHAT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND RATIONALE FOR EACH OF THESE 2001-2002 SCHOOL YEAR RECOMMENDATIONS?

PLAN AND RATIONALE


Continuing work on class size reduction
Plan:

A third grade section will be added along with the staffing for specials that the additional third grade section requires.

Each year the plan is to add a section to the following grade until completed through grade six.

This pattern will be accelerated if enrollment in any grade level justifies earlier intervention.

The current grade levels being monitored are grade three at Pleasant View, grade four at Riverdale Heights, and grade two at Bridgeview.

Secondary sections will be addressed on an enrollment by department basis.



Rationale:

Lower class size supports teaching and learning practices that advance student preparation and achievement.

Addition of a fifth year of Spanish, French, and possibly Japanese


Plan:

A full first year study of the language would be offered in the eighth grade. This would allow students enrolling in this option to graduate from high school having completed five years of study. It is also likely that the fifth year would become an Advanced Placement offering.

Rationale:

Ninety percent of Pleasant Valley High School graduates pursue post-secondary education opportunities. For an increasing number, fluency in a second language is an important part of their preparation. This also supports our vision statement that speaks of preparing students to succeed in a diverse, global society.



Expansion of K-8 library services
Plan:

The end result of this recommendation will be improved library and Extended Learning Program (ELP) services. We will end up with a full-time librarian and full-time ELP teacher at both Pleasant View and Riverdale Heights and one full-time person who can serve each function at both Bridgeview and Cody. At the junior high, the plan is to achieve greater integration and participation in subject area extensions by having subject area teachers (rather than one single teacher) serve as the provider. This is the model used for the successful Math Counts program.

Rationale:

By having the same person(s) in a building on a daily basis, the foundation for expanding and improving learning opportunities is significantly improved.



Addition of an orchestral strings program for grades 4-12
Plan:

Instruction will be provided for students currently playing and for beginners. A beginning program will operate in much the same manner as our current band program. Experienced students will form appropriate ensembles.

Rationale:

Currently about forty-five (45) students who attend our schools play a string instrument. In addition, a study last spring indicated that over one hundred (100) additional students are interested in beginning string instruction. These numbers support the implementation of this excellent addition to the fine arts opportunities offered to students.



Additional remedial reading time at Pleasant View and Riverdale Heights
Plan:

Currently Pleasant View and Riverdale Heights are staffed with a one-half time remedial reading teacher even though they are our largest elementary buildings. This plan would provide each building with one full-time remedial reading teacher.



Rationale:

Because of Title I funding from the federal government, Cody and Bridgeview currently each have a full-time remedial reading teacher. Research is clear that students who have not achieved a sufficient degree of reading fluency by the third grade are very likely to struggle with reading for a lifetime. This recommendation will provide additional reading development opportunities at Pleasant View and Riverdale Heights.



On-going funding for the school-to-work coordinator
Plan:

This position is shared with the Bettendorf School District and the LeClaire and Bettendorf Chambers of Commerce. The coordinator receives direction from the Business and Education Alliance, which is comprised of LeClaire and Bettendorf business/chamber representatives, students, community agencies and post-secondary representatives, and school officials. The alliance is currently embarking on an ambitious benchmarking and improvement process focusing on the development of a strong work ethic. Such partnerships will leverage the impact we can have on student preparation for the world of work.


Rationale:

This position was funded by a state grant for two years and by a School Budget Review Committee request for one year. This funding will allow on-going support for our districtís portion of the programís cost.

Additional science specialist for grades 4-6
Plan:

There are currently two science specialists that serve the four elementary buildings. This recommendation would allow the addition of one more science specialist which would enable the district to teach the science program three times each week per class rather than the current two.



Rationale:

Increasing the instructional time will allow a more complete development of the scientific inquiry skills the science program is designed to instill.

Funding for state-mandated district wide assessment
Plan:

Our current assessment program does not sufficiently inform instructional decision-making at the individual or grade/building/district level. Our goal is to develop a program which allows better reporting to parents and to provide data for decision making to faculty and for school improvement.



Rationale:

The types of assessments that will provide this level of information are considerably more expensive than those to which we are accustomed. As an example, The New Standard Math Reference Exam, which costs $10.00 per student, provides important information as to how our students perform in math skills, concepts, and problem solving against world class standards.



Funding for staff development
Plan:

To achieve the level of teaching and learning
that we envision for the district, we need to invest in staff development. School districts, Pleasant Valley included, have historically not had sufficient resources available to meet their needs in this area. It is our belief that more frequent and more sustained time is needed to accomplish our goals. Our plan is to work with faculty and our public to develop a plan to achieve those goals.



Rationale:

The single most important variable in student achievement is the teacher. Improving teacher practice will improve student achievement. This also ties in with current discussions at the state level which will require school districts to provide more extensive staff development programs.



HOW WILL THE SCHOOL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN BE FUNDED?





The Board of Education has endorsed funding the
plan by asking the voters to approve the Instructional Support Levy for a ten year period of time.



WHAT IS THE INSTRUCTIONAL
SUPPORT LEVY?


In 1989, the Iowa General Assembly passed legislation approving the Instructional Support Levy to provide an additional source of General Fund revenue for Iowa school districts.

A board of education can approve the levy for up to five years for up to 10% of the districtís General Fund budget. The levy can be approved for up to ten years for up to 10% of the districtís General Fund budget with a simple majority approval (one vote over 50%).

The Pleasant Valley Board of Education and Administration believe that the voters of the district should have input and have decided to schedule an election seeking approval of the Instructional Support Levy for up to 10% of the General Fund budget for a period of ten years beginning with the 2001-02 school year.

The amount of the levy would be set annually based on the projected funding needed for a given year. A 4% level of funding would be recommended for 2001-02.

ARE OTHER IOWA SCHOOL
DISTRICTS USING THE
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY?

Yes. There are 285 out of 374 school districts (76%) participating in the program for the current school year. Bettendorf, Davenport, and North Scott have utilized the levy for several years.

Instructional Support Revenue

Bettendorf
$1.3 million annually
8% of General Fund Budget



Davenport
$6.4 million annually
10% of General Fund Budget



North Scott
$1.1 million annually
10% of General Fund Budget


WHAT CAN THE LEVY BE USED FOR?


The Instructional Support Levy can be used for any General Fund purpose except for dropout prevention programs, physical plant and equipment levy uses, talented and gifted programs, management levy uses, and special education negative balances. All of the recommendations in the School Improvement Plan are acceptable for funding through the Instructional Support Levy.

WILL STATE FUNDS BE INCREASED AS A RESULT OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY?


Yes. The State of Iowa provides additional state aid to districts utilizing the Instructional Support Levy.

Currently, the state supplements local dollars levied with an additional 11.56% in state aid. In other words, for each $100 levied by the district, the state will provide an additional $11.56 in state aid for Instructional Support Levy funded projects.

In our case, this would amount to $51,229 for next year.



HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BE RAISED THROUGH THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY FOR 2001-02 AND HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATE?


As mentioned earlier, we are recommending a 4% Instructional Support Levy for next year.

This would amount to $494,388 of which $443,159 would be raised from local support from property taxes and $51,229 would come in the form of additional state aid.

The funds raised from local property taxes would increase the levy rate by 63 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation.

HOW MUCH WILL INCREASING THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY COST ME?


Due to the residential property rollback and the homestead exemption provided by Iowa law, you will not be taxed on the market value or assessed value of your home.

Homeowners would experience the following increases based on the market or assessed value of their home:

Market Value $50,000 Taxable Valuation $22,576 Annual $14.22 Monthly after Rollback Tax Amount & Homestead Credit $1.19


Market Value $100,000 Taxable Valuation $50,003 Annual $31.50 Monthly after Rollback Tax Amount & Homestead Credit $2.63


Market Value $150,000

Taxable Valuation $77,429

Annual $48.78

Monthly after Rollback Tax Amount & Homestead Credit $4.07




Market Value $200,000

Taxable Valuation $104,855

Annual $66.06

Monthly after Rollback Tax Amount & Homestead Credit $5.51




Market Value $250,000

Taxable Valuation $132,281

Annual $83.34

Monthly after Rollback Tax Amount & Homestead Credit $6.95

These amounts may be less if the districtís taxable valuation increases as it has for the past several years. We will not know the 2001-02 taxable valuation for the district until late January or early February.

WHAT IS THE PROJECTED RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT SHOULD THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY BE APPROVED?


We believe that all of the additions recommended will positively impact student achievement. In addition, research shows that quality schools enhance property values and economic development.

WHAT ADDITIONAL PROJECTS MIGHT BE FUNDED BY THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY IN YEARS TWO THROUGH TEN?


ï Continue class size reduction.


ï Continue funding for the Sheriff Department Liaison Officer beginning in 2002-03.


ï Future school improvement recommendations.


ï Unforeseen future budget requirements/avoiding cuts of existing programs.


ï Additional funding for staff development.


ï Possible addition of extended day kindergarten.

HOW WILL THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY IMPACT THE TOTAL LEVY IN THE FUTURE?


We project that the total levy would remain stable for the 2002-03 school year.

Also, the district has been setting money aside from the local option sales tax to retire the debt on Riverdale Heights Elementary in June of 2003. This would allow the total levy rate to be reduced even though additional school improvement projects could be funded by the Instructional Support Levy.

This would be possible due to the fact that the district would no longer need to levy the current $1.01 per $1,000 taxable valuation for debt service as the district will be debt free.

HOW DOES PLEASANT VALLEYíS PROPERTY TAX LEVY COMPARE TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SCOTT COUNTY?


Pleasant Valley $13.46

Davenport $15.51

Bettendorf $14.58

North Scott $15.71

The levy rates shown above are for the 2000-01 school year and are per $1,000 of taxable valuation.

As you can see, even with the proposed increase of $ .63 per $1,000 taxable valuation, Pleasant Valley would maintain the lowest property tax levy by $.49 per $1,000 of taxable valuation based on current year levies.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RECENT HISTORY OF PLEASANT VALLEY PROPERTY TAX RATES?


The property tax rates per $1,000 of taxable valuation for the past ten years are listed as follows:

1991-92 $14.43

1996-97 $13.81


1992-93 $14.95

1997-98 $14.06


1993-94 $14.95

1998-99 $14.69


1994-95 $14.95

1999-00 $13.41


1995-96 $14.95

2000-01 $13.46

WHEN & WHERE WILL VOTING TAKE PLACE?

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2001.

DISTRICT POLLING PLACES

1 Cody Elementary School


2 Bridgeview Elementary School


3 Pleasant View Elementary School


4 Riverdale Heights Elementary School


5 Pleasant Valley Maintenance Center


6 Pleasant Valley High School


7 Pleasant Valley Administration Center

If you are not sure which director district you live in, you may contact the Scott County Auditorís Office (326-8631); Pleasant Valley Community School District Administration Center (332-5550,'); or, refer to your voter registration card.