Vote 2024 - Rockford Area School District 883

Rockford Area Schools will be asking residents to approve a Capital Projects Levy this fall.

The levy would invest in the future of our students and communities by addressing 1. Safety and security 2. Classroom learning 3. Essential infrastructure support.

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The Proposal

When school districts face a budget shortfall, the options are to make budget cuts and/or ask voters to increase local revenues through a levy referendum election. More than 90% of Minnesota school districts—including Rockford Area Schools—rely on local operating levies to help fund basic costs.

Funds will be used to:

Maintain and enhance technology connected to safety and security.
Provide district-wide technology infrastructure and network improvements.
Provide financial stability to continue our excellent academic programs and services for students.
Retain and attract the best teachers and technical support staff.
Purchase and maintain technology devices for students and staff.

Strong Community Support

Our community recognizes the value our schools and staff bring to our community. A recent community survey of Rockford Area Schools families shows...

Say our community receives a good value from its investment in our schools.

Rank the quality of education as excellent or good.

Would recommend Rockford Area Schools to a friend or neighbor.

The Challenges

Rockford Area Schools is known for doing more with less and this includes “running lean” and stretching our financial resources as far as any district. We remain very proud of this and promise and commit to continuing this strong financial stewardship. However, with a projected budget shortfall due a lack of state funding for general and special education, decreased spending power due to inflation, and increased needs from students across all of our schools, funds are needed to preserve and provide the tools tools necessary to maintain safe, secure schools and to ensure our instructional and operational infrastructure are on par with neighboring districts.

The Ongoing Funding Gap

For decades, state education funding has not kept pace with inflation and the cost of educating our students. If education funding had kept pace with inflation, our schools would have $2 million more in buying power every year—the equivalent of up to 29 more teachers in our classrooms today!

The Cost

Approve an approximately $600 per-student operating levy increase. The additional funds will enable the district to invest in safety and security measures, maintain and enhance tools that are vital to teaching and learning, and strengthen our aging infrastructure. By providing additional funds to support technology, it will free-up general fund dollars to support our students in other ways, including maintaining class size and the maintenance of our facilities.

If the levy were approved, property taxes would increase around $13 per month for the average-priced $375,000 home in our area ($156 per year).

Tax Impact: Lower Than Almost All Metro Districts

For a home value of $375,000 (the average home value in our school district). According to the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD), Rockford Area Schools has lower total school property taxes than almost all districts in the Twin Cities. Of the 44 metropolitan school districts in AMSD, Rockford Area Schools ranks #38 in total school property taxes, over $1,068 less, per pupil, than the metropolitan average and $600 less than the state average. By approving this capital projects (technology levy), Rockford Area Schools would not surpass, but simply move close to the state average. To see additional districts click here.

Financial Accountability

Rockford Area Schools spends 30% less than the metro average on all forms of administration costs—things that students don’t directly see. And the money we save is money we put into the classrooms.
Rockford Area Schools prides itself on directing our financial resources to our most important people, our students! Over the past two years, we have reduced administrative costs, and positions, and have done much more with less. The visual below details the percentages of dollars spent in the various areas of our school district.

FAQs

WHY IS THE DISTRICT GOING OUT FOR A REFERENDUM?

Schools are funded based on enrollment, and enrollment has been decreasing.
Inflation has significantly increased existing expenses.
Cyber-risk management, mandates and insurance bring rising costs.
Budget reductions have reduced the funds previously allocated for technology.
Pandemic grants and one-time bonding funds for technology purchases are no longer available.

5 Year Technology Plan 2023-2028

WHAT'S THE TAX IMPACT?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF VOTERS DO NOT APPROVE THE LEVY?

If the levy does not pass, we will be unable to improve or enhance our current safety and security measures. In addition, our infrastructure will continue to age, becoming obsolete, making it significantly more challenging to continue offering the high levels of instructional and operational excellence that students, staff, and residents have come to expect.

While classroom technology will be used for as long as possible, we will discontinue the replacement of important teaching and learning tools, such as interactive instructional boards, audio systems, and 1:1 devices. Inevitably, we would also likely adjust our technology staffing—those who support our teachers and buildings with technology needs.

Finally, because some technology costs are non-negotiable and necessary by law or need, we will be forced to cover the remaining technology costs with general fund dollars. Doing so would then require making cuts in other areas which would likely include instructional staff and/or program cuts.

DID ROCKFORD AREA SCHOOLS RECEIVE ONE-TIME FEDERAL COVID FUNDS?

Yes, all school districts across the country received federal one-time funds restricted to specific uses to help with the COVID pandemic crisis. This included PPE supplies as well as student devices that would allow for learning to continue without interruption. While the 1:1 device initiative was originally used to support distance learning (which we no longer utilize) these devices have proven to be useful and incredibly cost effective in saving taxpayers money on items that include tangible, physical curricular items, such as textbooks and laboratory supplies. In addition, supplies, like textbooks, have become obsolete and also increasingly challenging to find. These devices are nearing the end of their usable life-cycle and cannot be replaced without a dedicated funding stream.

HOW DOES THE DISTRICT SPEND MONEY FROM ITS GENERAL FUND?

80+ % of our budget is spent on teachers and other support staff salaries and benefits. These dollars directly impact student learning.

74% Regular Instruction, examples include teachers (general and special education), school counselors, paraprofessionals, and substitute teachers; instructional materials, including curriculum and technology tools, and intervention programs; and, contracted services.
13% Transportation
7% District Support Services, examples include operations staff, daily maintenance, utilities, and deferred maintenance
5% District and School Administration
1% Fiscal and Other Fixed Costs, examples include property and liability insurance, and unemployment insurance

DO RENTERS HAVE TO PAY FOR A CAPITAL PROJECTS LEVY?

DOES THE DISTRICT RECEIVE TECHNOLOGY FUNDING FROM THE STATE?

WHERE AND WHEN WILL I VOTE ON THIS REQUEST?

Voters in the Rockford Area School District will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, to elect three school board members and vote on the capital projects (technology) levy. To find your polling location visit https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/Default.aspx

Absentee voting begins on September 20, 2024. Any voter may vote absentee—you do not need a reason. You do not need to be registered to vote to apply for an absentee ballot. Applications available at https://mnvotes.sos.mn.gov/abrequest/index

WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY LEVY USED FOR?

Upgrade and Enhance Safety & Security Districtwide

Enhance Security Systems and Cameras: Expand and upgrade security systems (i.e., remote alert and lockdown capabilities) and camera systems to better monitor school grounds, ensuring the safety and security of students and staff.
Enhance Cybersecurity: Strengthen digital security measures to protect student data and ensure safe online learning environments, keeping pace with emerging cyber threats.
Enhanced 911 Systems: Implement advanced 911 communication systems for faster and more accurate emergency response, ensuring the safety of all school occupants.

Upgrade and Enhance Instructional Support and Student Learning

Support 1:1 Learning with Chromebooks: Ensure every middle school student has access to a personal device, promoting personalized learning and equitable access to digital resources.
Replace Aging Classroom Instruction Digital Display Panels: Update outdated display panels in classrooms with modern, high-quality digital displays to improve the delivery of instruction and increase student engagement.
Replace Aging Public Announcement System & Classroom Amplification (Juno): Upgrade outdated communication systems to improve emergency notifications and classroom engagement, ensuring clear communication across all school spaces.
Support the Purchase of Digital Curriculum Content: Digital curriculum content is often far less expensive than hard copy materials. With the funds, cheaper, more reliable, and flexible content can be purchased. Without the funds, purchasing any new/updated curricular content will be almost impossible and without devices, we would not have a platform to access the content.

Upgrade and Replace Aging and Obsolete Technology Infrastructure

Replace Aging Phones: Upgrade the school’s phone systems to ensure reliable communication between classrooms, offices, and emergency services, improving overall school safety and efficiency.
Replace Aging Servers, Switches, and Upgrade Wifi: The areas in which our technology is aging and/or obsolete are numerous. Please access the links below for the most detailed and specific information.

Technology Five Year Plan - dated August 2023

School Board Power Point presentation slides - August 17, 2023

School Board Power Point presentation slides: August 21, 2023

Rockford Area Schools – ISD883: Information Security Program Overview - April 2023

WHAT LEVIES DOES THE DISTRICT HAVE IN PLACE?

Currently, Rockford Area Schools has one operating levy in place. This was approved by voters in November of 2018 and renewed by the Board of Education in January 2024. This levy is set to expire in 2031 and the per pupil voter approved dollars are only allocated to Rockford Area Schools resident pupils (not to our students open enrolled through our NWSISD partner schools or other open enrollment channels) and the same will hold true for the dollars allocated via any new levy request.

THE DISTRICT HAS MADE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS LATELY, HOW WERE THOSE PROJECTS FUNDED?

Because the Board of Education was very mindful of our resident tax tolerance, post COVID, the decision was made to fund urgent maintenance projects (i.e., the roof at the elementary school was leaking and had to be replaced to avoid mold issues and damage to internal portions of the building) by borrowing against future state aid. Because this was not funded directly by a voter approved levy increase, our operational capital is now reduced by approximately $350,000/year as we pay back these funds. This will continue for the next 10-12 years regardless of the outcome of the levy vote.

Due to instructional best practices, time constraints, and the liability that came from transporting our middle school students to the high school for physical education class, gymnasium space was needed at the middle school. Instead of seeking voter approval to bond for a new gymnasium (with an approximate cost of $7 million), we got creative and installed a state of the art rock climbing wall in our current space at a cost of $100,000. This was funded by existing dollars, including significant funding from our Community Education fund. Not only was this a massive savings in terms of financial resources, Community Education will be renting the space to groups, and over time, with the expectation of recouping our initial investment.

The examples above are just two ways in which the District has worked to alleviate the financial burden on resident taxpayers. This said, we no longer have the flexibility to access any other funding sources to support technology and other capital outlay projects.

WHY DO YOU NEED A REFERENDUM IF SCHOOLS WERE GIVEN EXTRA FUNDING FROM THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

We are grateful for the investment provided to our schools and the partial financial support it will provide for the district, but the amount needed to fully fund our schools is much higher than what was provided by the state. To raise enough money to avoid cuts to programs and services and potentially increase class sizes, the District is asking voters to approve this new levy request.

WHY DOES THE DISTRICT NEED TO UPDATE CYBERSECURITY?

In terms of some of the security components, some of our biggest concerns are about the security of exterior doors, key card/fob access, security cameras, and our outdated 911 system. In addition ransomware and cybersecurity have become significant issues for schools as very private, personal data must be kept secure. The "catch 22" connected to the cybersecurity piece is that the cost to ensure cybersecurity is very high, but if you don't pay for the better versions, our cybersecurity insurance costs are raised significantly. Below is a recent national news story that we encourage all to watch as schools have become a target for ransomware attacks.

https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/pXoEVxfWYJdyzGroSCBfEkzdHjmfQvI5/

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF TAXPAYER APPROVED CONSTRUCTION BONDS OR CAPITAL LEVY REQUESTS?

The last bond referendum for the District passed in November 2012. The related bonds will be paid in full on February 1, 2029. The District currently pays about $4.1 million per year on these bonds and the tax impact related to these bonds will be eliminated in early 2029.

In May 2000 the voters approved a bond issue that was sold in 2000 and matured in 2023. The final tax levy on this issuance would have occurred in 2022. The payments on the bonds from the 2012 referendum were wrapped around the payment from the 2000 bonds dropping off to significantly reduce the impact on resident taxpayers.

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