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. r . . . ~MoundsView ~ ~llLlC SCHOOLS Why close schools and repurpose buildings? Frequently asked questions (F AQs) about closing schools and repurposing buildings S'p"mba], 2004 Why are you closillg schools? Like many suburban districts, Mounds View is experiencing declining enrollment that will decline faster in the next 10 years than in the previous 10 years, By 2014, the District will have 2,000 fewer students, As enrollment declines, so does the revenue it takes to provide a comprehensive program for the students in our schools. As revenue declines, our fixed expenses continue to rise with inflation, while state funding remains flat. By closing schools and repurposing the buildings. the District can protect the excellence in the remaining schools more easily and can use its facilities more efficiently, WOIl 'tfuture developmellts like Ihe TeAAP lalld ill Ardell Hills brillg us more studellls? Wc don't expect a significant number of students coming from new developmcnts in the next 10 years. Didu't the markelillg alld enrollmellt efforts illcrease ellrollmellf? Marketing efforts alone are not expected to reverse the natural decrease we expect. Marketing our schools in a competitive marketplace can playa key role in helping to slow the rate of the decline, This year, the District accepted 123 ncw non-resident students and added two additional kindergarten scctions, Thc District also expects to havc retained more resident students as well. Didn 'ttlie successfilllevy ensure Ihat all schools would remaill opell? No. The School Board promiscd that a successful levy would keep all schools open for the 2004- 05 school year. If the levy had failed, school closings would have occurred as early as 2004-05, In several communications, the Board stated that future closings would be dictated by future cnrollment and class sizes desired, Why wasn'l declilling ellrollment predicted earlier? For much of the 1990s. our enrollment was flat and very reliable. The first sign of a significant trend in declining enrollment occurred in about 2001 after about three consecutive years of declines in the 1005. This first sign of a true trcnd occUlTed severa] years after our bond construction efforts began, Why did cOllstruction cOlltinue ifschools may be closing? It was to the District's benefit to opgrade the health and safety of every building bccause the District plans to use each of its 13 traditional school buildings in some way, There are no plans to sell any facilities. Bccause the average age of our schools is 30 years old, each site will continue to benefit from the upgrades and renovations,