Frequently asked questions

Watch this space frequently for updated questions and answers.
Last updated on August 31, 2004.

Why are you repurposing 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.

What does repurpose mean?
Repurposing schools means the District won't close a school and then sell it or mothball it. We plan to keep all of our buildings in use. The District has 13 traditional school sites: eight elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. We have many programs currently located in leased space that can be brought into school buildings. Relocating them into open spaces increases our efficiencies.

Won't future developments like the TCAAP land in Arden Hills bring us more students?
We don't expect a significant number of students coming from new developments in the next 10 years.

Didn't the marketing and enrollment efforts increase enrollment?
Marketing efforts alone are not expected to reverse the natural decrease we expect. Marketing our schools in a competitive marketplace can play a key role in helping to slow the rate of the decline. This year, the District accepted 123 new non-resident students and added two additional kindergarten sections. The District also expects to have retained more resident students as well.

Didn't the successful levy ensure that all schools would remain open?
No. The School Board promised 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 enrollment and class sizes desired.

Why wasn't declining enrollment 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 100s. This first sign of a true trend occurred several years after our bond construction efforts began.

Why did construction continue if schools may be closing?
It was to the District's benefit to upgrade the health and safety of every building because the District plans to use each of its 13 traditional school buildings in some way. There are no plans to sell any facilities. Because the average age of our schools is 30 years old, each site will continue to benefit from the upgrades and renovations.

How much money is saved by repurposing a school?
The estimated savings realized by closing a school program and repurposing the building is $300,000 - $500,000. This considers the expenses necessary to repurpose buildings (relocating staff, moving expenses, etc.) The savings are realized through reductions in some school administration, office staff, clerks, custodians, support staff and some utilities.

If your goal is to save $1 million through repurposing, how will the other $3 million in reductions be found?
We project a shortfall of $4 million for 2005-06. Only a quarter of these necessary reductions will come from repurposing. The remaining balance will likely come from additional reductions and revenue enhancements. Like our recent budget years, this winter the District plans to ask the community for help in identifying ways to reduce our budget.

Could any school be closed?
Currently, there is no scenario that targets specific schools for repurposing. The trend of declining enrollment is most evident in the elementary schools. In elementary schools, a population of 550-650 students per school would generate enough revenue to cover the costs of instructional and non-instructional support staff. Currently only three of the eight elementary schools have enrollments in this range.

Once schools are repurposed, can families choose which school they wish to attend?
When schools are repurposed, new attendance areas will be drawn affecting each school. As we have allowed in the past, any family may apply to attend a school outside of their attendance area. Applications for intra-district transfers are approved on a space-available basis only and can be granted for the following reasons:
· Intent to change residency
· Daycare
· Siblings
· Employee request
· A compelling educational reason

Are you closing schools so you can relocate employees from the District Service Center?
No. Schools would be repurposed to more efficiently accommodate our declining number of students. The District Service Center (DSC) is an aging building that has become too costly to repair and maintain. The DSC is in the process of being sold, and the employees there will be relocated, just like other programs in leased spaces will be relocated into repurposed buildings.

What happens if you close schools and overall enrollment goes up?
We may be able to slow the rate of declining enrollment, but an overall increase in enrollment is unexpected – primarily because of the decline in the Ramsey County birth rate. If overall enrollment continually increases in the near future, the District can reconsider how to use its repurposed facilities. This is the advantage of keeping our buildings for District use, and not selling our schools.

How will closings affect class sizes?
Although students would attend elementary schools closer in size to 600 students, this does not necessarily mean class sizes would increase as a result of school closings. Class sizes are determined by ranges set annually by the School Board based on revenue available to hire teachers to staff classrooms.

How will closings affect transportation?
More students may end up living farther from school and will be eligible for free transportation. State law says busing is free if the student lives two miles or more from school.

When was the last time you closed schools?
In 1982, the District closed four schools: Ralph Reeder Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary School, Johanna Jr. High and Edgewood Jr. High.

Are other metro districts closing schools?
Several school districts have closed schools or are considering school closings as a way to address the challenge of fewer students. North St. Paul, White Bear Lake and St. Paul have closed schools recently, and Minneapolis, Inver Grove Heights and Robbinsdale are considering closings in the near future.