TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. – 2.

Introduction 3.

The Work of the Task Force 4.

Elementary Task Force Members 5.

Section 1. Revisiting the 2002 EFTF Plan

Governing Assumptions 6.

Part 1. Fiscal Capacity 7.

Cost Reductions Relating to Elementary Schools 7.

Adams / Jack vs. East End Operating Cost Comparison 8.

Consolidation Options and Savings Estimates 9.

Part 2. Enrollment Trends 10.

Examining the 2002 EFTF With Current Populations 10.

Current School Enrollments 11.

Declining Enrollments 11.

Declining Student and Family and Populations 11.

Understanding Declining Enrollments 12.

“Simple Principal Driving Big Economic Change” 12. – 13.

Kindergarten Enrollment 13.

English Language Learners 14.

Predicting Enrollments 15.

Private Enrollment / Other Than Portland Public Schools 16.

Elementary “School of Choice” and “Programming Choice” 16.

National Enrollment Estimates 17.

Housing Trends 17.

Part 3. Community Use of Facilities 18.

Part 4. Educational Mandates 18.

Part 5. Economic Diversity 18.

Section 2. Consolidating Elementary Schools 19.

Part 1. Defining “Anchor Schools” 19.

Part 2. School Configurations 20.

Seven Elementary School – Options 1 through 7 and 1A 20. – 24. Eight Elementary School – Options 8 and 9 25. Six Elementary Schools – Option 10 26.

Section 3. Unresolved Issues 27.

Section 4. Conclusion 28.

Appendix 29. 1. Free and Reduced Populations by School 30. 2. Original 2002 EFTF Plan – Bundles 1, 2, and 3 31. – 33. 3. Current Elementary School Populations and Components 34. – 35. 4. Enrollments by Area and Declining Family Populations 36.

5. ELL Populations 37.

6. Kindergarten Enrollment 38. – 39.

7. Recent Housing Developments 40.

8. Future Housing Developments 41.

9. Housing Units For Sale 42.

10. Public Housing and the Portland Schools 43. – 44.

References 45. – 46.

Acknowledgements 47. – 48.

Resource Documents Included 49.

1. 2002 EFTF Plan

2. City of Portland Ten Year Capital Improvement Plan

3. Portland Schools Ten Year Capital Improvement Plan

4. 2001-2002 & 2004-2005 School Facilities Priority List

5. 2000 Portland Census

6. Maine State Planning Office Procedures for Population estimates

7. National Statistics, Elementary School Size

8. Enrollment Projections, National Center for Educational Statistics

9. Housing Development Data

10. 1999 Semple & Drane School Condition Report – Summary Only

11. 2004 – 2005 Scoring Report Information – DOE Facility Evaluation Report

12. 2001 – 2002 Scoring Report Information – DOE Facility Evaluation Report

Introduction

The Portland Public Schools, one of the oldest school systems in the country, has seen a multitude of school configurations, and changes in the decades that preceded us. From teaching kindergarten in the private homes, to the small neighborhood elementary school of 8 to12 classrooms, to the excitement of “expeditionary learning,” it has been the responsibility of many different stakeholders over the years to guide the changes that produce quality-learning environments.

Each generation has produced education strategies that have evolved into the world of modern education. As with the evolution of education, so too have buildings evolved. It is in this environment that future generations of students will access great learning opportunities.

The Portland Public Schools 2002 Elementary Facilities Plan was designed with “stop signs” following each phase / ”bundle” in order to review data regarding student enrollment, fiscal capacity and educational programming. Therefore, with

Phase/Bundle 1 - Jack-Adams-Riverton underway, the School Committee appointed the 2005-2006 Elementary Facilities Task Force.

The 2005-2006 Elementary Facilities Task Force was charged with examining the mandates of the 2002 Elementary Facilities Plan, and to gather and analyze data to determine if the plan held validity at this current juncture. An additional charge was to make recommendations to the School Committee should the plan need updating based on changes since its’ inception. If a conclusion were arrived at in terms of consolidations, renovations, rebuilding, or status quo, this recommendation would be forwarded to the School Committee for future consideration as well.

While this committee did not reach an overall consensus, we believe we have gathered and examined the data necessary to make a decision that is in the best interest of our future learners and the taxpayers of the city of Portland. It is with those interests in mind that this report is offered.

March 2006

The Work of the Task Force

Task Force Updates Plan for Portland's Elementary Schools

From The EFTF Web Page – November 2005

Portland's Elementary Facilities Task Force is updating a plan for renovating, replacing and consolidating the city's 8 mainland elementary schools[1]. The new plan will take into account current and projected student enrollment, educational trends and available funding.

The task force, established in 1998, includes city and school officials, parents and staff. The task force's recommendations laid the groundwork for the comprehensive elementary facilities plan adopted by the Portland School Committee in November 2002. The plan called for rebuilding or renovating eight "anchor schools" in addition to the island schools and closing three others.

Since then, Baxter Elementary School has closed and the East End Community School is nearing completion. It will open in September 2006, serving all of the students now at Adams Elementary School as well as some students at Reiche, Clifford and other schools.

Clifford has been named as the state's highest priority for reconstruction funds. The task force will look at the possibility of combining Clifford's population with that of another school and recommend three or four possibilities. While no timetable has been set for the task force's work, it is expected to take several months. The Portland School Committee will make the final decision.

"Given our declining enrollment, it is inevitable that some elementary schools will close during the coming years," said Portland Superintendent Mary Jo O'Connor. "I am confident that the Elementary Facilities Task Force will review all of the data in a thoughtful, objective manner. Working together, we can build the best possible elementary schools to serve our children and future generations."

Portland School Committee member Jason Toothaker chairs the Elementary Facilities Task Force. Michelle Hedrich serves as vice chair.

Elementary Facility Task Force Members

Butterfield, Michele mbutterfield@maine.rr.com 774-9663

Parent, Longfellow School

Carr, Donna dcarr@portlandmaine.gov 761-0857

District 3 City Councilor

Hedrich, Michelle mhedrich@maine.rr.com 797-0836

Former School Committee Chair, Committee Vice-Chair

Holton, Liz eholton@maine.rr.com 775-6267

Parent, Presumpscot School

Mallory, Kevin mallok@portlandschools.org 874-8240

Transportation Director, PPS

Morrison, Marysue morrim@portlandschools.org 874-8180

Principal, Nathan Clifford School

O’Connor, Mary Jo oconnm@portlandschools.org 874-8111

Superintendent of Schools, PPS

Paulsen, Richard paulsr@portlandschools.org 874-8125

Finance Director, PPS

Sherwood, Douglas sherwd@portlandschools.org 874-5342

Facilities Director, PPS

Suslovic, Edward esuslovic@portlandmaine.gov 772-5615

At Large City Councilor

Toothaker, Jason toothj@portlandschools.org 450-0033

School Committee Member, Committee Chair

Turner, David turned@portlandschools.org 874-8180

Assistant Principal, Nathan Clifford School

Wellehan, Jane janewellehan@gwi.net 871-7103

Parent, Nathan Clifford School

Other Important Contacts

Alcorn, Ellen alcore@portlandschools.org 761-9045

Chair, Portland School Committee

Cohen, James jcohen@portlandmaine.gov 797-9638

District 5 City Councilor, Mayor

Gramlich, Lori gramll@portlandschools.org 878-1317

District 4 School Committee Member

Lachance, Anita arl@portlandmaine.gov 874-8300

Assistant City Manger

Leeman, Cheryl cl@portlandmaine.gov 773-4161

District 4 City Councilor

Section 1 – Revisiting the 2002 EFTF Plan

Governing Assumptions

The first task of the current EFTF was to examine the governing assumptions of the original plan to determine if changes would be necessary to guide future plans.[2]

The following is a list of governing assumption that the EFTF reviewed at the start of the committee’s deliberations in November 2005. It was agreed to by committee members that economic diversity should be added to the list of Primary Assumptions. The committee further agreed that all further assumptions remained valid.

Ten year plan to be reviewed in stages based on the following Primary Assumptions:

· Fiscal Capacity

· Enrollment Trends

· Community Needs

· Educational Mandates

· Economic Diversity (Added November 2005)

Other assumptions include:

· Maintaining the Recommendations of the 1997 EFTF Plan

· Reduce the Current Number of Facilities

· Consolidate Students Wherever Possible

· Limit Redistricting

· Maintain Neighborhood Integrity

· Include All Facilities

· Timeline

· Limit School Size

· Provide Adequate Program Sites (FLS, ESL, Sped, etc.). Limit movement.

Part 1. - Fiscal Capacity

Because the Nathan Clifford School is recognized by the Department of Education as the number one school in the State of Maine needing major capital improvements (which could include replacement or renovation), state funding is assured for this school.[3] The availability of this funding drove much of the process when the task force considered available options. However, because state funding is not immediate, the task force, working with the city, then reviewed the fiscal capacity of the City of Portland to finance any new school construction projects. Provisions in the city’s Ten Year Capital Improvement Plan[4] provides guidance in terms of availability of resources for agreed upon future school construction projects.

Cost Reductions Related to Closing Elementary Schools[5]

The committee asked for and received extensive data on the operational costs for schools that might be considered for consolidation. These costs are essentially associated with what it takes to keeps the lights on, to heat the building, etc. Custodial staffing was also considered as an operational cost. Additionally, deferred maintenance was tracked separately. While no particular option was recommended, these numbers are readily accessible for future reference to apply to any scenario. Additionally, a cost for the new East End School was established and used as a comparison model for any new construction.

Cost Category	Baxter	Clifford	Longfellow	Presumpscot	Reiche	West
Electricity	$10,500	$22,900	$19,100	$20,200	$76,500	$25,500
Pole Lighting	$900	$2,000	$1,800	$1,300	$3,700	$1,300
Oil	$20,900	$30,200	$27,600	$21,300	$84,200	$43,700
Natural Gas	$0	$0	$0	$0	$48,300	$200
Propane	$0	$0	$0	$2,400	$0	$1,800
Water/Sewer	$1,800	$5,000	$3,800	$4,800	$7,800	$2,800
Telephones	$1,400	$3,300	$3,000	$2,200	$6,000	$2,200
Waste Disposal	$2,747	$6,612	$7,180	$8,496	$16,203	$1,850
Recycling	$300	$600	$500	$400	$1,100	$400
Plowing/Mowing	$1,900	$4,400	$3,900	$2,900	$7,800	$2,900
Pest Management	$0	$468	$0	$516	$1,092	$400
Security	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000
Fire Extinguishers	$250	$250	$250	$250	$250	$250
Maintenance Supplies	$2,500	$5,900	$5,300	$3,900	$10,800	$3,900
Custodial Supplies	$2,700	$6,300	$5,700	$4,200	$11,500	$4,200
Sub-total	$46,897	$88,930	$79,130	$73,862	$276,245	$92,400
Custodial Staffing	$30,800[6]	$103,000	$119,300	$88,500	$204,200	$80,800
Total	$77,697	$191,930	$198,430	$162,362	$480,445	$173,200
Capital Costs[7]	$1,280,000	$8,575,000	$9,490,000	$1,125,000	$4,635,000	$800,000

Adams / Jack - Operating Costs Comparison With the New East End School

As defined in the chart below, a comparison was done regarding the costs of operating Adams and Jack separately, against those projected operating costs for the new East End School.

Cost Category	East End	Jack	Adams	Combined	Difference
Electricity	$36,100	$26,800	$14,300	$41,100	$5,000
Pole Lighting	$3,000	$2,000	$900	$2,900	-$100
Oil	$47,100	$60,000	$20,300	$80,300	$33,200
Natural Gas	$0	$600	$2,500	$3,100	$3,100
Propane	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Water/Sewer	$6,300	$4,200	$1,800	$6,000	-$300
Telephones	$5,000	$3,300	$1,400	$4,700	-$300
Waste Disposal	$11,253	$8,000	$5,036	$13,036	$1,783
Recycling	$900	$600	$300	$900	$0
Plowing/Mowing	$6,525	$4,400	$1,900	$6,300	-$225
Pest Management	$750	$0	$0	$0	-$750
Security	$1,000	$1,000	$1,000	$2,000	$1,000
Fire Extinguishers	$250	$250	$250	$500	$250
Maintenance Supplies	$8,800	$5,900	$2,500	$8,400	-$400
Custodial Supplies	$9,400	$6,300	$2,700	$9,000	-$400
Sub-total	$136,378	$123,350	$54,886	$178,236	$41,858
Custodial Staffing[8]	$173,400	$134,700	$61,600	$196,300	$22,900
Total	$309,778	$258,050	$116,486	$374,536	$64,758
Capital Costs			$1,870,000

Consolidation Options and Savings Estimates

The following chart shows each option (listed later in the report) and the estimated annual operating savings that each option would generate.[9]

Options	Savings		Options	Savings
Option # 1 - Seven Schools - One New School			Option # 1A - Seven Schools - One New School
Close Baxter	$77,697		Close Baxter	$77,697
Close Clifford	$191,930		Close Clifford	$191,930
Close Presumpscot	$162,362		Close Presumpscot	$162,362
Build New Baxter	-$309,778		Close West	$173,200
Total Savings or (increased costs)	$121,211		Build New Baxter	-$309,778
			Total Savings or (increased costs)	$295,407
Option # 2 - Seven Schools - One New School
Close Clifford	$191,930		Option # 8 - Eight Schools - Two New Schools
Close Presumpscot	$162,362		Close Baxter	$77,697
Build New Clifford	-$309,778		Close Clifford	$191,930
Total Savings or (increased costs)	$44,514		Close Presumpscot	$162,362
			Close West	$173,200
Option # 3 - Seven Schools - One New School			Build New Clifford	-$204,000
Close Clifford	$191,930		Build New Presumpscot	-$204,000
Close Hall	Not calculated		Total Savings or (increased costs)	197,189
Build New Clifford	-$309,778
Total Savings or (increased costs)	N/A		Option # 9 - Eight Schools - Three New Schools
			Close Clifford	$191,930
Option # 4 - Seven Schools - One New School			Close Longfellow	$198,430
Close Clifford		$191,930	Close Presumpscot	$162,362
Close Presumpscot		$162,362	Close West	$173,200
Build New Presumpscot		-$309,778	Build New Baxter	-$204,000
Total Savings or (increased costs)		$44,514	Build New Clifford	-$204,000
			Build New Presumpscot	-$204,000
Option # 5- Seven Schools - One New School			Total Savings or (increased costs)	113,922
Close Clifford	$191,930
Close Longfellow	$198,430		Option # 10 - Six Schools - One New School
Build New Clifford	-$309,778		Close Clifford	$191,930
Total Savings or (increased costs)	$80,582		Close Longfellow	$198,430
			Close Presumpscot	$162,362
Option # 6 - Seven Schools - One New School			Close West	$173,200
Close Clifford	$191,930		Build New Baxter	-$309,778
Close Reiche	$480,445		Total Savings or (increased costs)	$415,234
Build New Clifford	-$309,778
Total Savings or (increased costs)	$362,597
Option # 7 - Seven Schools - NO New Schools
Close Clifford	$191,930
Total Savings or (increased costs)	$191,930

Part 2. - Enrollment Trends

Examining the 2002 EFTF With Current Populations

The first step in examining enrollment trends consisted of reviewing the previous EFTF plan, as it would exist today, if the plan were carried to fruition. The following is a look at those schools, using student populations from March 2006.[10]

2002 2006 Difference

Bundle 1

(New) East End 395 349 -46

Riverton 460 440 -20

Bundle 2

(New) Clifford 264 340 +76

West 61 50 -11

Hall 375 317 -58

Reiche 473 332 -141

Bundle 3

(New) Baxter/Presumpscot 464 396 -68

Lyseth 514 476 -38

Longfellow 373 349 -24

Total 3,379 3,049 -330[11]

Current School Enrollments

Below is a list of Portland Elementary Schools and their corresponding student populations, as they are projected to exist at the start of 2006-2007 School Year. The numbers used are March 2006 populations and show the adjustments for students from various districts attending the new East End Community School in the fall.[12] These numbers of course will vary depending on several factors and will not be fully known until September 2006.

March 2006 To East End Est. Sept.2006

Clifford 241 15 226

East End 349 --- 446

Hall 451 10 441

Longfellow 353 8 345

Lyseth 544 9 535

Peaks 47 1 46

Presumpscot 259 15 244

Reiche 332 9 323

Riverton 470 16 454

West (K-12) 50 N/A 50

Sub-Total 3,096 83

Others (New) 14 14

Total 3,110 97 3,110

Declining Enrollments

After examining comparisons to the 2002 EFTF plan based on current student populations, it became apparent that declining enrollments have had an impact on the original plan. To formulate any future plan, the need to examine why the student population is declining, what efforts are being made to stop the decline, and what enrollments numbers will look like in the future are paramount.

Declining Student and Family Populations

Portland Public Schools enrollment data from 1991 to 2006 has shown that at its peak in 1995, elementary enrollments have declined by 27%. Using US Census data for 2000, it was additionally determined that Portland families have declined by –1,140, or 8% since 1990.[13]

Understanding Declining Enrollments

The committee examined available data to gain a further understanding of why school enrollments have declined in the past few years. Below are a list suspected reasons that may have contributed to this decline.

Affordable Housing

Housing costs have outpaced income growth, creating an affordability gap of $300 for renters and $80,000 for first time homebuyers.

Only 334 of 1,958 (17%) housing units, completed since 2002, currently under construction, approved, or in the planning stage, are listed as affordable housing according to the city.

Housing Availability

3.6 vacancy rate for rental units

0.5 vacancy rate for single-family dwellings

Fewer Family Households

Family households (with children) decreased 8% from 1990 to 2000

Increased Number of Non-family Households

Non-family households (without children) increased 19% from 1990 to 2000

Smaller Household Size

Average household size decreased 6% from 1990 to 2000 (2.21 to 2.08)

Minority Incomes

A median income of $18,441 less for minorities living in Portland

Educational Choices

In 1990 there were 8,419 school age children (5-18 yrs.) in Portland

In 2000 there were 8,767 school age children (5-18 yrs.) in Portland

In 1990, 8.4% (709) of school age children did not attend Portland Schools

In 2000, 11.4% (1,003) of school age children did not attend Portland Schools

“Simple Principal Driving Big Economic Changes”

Excerpt from the Maine Sunday Telegram March 26, 2006

Authored by Charles Lawton, a York resident, is a Ph. D. economist with extensive experience in education, government and business. He is former director of the Economic Development Division of the Maine State Planning Office and works as senior economist for Planning Decisions, a public policy research firm in South Portland.

“Since 2000, the assessed value (extrapolated from hundreds of actual sales) of all non-residential land in Maine has increased approximately 40 percent. Over the same period, the price of wood products has increased just 11 percent and the price of paper by just 6 percent. In short, the price of the asset has outpaced has outpaced the earnings traditionally derived from it. Why? Because of competition from an entirely different use – residential and recreational.

Those who believe that Maine’s land has greater future earnings potential as house lots than as wood lots are bidding up the price of land beyond the traditional products of the land can support. It’s as if Tom (Tom’s of Maine) found a cure for cancer – suddenly toothpaste would become irrelevant.

A similar pattern is evident for housing. The median price of a single-family home in the Portland area has increased by approximately 73 percent since 2000. Over the same period, the median rent for a three-bedroom housing unit has increased by only 40 percent. Here again, the asset value has increased beyond what its traditional earnings can pay for.

The discontinuity between the value of our land and ability to use it has had and will continue to have a profound impact on our ability to provide the most basic products – affordable housing and livelihoods derived from the land.”

As applied to the decrease in enrollment at the Portland Public Schools:

1) Portland is an expensive place to live, due to housing costs in relation to incomes.

The Portland housing market is not conducive to young families with children.

2) Portland is losing apartments to condominium development.

Condominiums do not produce children in significant numbers.

3) Land is becoming more available and less expensive in the suburbs.

There is more opportunity for new homes because of this land.

Interest rates are low.

4) Not enough affordable housing units are being created in Portland.

The “highest and best use” for land that is available in Portland, is for single family homes and condominiums.

Kindergarten Enrollments

A study of kindergarten enrollments since 1983 was conducted. From a high in 1988/1989 of 1,205 kindergarten enrollments, to a low of 522 students in 2005/2006, kindergarten populations have decreased by 57%.

After studying kindergarten enrollments over the past 23 years, the committee recognizes that since 1999 - 2000 enrollment for this grade group has stabilized substantially. An average of 546 students per year has occurred during that seven-year period.[14] The committee feels that kindergarten enrollment will not have an impact in the near future.

English Language Learners (ELL)

As a component of the student population that has contributed heavily to the one of the only in flow of students in recent years, it was incumbent on the committee to have a good understanding of future immigration that will impact the district’s student population,

After a steady increase of elementary ELL students through the 90’s, total elementary numbers have begun to decline.

1990 1995 2000 2005

74 208 356 259

Traditionally the bulk of ELL students have resided on the peninsula. In recent years this population has followed the trend of other families in that area of moving off the peninsula, or leaving the district entirely.

▪ Future Immigration

According to Catholic Charities, the primary refugee resettlement agency, the City of Portland should expect the following in the next five years:

▪ Secondary Migration
The State of Maine sees 1200 - 1500 individuals/year, about half resettle in Portland. Conservative estimates of 600 individuals per year over a five-year period would result in 3,000 new secondary immigrants in five years.

▪ New Refugees from Overseas
The State of Maine sees 200 - 250 refugees per year. Estimates are that 80% resettle in Portland.  Conservative estimates of 160 individuals per year over a five-year period would result in 800 new overseas refugees in five years.

▪ Total New Arrivals to Portland in 5 Years

Estimated 3,800

▪ School Age Children
How many of these individuals are school-age children?  Catholic Charities conservative estimate is that about 60% of these individuals are children. There are no exact numbers however.  Using 60% as an average, 2,280 children would arrive in the next 5 years, or 456 children per year.

With elementary students making up 42% of the grades in the City of Portland, we can expect approximately 191 elementary students per year in the next 5 years. In 2005, 259 students were added from this group to date.[15]

Barring unforeseen world events, the committee feels that the ELL elementary population has stabilized and should not have a significant impact on enrollments in the next five years.

Predicting Enrollments

The Maine State Planning Office projects the following for the City of Portland:

· Actual housing units occupied, for sale, or for rent in the City of Portland in July 2005 were 30,764.

· Projected housing units occupied, for sale, or for rent City of Portland July 2015

31,722 (+958 or 3.1% increase)

· Actual population of the City of Portland in July 2005 was 64,418

· Projected population of the City of Portland in July 2015 will be 66,105 (+1,687 or +2.6%).

The chart below is the projected number of school age children residing in Portland from 1990 through 2015.[16]

Current student enrollment is estimated to be 4% above state planning projections.

Private Enrollment / Other Than Portland Public Schools

As noted previously, 11.8% of children age 5 – 17 residing in Portland did not attend Portland schools in the year 2000. Should this hold true through the year 2015, the population of the Portland School District would drop from 7,220 as of 2/15/06 to 6,764. This amounts to a decrease of - 456 additional students, or -6.3%.

Since 1999 the average amount of elementary students, in relationship to the total number of Portland Public Schools students was 42.9%. This average has not fluctuated more than 2% over this 7-year period. It is therefore safe to assume that 2,901 elementary students will populate the Portland Public Schools in July 2015. This is a drop of an additional -141 (-.5) elementary students from 2006 to 2015.

Elementary “Schools of Choice” and “Programming Choice”

Bringing Students Back to Portland

While in the past, every effort has been made to allow elementary students throughout the district the opportunity to attend a school other than their district school, the opening of the East End Community School in the fall of 2006, will see Portland’s first official elementary “school of choice.” With approximately 133 approved students attending schools other than their district school, 62 students attending the Many Rivers Program at Hall from other districts, and an additional 100 students having the opportunity to attend the new East End School, approximately 10% of all elementary students are now offered “school of choice or “programming choice” opportunities.” As a result, Portland Public Schools is now seeing a return of students from private schools and home schooling environments.

Many Rivers

School District From Number of Students

Adams 2

Presumpscot 13

Clifford 13

Longfellow 16

Reiche 9

Hall In District

Riverton 3

Lyseth 6

Total 62

East End Community School

While only 100 students will be eligible for placement, 186 applications were on file as of March 1, 2006. These applications originated in the following districts:

PPS Private/

Requests Students Other

Peaks 1 1 0

Presumpscot 34 15 3

Clifford 28 15 1

Longfellow 29 8 5

Reiche 26 9 4

Hall 21 10 0

Riverton 28 16 1

Lyseth 19 9 0

Total 186 83 14

National Enrollment Estimates

These figures track closely with figures provided by the National Center for Education Statistics that project a slight increase (+1.6%) in student population for the entire State of Maine for the years 2007-2013.

Housing Trends

Several different studies were conducted to determine:

▪ Where are recent dwellings being built and how they will impact future student populations?

▪ Where are future dwellings being planned, and how they will impact future student populations?

▪ Where are the greatest number of homes being sold, and how will these sales impact future student populations?

▪ Public housing and its’ proximity to current elementary schools

Based on available data, it was determined that the majority of recent new dwellings, (with the exception of condominiums), the majority of planned dwellings, and the greatest number of home sales, (resulting in the greatest number of students) will be forthcoming in the Lyseth and Riverton areas. Because they are mostly single-family homes, they will also produce the greatest number of school age children.[17]

Committee recommendation: While ELL and kindergarten populations seem somewhat stable and predictable at this point, overall student populations appear to still be declining slightly. The committee recommends that an independent consultant be hired to determine if more precise future enrollments trends can be determined.

PART 3 - Community Use of Facilities

The EFTF was not charged with determining community needs as it relates to what will happen at a school. Such things as community centers, health stations, branch libraries, etc. will be determined in the next phase of the elementary school plan with guidance from the School Committee, City Council, and the general public.

PART 4 – Educational Mandates

In a study published for the Portland Schools in 1999 by the architectural firm Semple and Drane titled, “Elementary School Existing Conditions Report,” a report was issued which took an in depth look at the current physical conditions of all schools at the time. This report has been revisited to again examine the results. Findings in the report were based on six common themes for successful learning in the elementary education program.

While conditions made have changed somewhat in the intervening years, the committee chose to incorporate this extensive report as the primary tool for evaluating the conditions of our current elementary schools and how they impact educational mandates.[18]

PART 5 – Economic Diversity

Economic diversity within in the Portland Public Schools is measured in terms of those students who pay a “free or reduced” price for lunch under a federal program. When applying for this status, the Food Service Director records all such students. Currently the breakdown of these students within the district is as follows:

High School 35%

Middle School 45%

Elementary School 48%

Others 65%

District Average 43%

Studies done during the commission of this report show that it is possible, in certain situations, to achieve economic diversity in a school by consolidating schools. While no studies were done for any of the options provided due to time constraints, they are readily accessible for any of the options listed.

Committee recommendation: Because there is substantial evidence that an economically diverse school improves student learning, the task force recommends that economic diversity be added as a “Primary Assumption” to all future deliberations regarding student populations, which will make up any elementary school district.[19]

Section 2 – Consolidating Elementary Schools

Part 1. - Defining “Anchor Schools”

Anchor Schools are defined as those schools that are generally located in parts of the city with the largest populations of students in close proximity. Future growth potential, the age of the school, amenities offered, and the amount of transportation necessary also are considered when designating a school an “Anchor School.” Below are the four “Anchor Schools” that were deemed not suitable for consolidation by the committee.

1) East End Community School – Located on the eastern end on the peninsula, this new school was designed to service the population centers of Munjoy Hill, Kennedy Park, and the remaining sections of the eastern half of the peninsula, defined as Franklin Arterial to the Eastern Promenade. Recent losses in student population from this area have created an opportunity at this school to allow for “school of choice” educational opportunities for an additional 100 students from throughout the city. The school will also house an ELL program with upwards of 100 students from this section of the city, and one small section of the Bayside area. A community center will also be housed at this facility.

2) Hall Elementary School – Located in the northwest corner of Portland, Hall is the largest school district in Portland in terms of geographical area served. From Steven’s Avenue the area expands westward to include the Stroudwater section of Portland and other traditional neighborhoods such as Rosemont, Nasson’s Corner, and Sagamore Village. Hall’s student population has remained somewhat stable over the years and few new housing developments are planned in the next few years. A strong public housing sector within walking distance of Hall, along with Hall’s geographic location assure Hall’s position as an anchor school for this section of the city. Hall also houses an ESL program, a self-contained FLS program, and the Many Rivers program, which draws students from all parts of the city.

3) Lyseth Elementary School – Located in the northeast corner of Portland, Lyseth is the largest elementary school in terms of students, presently housing 535 students. While student population has shrunk some from the huge numbers housed at Lyseth in the late 90’s, the Lyseth area continues to show the largest number of development efforts either recently completed or planned. Regarded as primarily the last section of the city with buildable land available, the Lyseth area is an area of mainly single-family homes, with one large affordable housing project that generates many Lyseth students. Housing plans show the Lyseth area should generate 89 new students in the next few years. Growth should also occur as single-family homes “turn over” in the area. Lyseth remains a viable anchor school in this section of the city and is expected to grow in terms of student population.

4) Riverton Elementary School and Community Center – Located in the northwest section of Portland, Riverton has recently seen an increase in affordable housing opportunities. 45 new students have resulted from this housing, with an additional 41 new students predicted in the next few years based on current housing plans. Nearby public housing accommodates one third of all Riverton students. As an essential anchor school in this area of the city, Riverton houses an ESL program, a self-contained FLS program, one of Portland’s two indoor pools, a community center, and a branch library.

Part 2. – Possible Future School Configurations

The committee decided to take a very balanced approach to determine if consolidating elementary schools was in the best interest of Portland’s students, staff, and citizen taxpayers. Having said that, several options were brought before the committee to determine if a viable option, or options, was available. No consensus was reached in terms of one favorable plan. Several options were deemed as not possible for a variety of reasons. These options are noted as such. Several options remain for future consideration.

Note: Options 1 through 7 were developed between November 2005 and January 2006 and reflect student populations at that time. Options 8 through 10 and 1A were developed in March 2006 and reflect a change in population as compared to those options developed earlier.[20] Options 8 – 10 and 1A also include the updated information for students attending the East End School in the fall.

Option # 1- Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Baxter Building

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Presumpscot Building

▪ Build a New School on the Baxter Site

Baxter (New) 390 students

East End 356

Hall 447

Longfellow 418

Lyseth 518

Reiche 402

Riverton 436

Pros

▪ School size low

▪ Site size ample

▪ Keeps diversity ideal

▪ Doesn’t replace youth programs

▪ Centrally located – off busy street

▪ Can build a new school while students stay in current schools

Cons

▪ Transportation

▪ Takes both schools out of their natural neighborhoods

▪ Equity issue not addressed

▪ Incorporates only 88 students from Clifford, only benefiting a small portion of the Clifford population

▪ 2 “disadvantaged” schools move into more prosperous/private school neighborhood

This option was rejected by the committee as not benefiting a majority of Clifford students.[21]

Option # 2 – Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Presumpscot Building

▪ Build a new school on St. James / Douglas St.

Clifford (New) 481 students

East End 356

Hall 447

Longfellow 327

Lyseth 538

Reiche 402

Riverton 436

Pros

▪ Location is central: good playing fields

▪ Keeps 2/3rd of Clifford students and nearly all of Presumpscot students together

▪ School size

▪ Can build a new school while students stay in current schools

Cons

▪ Would need to bus Presumpscot students across town (Tukey’s Bridge)

▪ Bus trip length for some students very long

▪ Loss of open space at Douglas Field

▪ Leaves District 4 without an elementary school

▪ School size

Option # 3 – Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Hall Building

▪ Build a new school on the Hall site

Hall (New) 464 students

East End 356

Longfellow 424

Lyseth 538

Presumpscot 313

Reiche 440

Riverton 452

Pros

▪ Important to have a school in this area (densely populated, geographically isolated)

▪ Building issues at Hall would be addressed

▪ Equity Issue a place (???)

Cons

▪ Incorporates only 69 students from Clifford; new building mostly Hall students

▪ Leaves Reiche as (still) an economically challenged population

This option was not a viable option to the committee based the schools large number of students being transported over long distances. The option also did not benefit a majority of Clifford students.

Option # 4 – Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Presumpscot Building

▪ Build a new school on the Presumpscot site

East End 356 students

Hall 464

Longfellow 424

Lyseth 410

Presumpscot (New) 441

Reiche 440

Riverton 452

Pros

▪ School size

▪ Keeps Presumpscot neighborhood school intact

▪ Reduces Lyseth to a more ideal student population

▪ Presumpscot has a growing population (3.5 from 2000 to 2005; new housing development in area)

Cons

▪ Incorporates only 12 students from Clifford; new building mostly Presumpscot (248) and Lyseth (126)

▪ Congestion in the area

▪ Industrial area is an issue

▪ Leaves Reiche as (still) an economically challenged population

▪ Limits flexibility in long term planning

This option was not a viable option to the committee because it did not benefit a majority of Clifford students. Possible loss of state construction funding was also a concern.

Option # 5 – Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Longfellow Building

▪ Build a new school on St. James / Douglas St.

Clifford (New) 465 students

East End 356

Hall 457

Lyseth 538

Presumpscot 307

Reiche 406

Riverton 458

Pros

▪ School size

▪ Many walkers; two abutting communities

▪ Location is central; good playing fields

▪ Can build a new school while students stay in current school

Cons

▪ Lose “campus” opportunity w / DHS and LMS

▪ Lose a centrally located school

▪ Decrease for Clifford in economic diversity

▪ Leaves Reiche as (still) an economically challenged population

Option # 6 – Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Reiche Building

▪ Build a new school on St. James / Douglas St.

Clifford (New) 534 students

East End 356

Hall 445

Longfellow 346

Lyseth 535

Presumpscot 257

Riverton 462

Pros

▪ Addresses lack of diversity at Reiche

▪ Transportation access to the building better

▪ Location is central; good playing fields

▪ Economic prudence for bundles (Reiche is next major renovation)

▪ Current Reiche School facility could still be utilized after school gone

▪ Addresses needs of Reiche students for a better physical leaning environment (i.e. walls)

▪ Keeps both Clifford and Reiche school populations largely intact

▪ Can build new school while students stay in current school

▪ Based on long-term planning, would most easily facilitate future consolidation in district

Cons

▪ School size – large enrollment (+500)

▪ School / Community services no longer on same site for Reiche students

▪ Large numbers of students taking the bus

▪ Transportation to/from after school activities would be more difficult for former walkers at Reiche

▪ Leaves Presumpscot with a very small student population

Option # 7 – Seven Schools - Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Do Not Rebuild / Redistrict all Students

East End 356 Students

Hall 498

Longfellow 435

Lyseth 535

Presumpscot 257

Reiche 391

Riverton 462

Pros

▪ Needs to be considered for full review of all options

Cons

▪ Loss of State funding ($10-12 million) and a chance to build a new school to replace an aging elementary school in Portland

▪ Breaks up a successful learning community

This option was rejected as not benefiting the majority of Clifford students. It could possibly mean the loss of state funding for a new elementary school as well.

Option # 1A – Seven Schools- Medium Sizes

▪ Close the Clifford Building

▪ Close the Presumpscot Building

▪ Close the Baxter Building

▪ Close the West School

▪ Build a New School on the Baxter Site

▪ Renovate Reiche

▪ Attach West to Reiche or Baxter

Baxter (New) 475 to East End -27 = 448

East End 349 446

Hall 451 to East End -10 = 441

Longfellow 321 to East End -9 = 312

Lyseth 540 to East End -9 = 531

Reiche 427[22] to East End -14 = 413

Riverton 440 to East End -14 = 426

West 50

Return to Districts 41[23]

New 14 to East End -14

Pros

▪ Good for economic diversity; 52% free & reduced lunch (FRL)

Cons

▪ Transportation

▪ This option takes both schools out of their natural neighborhoods.

▪ 2 “disadvantaged” schools move into more prosperous / private school neighborhood

Population / Bussing Requirements

▪ Currently, 5 buses required, bussing 250 kids

▪ New scenario: 10 buses, 526 kids bussed; 182 Clifford students at the new school Bayside East and West (45) would go to Reiche[24]

Option #8 - Eight Elementary Schools [25]

No Consolidation - Some Redistricting – Small Schools[26]

▪ Close the current Clifford School building.

▪ Close the current West School building.

▪ Build a new school on St James / Douglas St.

▪ Include a wing of this school for West students.

▪ Renovate Reiche

▪ Close the current Presumpscot School building.

▪ Close the current Baxter School building.

▪ Build a new school on the old Baxter site.

Clifford (New / Renovated)[27] 380 to East End -16 = 364

East End 349 446

Hall 372 to East End -10 = 362

Longfellow 356 to East End -8 = 348

Lyseth 414 to East End -9 = 405

Presumpscot (New / Renovate) 451 to East End -15 = 436

Reiche (Renovate) 332 to East End -9 = 323

Riverton 440 to East End -16 = 424

West (Close)

New 14 to East End -14

Option # 9 - Eight Elementary Schools

No Consolidation Some Redistricting – Small Schools

▪ Close the current Clifford School building.

▪ Close the current West School building.

▪ Build a new school on St James / Douglas St.

▪ Include a wing of this school for West students.

▪ Renovate Reiche – Move students to Clifford during renovation

▪ Close the current Presumpscot School building.

▪ Build a new school on the current Presumpscot site.

▪ Use the Baxter School for Presumpscot students while the new school is built.

▪ Close the Longfellow School building.

▪ Build a new school on the Baxter site and incorporate the Longfellow and Baxter districts.

Baxter (New) 408 to East End -9 = 399

Clifford (New / Renovate)[28] 380 to East End -15 = 365

East End 349 446

Hall 407 to East End -9 = 398

Lyseth 414 to East End -9 = 405

Presumpscot (New / Renovate) 364 to East End -13 = 351

Reiche (Renovate) 332 to East End -14 = 318

Riverton 440 to East End -14 = 426

West (Close)

New 14 to East End -14

Option # 10 - Six Elementary Schools [29]

Major Consolidation – Large Schools

▪ Close the Presumpscot School Building

▪ Close the West School Building

▪ Close the Longfellow School Building

▪ Replace the Baxter School Building

▪ Build a new school on the old Baxter site with a wing for West students

▪ House a portion of Presumpscot students, a portion of Clifford students, all former Baxter students, and a portion of Longfellow students at the new school.

▪ Move some Longfellow students to Hall

▪ Move some Presumpscot students to Lyseth

▪ Move Bayside students from Clifford to Reiche

▪ Move Reiche students to Clifford

▪ Renovate Reiche School

▪ Move Reiche students back to Reiche after renovations

▪ Close the Clifford School Building

Baxter (New) 597 to East End -31 = 566

Hall 579 to East End -11 = 569

East End 349 445

Lyseth 576 to East End -9 = 567

Reiche 427[30] to East End -16 = 411

Riverton 447 to East End -16 = 431

West 50

New 14 to East End -14

Return to Districts 69[31]

Unresolved Issues

While the charge of the task force was specific as it relates to elementary schools, so often than not, all facilities and all programs come into play in terms of what’s the best way to utilize what the entire district has for resources. Below is a list of issues, some of which were addressed in different options, others of which were not.

K-8 Schools

For many years, the idea of providing a single learning environment for a student for nine years has been promoted. The task force did examine the feasibility of such a facility and found that in all likelihood this scenario could still be developed in future years should the School Committee wish to re-examine its’ merits, and the state is willingness to approve such a concept.

Multilingual Intake Center

Currently housed in the Baxter School, the Center is the home of the Multilingual Programming Department. From this center, new arrivals to the country are tested and evaluated, and processed into the Portland Public Schools. With the Baxter School part of the consolidation options, this department would have to find a new home. Three suggestions have been offered. The first of which is to move the intake process back into the district elementary schools. The second suggestion would entail constructing a low cost building on the PATHS campus, similar to the transportation building, which could house the programs needs. The third option would be to attach to a new school building.

Adult Education

Adult Education programs are currently located at the West School, the Baxter School, and other locations (evening only) around the district. With both the Baxter School and the West School considered for closure in the consolidation options, it is apparent that this program needs a permanent location in the future and must be given serious consideration in the current process. Having been moved several times in recent years, Adult Education often shoulders the burden when extra space is needed for programming needs in the district. Two suggestions have surfaced. The first suggestion centers on rented space in the peninsula area, and area where many Adult Education learners reside. The second suggestion would be to better utilize high school classrooms, which go unused after two p.m., but are used by adult learners in the evenings.

The West Program

The West School in considered for closure in many of the options. Currently housing 50 students in seven classrooms, the program requires an inordinate amount of space due to the nature of its’ programming needs. While one suggestion has been to include a wing for the West students at an existing school, or a new school, some committee members saw this as unadvisable.

Site Viability

Three sites were examined for new school construction in this report. They are: West School / St James Street, the current Baxter location, and the current Presumpscot location. These sites need to be examined for construction viability, as well as any other city owned parcels that could accommodate a school if new construction is deemed necessary.

Pre-Kindergarten

One concern of the committee centered on not knowing how many pre-school students would be coming into the district in the future. They expressed concerns about the ELL pre-school program growing, and future state mandates, which could include public schools educating those pre-k students now enrolled with Child Development Services (CDS).

Hotel Schools

Any consideration of consolidating schools must have as it’s underpinning an understanding of where students will attend schools when a decision has been made to renovate or replace a school on site. It should be understood, that when a decision to close a school is made, it may not necessarily result in the immediate closure of that school. The school may remain in inventory until such time it has no use as a temporary or “hotel school.”

SECTION 4. - Conclusion

The task force brought together a group of people with many diverging views. Throughout the process, the group labored to understand the huge amount of demographic data that was needed to formulate future plans for Portland’s elementary schools. Options were laid out for the group to examine. Additional data was requested and provided as the group looked toward creating a vision. As is sometimes the case, for better or worse, no clear consensus was arrived at by the task force. Configuration models, number of schools (school size), drawbacks concerning transportation, diversity, and renovation versus new construction were all items that prevented the committee from forwarding a recommendation to the school committee.

While in hindsight, it may appear that the task force was unsuccessful in completing it’s charge, the task force strongly feels that the process was beneficial to the school community in terms of laying the ground work necessary to assist elected officials and the public in making an informed decision about the future of Portland’s elementary schools.

Many different consolidation and renovation options are listed in this report. However, it should be noted that by no means do they represent all the options available. Renewed interest in K-8 models and future “schools of choice” will weigh heavily on future decision makers. Enrollment trends, while becoming somewhat more predictable, also leave the inevitable unanswered question of “what if?”

As this report moves into the domain of our elected officials for further scrutiny and the next phase of the decision making process, it is incumbent on all citizens of the City of Portland to weigh in with opinions that will help shape the future of Portland’s youngest learners. We sincerely hope that this report provides the necessary impetus to conclude a process that will greatly improve learning environments at the elementary facilities of the Portland Public Schools.

Elementary Facility Task Force Members

March 2006

APPENDIX

Appendix 1

Free and Reduced Populations by School

School Free Reduced Total Pct. F & R

DHS 296 32 1,311 25%

PHS 483 33 1,105 47%

Casco Bay 29 2 82 38%

Sub-Ttl. 808 67 2,498 35%

King 251 32 476 59%

Lincoln 192 24 524 41%

Moore 195 28 587 38%

Sub-Ttl. 638 84 1,587 45%

Cliff Island 0 0 7 0%

Clifford 97 19 241 48%

Hall 131 23 451 34%

Longfellow 78 9 353 25%

Lyseth 85 17 544 19%

Peaks 7 2 47 19%

Presumpscot 133 14 259 57%

Reiche 280 17 332 89%

Riverton 249 27 470 59%

East End

From Adams 106 10 151 77%

From Clifford 67 3 71 99%

From Reiche 91 0 96 95%

From Reiche (ELL) 14 0 14 100%

From Presumpscot 15 0 17 100%

Sub-Ttl. 279 13 349 89%

Sub-Ttl. 1,339 141 3,053 48%

West 43 10 53 100%

Other Sped 5 0 36 14%

Sub-Ttl. 48 10 89 65%

TOTAL 2,833 302 7,227 43%

APPENDIX 2

Original EFTF Plan - June 2002

Bundle 1 – 2004

Original Plan: Build a new school on the East End.

Renovate Riverton

		Original Plan Jun 2002	Sept 2003	Jan 2004	March 2006
East End
Regular		325	278	283	227
ESL		70	93	93	48
Bayside Regular		N/a	78	74	N/a
Bayside ESL		N/a	34	35	N/a
Sub-total Original Plan		395	483	485	275
Expected to return / other districts		N/a	N/a	N/a	27
OOD @ East End		N/a	N/a	N/a	16
Presumpscot ESL to East End		N/a	N/a	N/a	17
Bayside ESL to East End		N/a	N/a	N/a	14
Sub-total Changes		0	0	0	74
Total		395	483	485	349
Riverton
Riverton Regular	368		327	336	345
Riverton ESL	48		61	65	44
Other ESL	30		31	18	20
OOD @ Riverton	N/a		N/a	N/a	9
Sped	14		16	19	22
Total	460		435	438	440

East End Community School

· The original plan called for a new school to replace Jack School using the Jack neighborhoods as the population for the new school.

· Between June 2002 and March 2006, the planned East End School population lost 120 students.

· The Bayside neighborhood was added to the East End School in late 2003.

· The East End School was designated a school of choice in 2005. Bayside was reassigned back to Clifford to free 100 spaces for these students.

· East End School will open in September 2006

Riverton Elementary School and Community Center

· In 2005 it was decided that ESL students from the Presumpscot area, currently attending Riverton, will be moved to the East End School.

Bundle 2 – 2006

Original Plan: Build a new Clifford

Build a new Hall

Renovate Reiche

Original Plan Jun 2002

Sept 2003

Jan 2004

March 2006

Clifford
Clifford Neighborhoods	168	159	165	169
Many Rivers from Hall	96	94	92	99
West	61	45	52	50
Bayside Regular Ed	N/a	N/a	N/a	50
OOD @ Clifford	N/a	N/a	N/a	22
Total	325	298	309	390
Hall
Hall Neighborhoods	290	261	259	239
Hall ESL	33	32	14	38
Other ESL	52	64	47	15
OOD @ Hall	N/a	N/a	N/a	5
FLS	N/a	N/a	N/a	20
Total	375	357	320	317
Reiche
Reiche Neighborhoods	292	282	267	235
ESL Reiche	89	70	76	68
Clifford ESL (not Bayside)	11	16	16	15
Bayside	57	N/a	N/a	N/a
Bayside ESL	24	N/a	N/a	N/a
OOD @ Reiche	N/a	N/a	N/a	14
Total	473	368	359	332

Clifford

· The original plan called for moving Many Rivers and West to a new Clifford School, with the Bayside neighborhood moving to Reiche School.

Hall

· The original plan called for moving Many Rivers to Clifford and a portion of the Hall District to Longfellow.

Reiche

· The original plan called for the Bayside neighborhood to move from Clifford to Reiche.

· The Bayside neighborhood was moved to the East End School in late 2003, and back to Clifford in 2005.

Bundle 3 - 2008

Original Plan: Build New Baxter

Renovate Lyseth

Renovate Longfellow

Original Plan Jun 2002

Sept 2003

Jan 2004

March 2006

Plan B
Baxter / Presumpscot
Baxter Neighborhoods	157	114	95	90
Presumpscot Neighborhoods	229	218	221	219
Portion of Lyseth	78	73	73	68
OOD @ Presumpscot	N/a	N/a	N/a	19
Total	464	405	389	396
Lyseth
Lyseth Neighborhoods	514	482	429	451
Sped	N/a	N/a	N/a	5
OOD @ Lyseth	N/a	N/a	N/a	20
Total	514	482	429	476
Longfellow
Longfellow Neighborhoods	327	315	309	286
From Baxter	13	14	14	0
From Hall	33	25	31	35
OOD @ Longfellow	N/a	N/a	N/a	28
Total	373	354	354	349

Plan A – Original Plan – Build a new Clifford. Close West School and combine with new Clifford. Many Rivers program moved from Hall to the new Clifford. This plan assumed state funding for the Baxter and Clifford Projects.

Plan B – Original Plan – Build a new Baxter and combine with Presumpscot. Renovate Lyseth and Longfellow. This plan assumed state funding for the Clifford project only.

Baxter

· The original plan called for a new Baxter School that would include the Baxter and Presumpscot districts, as well as a portion of the Lyseth district.

· Baxter School was closed in 2003 due to declining enrollments.

Lyseth

· The original plan called for a portion of Lyseth to be sent to the new Baxter School. The remainder of the district would stay intact.

Longfellow

· The original plan called for small portions of the Baxter and Hall Districts to move to Longfellow. The remainder of the Longfellow District would remain intact.

Appendix 3

Current Elementary School Population and Components

2006-2007 Estimated School Populations

· Assumes no increase or decrease in elementary student populations.

· Assumes all out of district students remain at their current schools.

· Assumes 100 placements at the East End School

Changes for 2006 (Total numbers for each school reflect these changes)

· Presumpscot ESL to East End for 2006 (formerly @ Riverton)

· Bayside ESL to East End for 2006 (formerly @ Reiche)

· Kennedy Park Regular to East End School (formerly @ Clifford)

· Kennedy Park ESL to East End School (formerly @ Reiche)

· Cathedral area Regular and ESL to east End (formerly @ Reiche)

· 100 students moving to East End (from other districts)

Clifford

Regular – Clifford Neighborhoods 204

Regular – OOD 22

Total 226

East End

Regular - East End Neighborhoods 135

Regular – From Clifford (East End Neighborhoods) 71

Regular – From Reiche (East End Neighborhoods) 48

Regular – OOD 16

Sub-Total Regular 270

ELL – From Reiche (East End Neighborhoods) 48

ELL – From Reiche – Bayside 14

ELL – From Presumpscot 17

Sub-Total ELL 79

School of Choice Students 97

Total 446

Hall

Regular – Hall Neighborhoods 264

Regular – OOD 5

Sub-Total Regular 269

ELL – In District 38

ELL – OOD 15

Sub-Total ELL 53

FLS – In District 10

FLS – OOD 10

Sub-Total FLS 20

Many Rivers – In District 37

Many Rivers – OOD 62

Sub-Total Many Rivers 99

Total 441

Longfellow

Regular – Longfellow Neighborhoods 278

Regular – OOD 28

Regular – Former Baxter District 39

Total 345

Lyseth

Regular – Lyseth Neighborhoods 510

Regular – OOD 20

SPED – OOD 5

Total 535

Presumpscot

Regular – Presumpscot Neighborhoods 204

Regular – OOD 19

Regular – Former Baxter District 21

Total 244

Reiche

Regular – Reiche Neighborhoods 226

Regular – OOD 14

Sub-Total Regular 240

ELL – In District 68

ELL – OOD 15

Sub-Total ELL 83

Total 323

Riverton

Regular – Riverton Neighborhoods 329

Regular – OOD 9

Regular – Former Baxter District 30

Sub-Total Regular 368

ELL – In District 44

ELL – OOD 20

Sub-Total ELL 64

FLS – In District 11

FLS – OOD 11

Sub-Total FLS 22

Total 454

APPENDIX 4

Enrollments by Area and Declining Family Populations

STUDENTS
	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	02-06
Peninsula
Adams	131	128	126	126	130	123	108	101	113	98	102	189	186	147	133
Jack	438	426	407	368	381	332	322	301	262	244	286	0	0	0	0
Clifford	295	299	299	333	354	314	316	308	280	205	216	308	303	297	314
Reiche	575	573	604	629	536	559	552	519	499	421	446	499	520	495	446
Total	1,439	1,426	1,436	1,456	1,401	1,328	1,298	1,229	1,154	968	1,050	996	1,009	939	893
City Center
Baxter	184	198	239	253	294	297	279	227	199	151	167	130	0	0	0
Baxter	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	122	109	89
Longfellow	655	632	508	475	469	442	396	361	362	335	342	333	357	341	346
Presumpscot	274	277	291	289	321	343	296	275	252	243	234	214	253	241	256
Total	1,113	1,107	1,038	1,017	1,084	1,082	971	863	813	729	743	677	732	691	691
Suburbs
Hall	437	426	484	468	481	484	494	419	433	445	456	457	432	442	445
Lyseth	693	690	558	602	602	594	581	693	670	628	584	571	565	547	535
Riverton	413	418	604	601	600	605	562	490	464	482	451	451	469	481	462
Total	1,543	1,534	1,646	1,671	1,683	1,683	1,637	1,602	1,567	1,555	1,491	1,479	1,466	1,470	1,442
Total	4,095	4,067	4,120	4,144	4,168	4,093	3,906	3,694	3,534	3,252	3,284	3,152	3,207	3,100	3,026
		1,142	Fewer elementary students today than in 1995
		-27.4%	Decrease in elementary student population
FAMILIES
			2000			1990
Neighborhood			Families			Families			Change		Pct.
Peninsula
Downtown			296			380			-84		-22%
East Bayside			437			524			-87		-17%
East End			942			1,216			-274		-23%
Libbytown			348			424			-76		-18%
Oakdale			634			704			-70		-10%
Parkside			570			661			-91		-14%
Valley St			170			236			-66		-28%
West Bayside			119			123			-4		-3%
West End			934			1,094			-160		-15%
Totals			4,450			5,362			-912		-17%
City Center
Deering Center			1,010			1,080			-70		-6%
East Deering			761			867			-106		-12%
Ocean Ave			907			978			-71		-7%
Rosemont			1,123			1,200			-77		-6%
Total			3,801			4,125			-324		-8%
Suburbs
North Deering			2,648			2,600			48		2%
Riverton			1,253			1,134			119		10%
Nasson's Corner			923			1,020			-97		-10%
Stroudwater			190			164			26		16%
Total			5,014			4,918			96		2%
Total			13,265			14,405			-1,140		-7.91%

Appendix 5

ELL Populations

The chart below depicts ELL elementary enrollments for the past 5 years. ELL elementary enrollments impact the 4 ELL Centers located at East End, Reiche, Hall,

and Riverton.

2000-2001

2001-2002

2002-2003

2003-2004

2004-2005

Total

Grade

K

105

91

103

106

95

500

1

29

17

24

15

12

97

2

32

14

14

24

12

96

3

20

10

23

16

20

89

4

16

10

17

11

15

69

5

25

11

14

14

13

77

Total

227

153

195

186

167

928

APPENDIX 6

Kindergarten Enrollments

The following chart depicts actual kindergarten enrollment data starting in 1983-1984. Birth data was provided in a prior Caffarella & Caffarella, Inc. Enrollment Projection.

Year Births K’S Current Grade

1983 - 1984 873 724

1984 - 1985 868 837

1985 - 1986 987 980

1986 - 1987 928 995

1987 - 1988 926 991

1988 - 1989 974 1,025

1989 - 1990 942 985

1990 - 1991 1,104 1,021

1991 - 1992 1,033 1,030

1992 - 1993 1,052 937

1993 - 1994 1,020 922 12

1994 - 1995 1,039 913 11

1995 - 1996 1,036 930 10

1996 - 1997 1,071 810 9

1997 - 1998 891 683 8

1998 - 1999 830 622 7

1999 - 2000 830 557 6

2000 - 2001 823 533 5

2001 - 2002 763 563 4

2002 - 2003 799 559 3

2003 - 2004 759 564 2

2004 - 2005 752 529 1

2005 - 2006 764 537 K

2006 – 2007 (projected) 738 519

Six-Year Increments

· 88 - 89 to 93 - 94 5,920

· 94 - 95 to 99 - 00 4,515 - A loss of 1,405 students, or 24%

· 00 - 01 to 05 - 06 3,285 - A loss of 1,230 students, or 27%

Kindergarten Enrollments

APPENDIX 7

Recent Housing Developments

Listed below are the streets or developments that have been added within the past six years. The numbers of students who currently reside in these areas are listed opposite:

Development Gr. K-5 Gr. 6-12 Elem. School

Buca Run 5 3 Riverton

Celebration Ct 1 1 Hall

Coast La 4 4 Presumpscot

Eben Hill Dr 13 8 Presumpscot

Garsoe Rd 6 12 Lyseth

42 Gray St 8 4 Reiche

Haverty Way 0 1 Lyseth

Heritage Ct 0 1 Hall

Hope Ave 16 9 Lyseth

Liberty Way 2 0 Lyseth

Maggie La 8 10 Riverton

Maritime La 1 5 Pres

Nichols Ct 0 0 Lyseth

151 North St 16 38 East End

Old Campus Dr 16 32 Riverton

Quiet La 1 3 Lyseth

Ridge Rd 0 3 Presumpscot

Rivers Edge 2 1 Hall

Schooner La 9 14 Presumpscot

Stone St – Unity Village 9 9 Clifford

Sullivan Ct 0 0 Lyseth

Wellesley Estates 16 26 Riverton

Sub-Total 133 184

All Students 317

Elementary School Areas

Baxter 0

Clifford 9

East End 16 On Peninsula 33 25%

Hall 3 Off Peninsula 100 75%

Longfellow 0

Lyseth 25

Presumpscot 27

Riverton 45

Reiche 8

APPENDIX 8

Future Housing Development

The City of Portland Planning Office provided a look at near term plans for housing development in the form of housing units:

● Completed or Currently Under Construction

● Approved Projects

● Pending or Proposed Projects

To establish the predicted number of students these dwellings would produce, occupancy factors, using New England as the primary base were used. Blended rates for 2, 3, and 4 rooms were used for multi-family units using an occupancy factor of .175 students per unit. For single-family homes a blended rate using 2 to 5 bedrooms was used. The occupancy factor for this group was .478 students per unit. Condominiums were not considered, as they rarely produce school age children significant enough to affect totals. Assisted living units and homeless housing were also ignored. Units already occupied with students are not factored in the totals. Exact locations of each unit are located in the reference section of this document.

School Area Units Predicted Students

Completed or Under Construction

Clifford 22 4

East End 7 3

Hall 1 1

Longfellow 2 2

Lyseth 133 49

Presumpscot 50 10

Reiche 107 19

Riverton 77 19 Total 399 107

Approved Projects

Lyseth 29 10

Presumpscot 4 2

Reiche 29 5

Riverton 29 14

Total 91 31

Pending or Proposed Projects

East End 24 4

Hall 3 1

Lyseth 95 30

Presumpscot 22 11

Reiche 138 25

Riverton 47 8

Total 329 79

Total Projects

Clifford 20 4

East End 31 7

Hall 4 2

Longfellow 2 2

Lyseth 257 89

Presumpscot 78 21

Reiche 274 49

Riverton 153 41

Total 819 217

APPENDIX 9

Housing Units For Sale

The following information was provided through the Maine Multiple Listing Service. The information is for all units in the City of Portland available for sale on January 1, 2006.

	Single Family	Pct.	Multi Family	Rents Available	Pct.	Condo	Pct.	Total	Pct.
Baxter	9	4.79%	4	14	1.57%	19	8.68%	42	6.35%
Clifford	10	5.32%	19	48	18.90%	14	6.39%	72	10.89%
East End	6	3.19%	17	55	21.65%	24	10.96%	85	12.86%
Hall	29	15.43%	1	3	1.18%	6	2.74%	38	5.75%
Longfellow	23	12.23%	13	35	13.78%	9	4.11%	67	10.14%
Lyseth	48	25.53%	2	8	3.15%	7	3.20%	63	9.53%
Presumpscot	16	8.51%	2	4	1.57%	24	10.96%	44	6.66%
Riverton	35	18.62%	2	6	2.36%	3	1.37%	44	6.66%
Reiche	12	6.38%	18	81	31.89%	113	51.60%	206	31.16%
Totals	188		78	254		219		661

Children Resulting From Home Sales

Assumptions (for calculating amounts of children)

· Assumes all single-family homes are vacant.

· Assumes multi-family homes (apartments) have a vacancy rate of 3.6%.

· Condominiums are not counted as units that produce significant amounts of children due to the low occupancy factor for this type of dwelling.

· Does not include 43 island dwellings for sale.

The following chart represents the number of school age children that would occupy the available dwellings for sale on January 1, 2006.

Area SF Children Multi Children Total Elementary

Baxter 4.3 .09 4.4 1.88

Clifford 4.8 .30 5.1 2.14

East End 2.9 .35 3.2 1.37

Hall 13.9 .02 13.9 5.96

Longfellow 11.0 .22 11.2 4.80

Lyseth 22.9 .05 23.0 9.86

Presumpscot 7.6 .03 7.7 3.30

Riverton 16.7 .04 16.8 7.20

Reiche 5.7 .51 6.2 2.65

Total 89.9 1.6 91.5 39.2

APPENDIX 10

Public Housing and the Portland Public Schools

Portland Schools are strategically located to maximize their proximity to student populations. The Portland Housing Authority has 2,225 total units of Section 8 housing units scattering throughout the city. The majority of this housing stock is on the peninsula within a mile of both Reiche and the East End School. In addition, the PHA has 10 sites with multiple units (projects).

Portland Housing Authority Sites

Address	Restriction	District	Students
Sagamore Village		Hall	65
Kennedy Park		East End	36
Bayside Terrace		East End	9
Franklin Towers	Elderly and Dis. Only	East End
Bayside East		East End	26
Harbor Terrace	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
Riverton Park		Riverton	109
Washington Gardens	Elderly and Dis. Only	Presumpscot
Front Street		Presumpscot	51
Dermott Court		Reiche	2
Scattered Sites		East End	9
		Total	307

Maine State Housing Authority

MSHA offers several programs in which to access subsidized housing within the city of Portland. All but 2 of 41 locations are within a mile of their district school.

Address	Type	Restriction	District	Students
52 Frederick St	RHLP Rental		Clifford	1
49 Hanover St	RHLP Rental		Clifford	2
Stone St – Unity Village	RHLP Rental		Clifford	9
			TTL	11
158 North St	HUD	Elderly and Dis. Only	East End
37 Fore St	HUD		East End	0
13 Emerson St	RHLP Rental		East End	9
151 North St	RHLP Rental		East End	16
1-140 Munjoy South	RHLP Rental		East End	33
14 Monroe St	RHLP Rental		East End	0
9 Greenleaf St	RHLP Rental		East End	3
133-135 Anderson St	RHLP Rental		East End	0
			TTL	61
180 Auburn St	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Lyseth
246 Auburn St	RHLP Rental		Lyseth	35
Yale Court	RHLP Rental		Lyseth	18
			TTL	53
Ocean East	RHLP Rental		Presumpscot	27
			TTL	27
10 Congress Sq. Plaza	HUD	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
794 Congress St	HUD		Reiche	0
Avon Place	MSHA Complex		Reiche	7
218 State St	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
145 Spring St	MSHA Complex		Reiche	1
457 Cumberland Ave	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
48 Salem St	MSHA Complex		Reiche	5
206 State St	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
248 Congress St	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
14 Sherman St	MSHA Complex		Reiche	5
100 State St	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Reiche
229-231 Congress St	RHLP Rental		Reiche	0
90-92 High St	RHLP Rental		Reiche	0
41 State St	RHLP Rental		Reiche	2
638-652 Congress St	RHLP Rental		Reiche	0
77-85 Grant St	RHLP Rental		Reiche	0
181 Brackett St	RHLP Rental		Reiche	0
42 Gray St-St Dom's	RHLP Rental		Reiche	8
			TTL	28
880 Forest Ave	HUD	Elderly and Dis. Only	Riverton
777 Stevens Ave	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Riverton
824 Stevens Ave	MSHA Complex	Elderly and Dis. Only	Riverton
1390 Forest Ave	RHLP Rental		Riverton	7
147-151 Allen Ave	RHLP Rental	Elderly and Dis. Only	Riverton
1375 Forest Ave	RHLP Rental		Riverton	3
Wellesley Estates	RHLP Rental		Riverton	16
			TTL	26
			TTLS	153

REFERENCES

Elementary Program Facilities Report

Portland Public Schools

February 1997

Elementary Task Force - Elementary School Existing Conditions Report

Semple & Drane Architects

September 1999

US Department of Labor

2000 US Census

Elementary Facilities Task Force Executive Summary

Semple & Drane

October 2000

A New Vision for Bayside, Book Two - Implementation

Bayside Task Force Report

April 2000

Summary of Community Conversations

Portland’s Elementary Facilities Reconstruction Plan

October 2002

Housing and Inventory

Portland’s Comprehensive Plan Committee

November 2002

Housing: Sustaining Portland’s Future

Portland Housing Comprehensive Plan Committee

November 2002

Out of Reach 2003: America’s Housing Wage Climbs

National Low Income Housing Coalition

An Analysis of Construction of Small Schools vs. Larger Schools

Office of School Facility Services, Maine Department of Education

January 2005

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing in the City of Portland 2005

Greater Portland Council of Governments

March 2005

Maine State Planning Office Website

February 2006

National Center for Education Statistics Website

February 2006

Maine State Housing Authority Website

March 2006

Portland Housing Authority Website

March 2006

Maine Multiple Listings

January 2006

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Grace Valenzuela PPS – Dir. Multilingual

Barbara Barhydt City of Portland – Planning Office

Jeanne Whynot-Vickers PPS – Dir. Elementary Education

Joline Hart PPS – Dir. Human Resources

Kevin Mallory PPS – Dir. Transportation

Doug Sherwood PPS – Dir. Facilities

Richard Paulsen PPS – Dir. Finance

Mary Jo O’Connor PPS - Superintendent

Resource Documents

---

[1] Peaks Island and Cliff Island Elementary Schools are not under consideration for any form of consolidation or closure and are therefore not mentioned in this report for that reason.

[2] A copy of the original 2002 EFTF plan is included in the Resource Documents Section of this report.

[3] A copy of the Maine School Priority List for the Rating Cycles 2001-2002 and 2004-2005 are enclosed in the Resource Documents Sections of this report.

[4] A copy of the 2002-2011 Ten Year CIP generated from the first EFTF is included in the Resource Documents Section of this report.

[5] A number of the costs in this table have been prorated or otherwise distributed across the schools since school figures were not readily available.

[6] Custodial savings reflects current staffing and not when this school was an active elementary school.

[7] Capital costs could include renovations, upgrades, or entirely new building components

[8] Custodial staffing costs reflect currently assigned Adams manpower and do not reflect oversight and management from elsewhere in the district. Therefore, total cost of $116,486 savings of $116,486 could be $10,000 to $15,000 higher.

[9] While staff savings are not listed here, each 7-school, and 6-school option assumes a certain level of administrative savings.

[10] Appendix 2 is a study of each school, broken down by each of its’ components, as they were laid out in the 2002 EFTF plan.

[11] Movement of 100 students to the East End School is not reflected in these numbers.

[12] Appendix 3 is the listing of current schools with their estimated component breakdowns.

[13] Appendix 4 includes both studies that were used to determine these outcomes.

[14] Appendix 6 is a chart showing all pertinent kindergarten enrollment data.

[15] Appendix 5 is a chart showing ELL populations by grade for the past five school years

[16] Procedures used to project municipal populations by the Maine State Planning Office are attached as a resource document at the end of this report.

[17] Appendix 7, 8, 9 and 10 are studies referring to housing.

[18] A copy of the Semple and Drane Report is included in the Resource Documents Section of this report.

[19] Appendix 1 is a study of students currently receiving free and reduced lunch in the Portland Public School.

[20] All seven-school options average 451 students per school based on March numbers.

[21] This option was reworked as appears later as Option 1A

[22] Reiche totals include an expected 45 new students from the Bayside development efforts.

[23] Numbers are not factored back into individual school total.

[24] Bussing for this option was reduced to 7 buses and 394 students through a series of route refinements.

[25] All eight -school options average 381 students per school based on March 2006 numbers.

[26] The essential pro versus con for this option is school size and neighborhood location.

[27] Clifford total include an expected 45 new students from the Bayside development efforts.

[28] Clifford total include an expected 45 new students from the Bayside development efforts.

[29] Any six-school option would average 508 students per school based on March numbers.

[30] Reiche total include an expected 45 new students from the Bayside development efforts.

[31] Numbers are not factored back into individual school total.