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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20130819 - Elementary School Building Committee - Meeting Minutes 8/19/13 Approved - Page 1 of 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Monday, August 19, 2013 7:00 PM – Hopkinton Fire Department Training Room 73 Main Street MINUTES Elementary School Building Committee Chair Joe Markey opened joint Elementary School Building Committee and School Committee meeting at 7:05 PM with the following present: Voting Members: Mr. Joe Markey, Chair Mr. Mike Shepard, Vice Chair Mr. John Mosher, Member Mr. Rob Nickerson, Secretary/Clerk Mr. Jonathan Graziano, Member (School Committee Vice-Chair) Ms. Pam Waxlax, Member Mr. John Weaver, Member Members: Dr. Cathy MacLeod, Superintendent of Schools Mr. Ralph Dumas, Director of Finance Ms. Lauren Dubeau, Principal Center Elementary School Mr. Scott Aghababian, Member (School Committee Member) School Committee: Ms. Nancy Alvarez Burdick, School Committee Chair Ms. Jean Bertschmann, Member Ms. Ellen Scordino, Member Non-Members: Donald G. Kennedy, Ed.D., NESDEC Ms. Muriel Kramer Mr. Perry Davis I Community Input None II Approve Meeting Minutes None III In Depth NESDEC Enrollment Data Review Dr. Kennedy presented a brief review the Demography and Enrollment Projections originally presented to the School Committee on June 20, 2013. He indicated that two things will result in updates to the information presented in the material. The first would occur around the week of Labor Day at which time The Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst puts out projections which are done once every ten years. Information is taken from the 2010 8/19/13 Approved - Page 2 of 4 census which includes age level groups for every city and town in Massachusetts. This report projects out in five year increments to 2025 providing a better sense of potential mothers who could give birth to future kindergartners. The second update will occur when actual enrollment data received October 1, 2013. Dr. Kennedy explained that the information as presented is like a weather forecast. The data is reasonably accurate up to about five years out. The further out the projection, the less accurate the data may be. Present data indicates the number of births decreasing significantly based on a reduction in the number of women living in town between the ages of 24 to 44 than in years past. Approximately 88% of births result from women in this age group. Countering this data is an assumption of 40 net move ins, where families settle in town with elementary school age children. Information is also derived from Hopkinton Housing which includes the numbers of building permits issued, data from realtors, and proposed housing projects. All data appears to indicate Hopkinton will be going into a banner decade potentially occupying 100 – 125 new units over the next five to ten years. Dr. Kennedy addressed questions submitted by Ms. Waxlax prior to the meeting. She asked how the percentages shift downward at certain point where the totals of the age groups don’t decrease. Dr. Kennedy explained that the there is no guarantee that a particular percentage will be in the youngest or in the oldest grouping of children. Increases usually occur in the elementary levels because families with children of this age group typically settle in an area and try to remain for the duration of their children’s education until they have graduated. It is less common for families to move in or out of an area with older school children. Ms. Waxlax also asked if the DESE felt that the state would mandate full day Kindergarten and if so what difference would that make. Dr. Kennedy‘s opinion was that it was unlikely at this time given financial implications it would have on the state. Ms. Waxlax also inquired about whether Hopkinton intended to have the same type of preschool currently in place, or if it should be looking for something else. Dr. Kennedy shared that the DESE reports that 4 year olds who go to preschool usually perform better and require less, and less costly, remediation later on in their education. Incentives are likely to come for state and federal levels to grow preschools. Hopkinton should consider what kind of space will be needed in the future. Mr. Markey asked about the changes in the age cohort from 35-44 to 45-54. The simple answer from Dr. Kennedy was that people aged. Added to that is the echo effect of downsizing. When houses are put on the market by older residents whose children have graduated and moved out, the vacated 3-4 plus bedroom homes then tend to sell to families with younger children. Added to this are the new projects such as Legacy Farms where units generally are built as fast as they are sold. Jon Graziano inquired about the birthrate correlation. Dr. Kennedy explained that though a family may move in to town with two younger children, they may have additional children while living here. NESDEC makes a gradual increase assumption for this in the projection. Once the Donahue data is received it will provide a better sense of these numbers. 8/19/13 Approved - Page 3 of 4 Dr. Kennedy shared that NESDEC gets their birth number information directly from the State Department of Public Health. Their data goes across state boundaries and outside of the country. This information, though comprehensive, is about two years old at the time it is issued. Also used is data from Town Clerks. The down side to this source is that Town Clerks only have local data. NESDEC compares the two sources. Hopkinton on average is found to be unaware of 3 births a year. The Town Census, which is only allowed to be used by town officials, is factored in if the School Department provides the information. Ms. Bertschmann questioned if the proposed casino would have an effect on the school population. Dr. Kennedy explained the casino, if passed, would primarily affect traffic, and minimally affects the school population. Ms. Burdick inquired about information gathered from Judy Barrett of Community Opportunities Group, Elaine Lazarus of the Planning Board, Jeannine Gilmore of the Superintendent’s office, as well as other resources. She wondered if all the right people and sources were consulted. Dr. Kennedy said provisionally yes. Mr. Mosher inquired how much flexibility could be built into the system to compensate for variables. The School Committee and the Superintendent will need to come up with that answer rather than NESDEC. Dr. MacLeod offered that there is an opportunity with this project to plan some flexibility for a situation such as a hump in the enrollment numbers that will someday affect another building. Adding to that line of thought Mr. Mosher questioned if it would be more flexible to consider building another type of building. Dr. MacLeod added that she is hearing from building principals that some locations are nearing capacity. Exploring all options should be considered. Mr. Markey asked a procedural question about the use of the NESCEC numbers during the MSBA process. It was explained the last time around, the MSBS acknowledged the enrollment projections but ultimately a number was negotiated to provide for some of the flexibility. Mr. Shepard indicated the MSBA typically will only pay for certain parameters it deems necessary. The town would then need to come up with funding for anything beyond that. His suggestion was that the town focus on building a core facility with the ability to expand as needed. Dr. MacLeod reminded the committee of the importance of considering the educational implications. Often something may not be mandated, but is widely encouraged. Mr. Dumas asked if the MSBA data was available for the committee to review. Ms. Burdick explained the invitation to participate must come first. Mr. Dumas then inquired if NESDEC compares the enrollment numbers to the MSBA’s numbers, and if so would the information be available before a meeting took place with the MSBA. Dr. Kennedy provided the example of Carlisle, where NESDEC felt the MSBA’s number was low. NESDEC made a case for Carlisle and ultimately a higher number was agreed to by the MSBA. Dr. Kennedy commented further on Dr. MacLeod‘s statement about the need to consider educational implications. He stated the real challenge is to think ahead 50 years about what the educational needs will be and to come up with a plan that allows for the flexibility to accommodate those needs. 8/19/13 Approved - Page 4 of 4 IV Next Meeting: Monday, September 23, 2013 7:00 PM, Fire Station Training Room Mr. Graziano moved to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Waxlax. The motion passed favorably and the meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM.