The sessions will be held in Casper in the NCSD#1 McKinley Annex, 1044 Foster Road, beginning at 1 p.m. on March 14, 2011.  We encourage each district to have representation during the sessions, but we also understand the burdens placed upon your schedules.  If you cannot be present, you are encouraged to submit information to the SFC or the representatives of other districts.

Notes:

1.      The beginning times are set and the ending times are anticipated.  The ending times will be adjusted as necessary to complete quality recommendations.

2.      Because of the schedule, no meals will be provided.

3.      The two week break between the sessions was planned in case the need for additional information or options develops.

4.      It is not necessary for the same person to represent a district for both topics, however, for continuity and efficiency, it is important that new participants are not added for the sessions on March 30 and 31 unless there are extenuating circumstances.

The topics:

Capacity Scoring:  Finding one method to determine a capacity score that is valid and reliable has proven difficult.  The purpose of this IBS is to review, revise as necessary or develop an alternative method to determine a capacity score to be used in the Needs Index process for each Wyoming public school regardless of grade configuration.  Each configuration has different needs and spaces.  Elementary schools use space differently than other schools.  Secondary teachers frequently have planning/preparation time within the school day.  Elementary schools frequently have specialist teachers in content area such as physical education and fine/performing arts who travel to the schools on certain days.  Each school must have a capacity score that quantifies the capacity needs relative to all other schools, regardless of configuration. 

Major Maintenance:  The purpose of the IBS is to develop a recommendation(s) related to these perspectives—cash balances held, deferred maintenance, planning, and unanticipated needs that do not qualify as an emergency, but need to be met.  Many times the question of how much should a district hold in cash “reserve” for major maintenance is asked.  Some say too much is held, some say not enough is held and still others talk about unplanned needs and how the funding is used.  One or two districts report a zero balance as of June 30 and some report a balance exceeding 2, 3, 4, or more times their annual allocation.  Many districts have deferred maintenance needs that are not planned while such reserves are held.  The amount of money to replace a boiler in one district may be similar to the amount needed to replace a boiler in other districts, but the annual major maintenance amounts very widely among districts.