Reorganization and Sharing Incentives

 

 

Regional Academies

Reorganization

Taxpayer Incentive

New Whole Grade Sharing Agreement (WGS)

Existing Whole Grade Sharing Agreement (WGS)

Incentive

·         The host district, the school district where the regional academy is located, receives a 0.1 weighting for the percentage of the school day that a resident student attends the regional academy.

·         Minimum weighting available to any one district is the equivalent of 10 full-time pupils.

·         Maximum weighting available to any one district is the equivalent of 15 full-time pupils.  (Can count beginning September 2001.)

·         Lower uniform levy from $5.40 to $4.40. 

·         Levy increases over three years to $4.90, $5.15, and $5.40.

·         State aid replaces the reduction in property tax, does not increase nor decrease spending authority.

·         May be incorporated with either (New or Existing) Whole Grade Sharing (WGS) incentive to reorganize.

·         0.1 Weighting for new WGS arrangements for up to 3 years. 

·         Weighting for the 2nd and 3rd years are based on the SBRC reorganization progress report approval.

·         If reorganize by July 1, 2006 eligible for 3 more years of weighting. (Total of 6 years.)

·         Carryforward will be reduced by supplementary weighting (SW) added for any student whose residency is not within the reorganized district.

·         0.1 Weighting for existing WGS arrangements for up to 2 years.

·         Weighting for 2nd year is based on the SBRC reorganization progress report approval. 

·         If reorganize by July 1, 2006 eligible for 4 more years of weighting.  (Total of 6 years.)

·         Carryforward will be reduced by SW added for any student whose residency is not within the reorganized district.

Timeline

Beginning July 1, 2001

July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2006

July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2006

July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2006

Requirement

·         Grades 7-12.

·         Multiple districts, other than a whole-grade-sharing partner, must be sending students to the academy. 

·         Shall include advanced-level courses.  May also include in its curriculum vocational-technical programs and/or a virtual academy program.

·         Enrollment of the school district affected by the reorganization or dissolution must be at or below 600 in the year proceeding reorganization.

·         By January 1 of the calendar year in which the reorganization/dissolution will occur, certify to the Department of Education (DE) the date and nature of the action taken to reorganize/dissolve.

·         Reorganize by July 1, 2006 to receive incentives.

·         District was not participating in WGS agreement during the 2000-2001 budget year.

·         Executes a new WGS agreement with one or more other Iowa districts.

·         Districts are contiguous.

·         All of the boards involved in the WGS agreement adopt a joint resolution to study the question of reorganization or dissolution.

·         The resolution must be adopted on or before the third Friday in September in the year in which the district is claiming WGS SW.

·         By January 1 of the calendar year in which the reorganization/dissolution will occur, certify to the DE the date and nature of the action taken to reorganize/dissolve.

·         Must have been eligible to include WGS for SW in September in order to carry forward the reorganization incentive on July 1.

·         School districts were participating in WGS agreement during the 2000-2001 budget year.

·         Districts are contiguous.

·         All boards involved in the WGS agreement adopt a resolution jointly to study the question of reorganization or dissolution.

·         The resolution must be adopted on or before the third Friday in September of the year in which the district is claiming WGS SW.

·         By January 1 of the calendar year in which the reorganization/dissolution will occur, certify to the DE the date and nature of the action taken to reorganize/dissolve.

·         Must have been eligible to include WGS for SW in September in order to carry forward the reorganization incentive on July 1. 

 

·         Whole Grade Sharing Agreements must be signed by February 1st for the agreement to be effective for the following school year.  (Iowa Code section 282.10)

·         Reorganization Contact: Barbara Byrd  (515) 281-5001 or barb.byrd@iowa.gov

·         SBRC and Supplementary Weighting Contact:  Su McCurdy  (515) 281-4738 or su.mccurdy@iowa.gov