2011 Referendum
Referendum Information
Referendum Questions | Referendum Overview | Video | Referendum Presentation
2011 Referendum Questions
- Referendum Basics
- Impact on Learning
- Technology Plan, Comparisons and Current Technology in EPS – updated September 28
- Financial Management in Edina Public Schools – updated November 1
- Tax Impact
- Impact if Referendum Does Not Pass
- About Edina Public Schools
- Education and Our Future
Referendum Basics
What is a levy?
A levy is a local tax that residents of an individual school district approve to help support student programs, opportunities and services in their school district.
Operating levies give school districts the ability to levy dollars over and above the per-pupil funding allocation provided by the State. These funds are used to support existing academic programs and services. Capital levies allow school districts the authority to spread out the purchase of items such as technology over a specified number of years.
Why are levies necessary?
The State’s funding challenges continue to impact the ability to provide education in Edina. Basic state education funding is not keeping pace with the cost of educating children and running schools.
Increases in mandated state and federal programs and services that have not been funded also impact the school budgets. This includes special education services, expanded testing and reporting requirements, and requirements related to No Child Left Behind.
What are we voting on?
Edina Public Schools is conducting a referendum on Tuesday, November 8. Existing levies will expire in 2012. Two questions will be on the ballot:
Question 1: Renew the current operating levy, which provides approximately $3 million or $400 per pupil annually.
Question 2: Renew and increase the capital levy from $1 million to $4.5 million annually. This funding would expand and integrate technology infrastructure, hardware, software, support and training.
These levies would provide revenue for 10 years and 100% of the funds would stay in Edina Public Schools.
Can a person split their vote on the two questions?
Yes. Each question is a separate vote, and the results are based on total votes cast for each question.
Impact on Learning
What can I expect if the referendum is successful?
Over the next decade, Edina Public Schools will seek to set a new standard of excellence. Technology will be essential to fulfill our vision: personalized learning that is anytime, anywhere. Technology supports personalized learning by:
- Allowing teachers to use data effectively to accelerate learning
- Blending classroom, online and real world experiences in creative and flexible ways
- Engaging students, parents and teachers in a partnership for learning
Technology will continue to make a significant and positive impact on learning, by:
- Allowing students to access, produce, distribute and modify information and creative content with unprecedented speed, ease and scope
- Bringing real world education to the classroom, empowering students with critical personal and professional skills they need to enter a 21st century job market and world
- Offering students opportunities to communicate and collaborate with people across the globe
- Maximizing District resources, including funding, time, space and natural resources
There will be more technology support and training for teachers to enhance instruction and access educational data.
There will be more family-friendly technology, including a web-based portal that allows families to enter information once, communicate with teachers, and view assignments and student progress.
The District’s current systems will be made more efficient and effective.
- 100% wireless coverage in all buildings with guest wireless access
- Increased network and storage capacity
- Increased tech support for “Just in Time” staff development
What are personalized learning experiences for our students?
- Currently, 30% of students have personalized learning plans.
- With the help of technology, personalizing learning for every student is within reach.
- Personalized learning:
- Uses data effectively to accelerate learning.
- Blends classroom, online and real-world experiences in creative and flexible ways that spark a student’s imagination and capitalize on his or her natural talents.
- Creates stronger links between teachers and parents and motivates students to be actively engaged in their education.
Technology Plan and Comparisons
How does Edina compare to neighboring school districts in the amount of revenue it receives for technology?
Edina receives the least amount of technology funding per pupil as compared to six neighboring suburban districts. We currently use money from the general fund to bridge the gap between current technology revenue and expenses. An increase in the tech levy means almost $1.2 million in general funds could be redirected to other educational needs.
Why is Edina Public Schools lagging behind our neighboring schools in funding technology?
In 1998, Edina Public Schools led the state in accessing new legislation that allowed school districts to receive funding through a ten-year, voter-approved levy. Most other Districts have had more recent votes for a technology referendum.
Updated Sept. 28
What is the District’s process for approving technology plans?
Before approving new technology plans, the District establishes a formal advisory group that includes public participation. The 2015 Technology Plan included input and oversight from more than 70 staff and community members to ensure the plan’s integrity. Review includes a thorough analysis of both current and future trends. Additionally, the District requires bids from three different vendors for system upgrades or equipment purchases.
When was the current network connection between buildings created?
In 1999, the District completed a technology feasibility plan that resulted in a $1 million investment to install a new fiber optic network that would greatly increase the speed and amount of data that could be transmitted among its sites. This system replaced outdated “T1” lines, which the District was renting from the telephone company.
This 10-year investment has served the District well. Now, given the ubiquitous nature of mobile devices that make communications and learning “anytime, anywhere,” Edina Public Schools is upgrading its technology system to provide 100 percent wireless coverage in all buildings and increased network and storage capacity.
Aside from installing a new telephone system last year, the 2015 Technology Plan calls for the first major systems-wide technology reinvestment in seven years.
What is the age of the District’s computer inventory?
About half of the District’s computer inventory was purchased within the last three years. One-third of District computers are three to five years old and just under 10 percent are more than five years old.
Where is the District outdated in its technology?
The District’s operating system is almost 10 years old. Our current operating system was originally installed in 2003. While we have seen a good value on our investment, it is now time to update the District’s operating system.
How is the District ensuring that all students have access to technology?
The District is expanding media center hours beyond the school day, providing secondary students with the ability to check out laptops and ensuring that all schools have wireless access.
Administration is working with local providers to provide families with limited income to qualify for Internet services at a reduced rate. The District will maintain a commitment to not create learning limitations due to limited technology access.
How does the District plan to spend $4.5 million in technology funding each year?
- 34% Tech Support for Teaching and Learning: this includes building technology paraprofessionals and technology integration specialists, which directly support teaching and learning, and a network technician and support staff to ensure the systems are operating effectively and efficiently.
- 29% Hardware: this includes costs to keep the District’s inventory of computers, laptops, servers, tablets and student response systems current. It also includes replacement costs for printers, LCD projectors, and interactive whiteboards.
- 15% Software: this includes instructional software, licensing and supplies to support learning as well as administrative software.
- 10% Network: this includes Internet connection, network hardware refresh, maintenance, network software and communications.
- 9% Contingency: this provides flexibility to allow the District to leverage new technologies as needed over the next decade.
- 3% Staff Development: this includes cost to ensure teachers and other staff who support learning understand the technology and can use it to its fullest degree.
- Less than 1% of funding would go toward technology supplies.
Overall, this funding would cover about 90% of the District’s annual technology expenses and allow the District to annually redirect almost $1.2 million funds currently used for technology back to the general fund for use in other educational programs, services and projects.
Does the District have a vision for use of technology to enhance learning?
Yes. In 2010-11, over 70 staff and community members collaborated to update our vision for technology in our schools. This Technology Plan will guide our work as we continue to build on our successes, expanding and integrating technology more fully throughout every aspect of the District.
Technology Goals:
- Unleash students’ passion to be lifelong learners
- Empower and enhance excellent teaching
- Engage families in a partnership for education
- Demonstrate excellence in service, operation, and productivity
How would the District expend the additional support for technology?
The District’s annual planned technology expenditures would be as follows:
What is the District’s current technology commitment?
The District’s current commitment includes:
- 100% wireless coverage in all buildings.
- Maintain a 5:1 ratio of student computing devices that are less than 5 years old.
- Implement a guest wireless access so students and parents can use their own technology.
- Implement live and recorded video system.
- Increase the use of “cloud computing” to eliminate barriers to access and facilitate collaboration.
Financial Management in Edina Public Schools
Has the District been financially responsible?
Yes, we can point to several examples of sound financial management.
- Both Fitch and Moody recently reaffirmed the District’s AAA credit rating
- Edina Public Schools has received the Minnesota Department of Education’s Financial Management Award for eight of the past nine years
- Since 2006, the District has maximized its use of resources and reduced its general fund by 6%, including a reduction of 12% in administrative expenses - Click here for information on the 2010-2011 Budget Reduction Process
- The District continues to maintain a reserve fund balance of 8% of total funds, which is equal to about one month of operating expenses, as required by school board policy
- Forbes.com named Edina among “America’s 25 Best Schools for Your Housing Buck”
Has the District made budget reductions over the past years?
Yes, the District has made general fund budget adjustments totaling $5.1 million, or 6% of the budget. The breakdown has been as follows:
How has the District accessed other funding sources to support learning?
Edina Public Schools is fortunate to receive financial support for innovation in education from the Edina Education Fund. The District also gets funding support through grants and private partnerships.
Updated Sept. 28
What is the District doing to lessen the burden on local taxpayers?
The District recently refinanced its school building bonds, which will result in $5.7 million in interest savings over the next ten years. The $523,000 in annual District savings will begin with taxes payable in 2013 and result in a decrease of approximately $26 per year on a median-priced $400,000 Edina home.
The District continues to do its best to provide students with what they need to be competitive in a global world while not overburdening local taxpayers
Tax Impact
What is the additional cost to property owners?
The additional tax impact on a median-priced of $400,000 home in Edina is less than $15 per month. Following is the additional tax impact for the renewal of both levies.
| Property Market Value |
Additional Monthly Tax Impact | Additional Annual Tax Impact |
| $300,000 | $10.75 | $129 |
| $400,000 | $14.83 | $178 |
| $500,000 | $18.58 | $223 |
| $700,000 | $27.92 | $335 |
| $900,000 | $37.08 | $445 |
Impact if Referendum Does Not Pass
What happens if the referendum does not pass?
If both questions are unsuccessful, the District would lose 5% of its general fund annual revenue and would need to make an annual $4 million budget adjustment. (This equals approximately 65 teachers.) Likely results would be:
- Larger class sizes
- Fewer programs and course offerings
- Stalled expansion and integration of technology
When could another vote occur?
The next opportunity for the District to bring a levy referendum would be in November 2012.
About Edina Public Schools
Edina Public Schools is comprised of six elementary schools (K-5), two middle schools (6-9) and one senior high (10-12). Total enrollment is approximately 8,300 students. The District serves a large portion of Edina, a first-tier Minneapolis suburb comprised of approximately 47,450 people.
What successes can the District point to?
Edina Public Schools is the only school district in the country to be recognized as an educational leader by: US News & World Report, Newsweek, Forbes, Family Circle and Sports Illustrated.
Academics: Edina Public Schools leads the state year after year in reading and mathematics. Edina High School students completed 2,100 advanced placement exams in 2010 – almost twice as many as any other Minnesota high school. In 2009-10 the average ACT score of Edina High School students was 26.2 – 4 points higher than the statewide average.
Athletics: Edina students have won 141 state championships, making Edina number one among the 500 members of the MN State High School League.
The Performing Arts: Edina High School’s production of Anything Goes won a national competition at the International Thespian Society Festival, the largest celebration of high school theater in the world.
In Technology: Google selected Edina Public Schools as one of 10 global winners for its effective use of Google Apps to access, collaborate and share information anytime, anywhere.
How many of our students are open-enrolled?
About 13-15% of the District’s total enrollment is made up of students who come to us from outside of the Edina school district’s borders. This state law creates a win-win situation. The District wins with additional students who bring with them state revenue to help fund programs and services, and the families win by being part of Edina Public Schools.
The District monitors open enrollment to the capacity of school buildings.
Education in the Future
What are educational leaders saying about the future of public education?
“If you think that the future will require better schools, you’re wrong. The future of education calls for entirely different learning environments.”
Knowledge Works Foundation
Some parts of education will never change. Schools and classrooms as places where kids:
- Feel cared for and respected
- Are allowed to follow their passions
- Have their efforts celebrated and shared
- Are motivated to learn deeply
- Discover their world and their role in it
Will Richardson, Educational Futurist, 2011
Right now, schools are:
- Time and Place
- Content based
- Filtered
- Group assessed
- Teacher-directed
- Linear
- Predictable
- Closed
- Standardized
- Sept-June
- Push oriented
- Local
Will Richardson, Educational Futurist, 2011
Learning will be (already is) :
- Mobile
- On demand
- Networked
- Transparent
- Global
- Personalized
- Collaborative
- Pull oriented
- Self-directed
- Unpredictable
- Inquiry based
Will Richardson, Educational Futurist, 2011
- The amount of new technical information is doubling every two years
- The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004
- Schools are preparing students for careers that do not yet exist
Did You Know: Shift Happens, as researched by Karl Fisch, Director of Technology, Arapahoe High School, Centennial, CO and Scott McLeod, J.D, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Kentucky
Updated 9/29/11
For more information, contact us at levy-info@edina.k12.mn.us