IV. Early College Academy Innovation Plan Budget Budget Narrative Early College Academy intends to be funded with per pupil funding. No additional federal or private funds will be utilized in the startup or operation of the school. No additional grants were sought to fund the school and we do not anticipate that this school will be a title school at this time. Should the school qualify under the requirements of a Title 1 school those funds and corresponding services would be sought on behalf of the students. In addition Early College Academy will not collect or seek to collect student fees for any of its educational programming. The economic environment of the community is such that collecting fees from our students would create a barrier to enrollment and student participation. As such, it is imperative that all services offered at the school be offered free of charge for parents and students. While Early College Academy does not anticipate significant cost savings as a result of the innovations illustrated in this plan, it will remain cost neutral. Budget projections indicate that Early College Academy will be able to operate well within the financial parameters of a typical district school and there is a favorable comparison to other comprehensive high schools in District 6. Partnership The relationship between Aims Community College and Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 will offer students of Early College Academy the opportunity to access a variety of services currently available to concurrent enrollment and Aims college students. A past history of concurrent enrollment and a program called “the Career Academy scholarship program” established a precedent for tuition and contract costs between the school district and Aims Community College. Aims is able to offer significant services to students for very low costs which Early College Academy is able to take advantage. The Memorandum of Understanding established a flat rate of $100 per credit which includes not only tuition but also books, fees and any other costs associated with the concurrent enrollment aspect of the school. This rate structure outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding allows the district to establish a consistent and stable cost estimate for the school. Included in services for college students is access to both technology, academic support services and unique training classes such as financial planning, computer software, and study skills. As part of the partnership Aims Community College will support each student receiving a laptop computer for school use. Aims Community College students have always been offered these services as an option. At Early College Academy we requested these services become part of the required educational program. By extending concurrent enrollment to 9 th and 10 th grade students and using concurrent enrollment for 75% of a student’s educational programming Aims Community College is able to provide the same efficient service they currently provide to all students throughout the college. The building Early College Academy will occupy was completely furnished by Aims Community College in the late 1990s and includes classrooms, and office spaces with desks, chairs, and whiteboards. We anticipate that there will be additional expenses for repair and replacement but those expenses would not be beyond those for a typical school of comparable size. In addition there are several costs associated with running all of District 6 schools were not reflected in this budget. Items such as snow removal, insurance, landscaping, parking lot striping, maintenance equipment purchases, web site hosting, school logo design, signs, student information and data services (such as Infinite Campus) and other administrative and logistical support services. Security for Early College Academy will be addressed by District 6 Safety and Security Office and may incur additional costs as the school increases in size. Costs for these services is shared across the district and typically not reflected in an individual school’s budget.
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IV. Early College Academy Innovation Plan
Budget
Budget Narrative
Early College Academy intends to be funded with per pupil funding. No additional federal or private funds
will be utilized in the startup or operation of the school. No additional grants were sought to fund the
school and we do not anticipate that this school will be a title school at this time. Should the school qualify
under the requirements of a Title 1 school those funds and corresponding services would be sought on
behalf of the students.
In addition Early College Academy will not collect or seek to collect student fees for any of its educational
programming. The economic environment of the community is such that collecting fees from our students
would create a barrier to enrollment and student participation. As such, it is imperative that all services
offered at the school be offered free of charge for parents and students.
While Early College Academy does not anticipate significant cost savings as a result of the innovations
illustrated in this plan, it will remain cost neutral. Budget projections indicate that Early College Academy
will be able to operate well within the financial parameters of a typical district school and there is a
favorable comparison to other comprehensive high schools in District 6.
Partnership
The relationship between Aims Community College and Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 will
offer students of Early College Academy the opportunity to access a variety of services currently available
to concurrent enrollment and Aims college students. A past history of concurrent enrollment and a
program called “the Career Academy scholarship program” established a precedent for tuition and
contract costs between the school district and Aims Community College. Aims is able to offer significant
services to students for very low costs which Early College Academy is able to take advantage. The
Memorandum of Understanding established a flat rate of $100 per credit which includes not only tuition
but also books, fees and any other costs associated with the concurrent enrollment aspect of the school.
This rate structure outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding allows the district to establish a
consistent and stable cost estimate for the school.
Included in services for college students is access to both technology, academic support services and
unique training classes such as financial planning, computer software, and study skills. As part of the
partnership Aims Community College will support each student receiving a laptop computer for school
use. Aims Community College students have always been offered these services as an option. At Early
College Academy we requested these services become part of the required educational program. By
extending concurrent enrollment to 9th and 10th grade students and using concurrent enrollment for 75%
of a student’s educational programming Aims Community College is able to provide the same efficient
service they currently provide to all students throughout the college.
The building Early College Academy will occupy was completely furnished by Aims Community College in the late 1990s and includes classrooms, and office spaces with desks, chairs, and whiteboards. We anticipate that there will be additional expenses for repair and replacement but those expenses would not be beyond those for a typical school of comparable size. In addition there are several costs associated with running all of District 6 schools were not reflected in this budget. Items such as snow removal, insurance, landscaping, parking lot striping, maintenance equipment purchases, web site hosting, school logo design, signs, student information and data services (such as Infinite Campus) and other administrative and logistical support services. Security for Early College Academy will be addressed by District 6 Safety and Security Office and may incur additional costs as the school increases in size. Costs for these services is shared across the district and typically not reflected in an individual school’s budget.
Total Cost $1,216,800 $ 1,747,400 $ 2,330,000 $ 2,614,500 (Note: Increase certified staff and administration staff in year 2. Staff remains constant in year 3 and 4.
Budget increases represent concurrent enrollment.
Early College Academy Concurrent Enrollment $100/credit - Cost per student 9th Grade 8 Aims Credits = $800 10th Grade 8 Aims Credit = $800 11th Grade 22 Aims Credits = $2200 12th Grade 24 Aims Credits = $2400 Total Credits 62 Credits = $6200 (Note the average student is expected to complete 62 credits. Students are eligible to complete up to 75 credits maximum.) Building Allocation Copier $5000 Instructional Supplies $13,800 Student Activities $3600 Office Supplies $1400 Student Transportation $12,000 Total $35,800
Additional Costs
Technology (Computer, Network, Phone) $67,000 (See Technology Plan Addendum) Ongoing Technology Plan Estimated Laptop or Chromebooks est. $350 each 125 $45, 000 Technology supplies and repair $30,000 Total $75,000 Additional Facilities Expenses - District 6 Division of Business Operations
The lease agreement between Aims Community College and Greeley Evans School District 6 indicates that
the school district will appropriately maintain Early College Academy facilities. The following narrative
attempts to illustrate the intent behind the lease and estimate the actual costs of appropriately
maintaining the facility.
The District 6 Division of Business Operations estimates that appropriate maintenance of the facility will cost approximately $230,000 per year. It is estimated that an additional $210,000 will be necessary to update the building and prepare it for student use. District 6 estimates that it will invest between $10,000-$55,000 in maintenance of mechanicals, plumbing, and electrical systems of the building each year. The total annual facilities maintenance costs of the building range from $365,000 to $336,000. The primary reason for this variance is the ability to spread start-up costs over two years. An example of this is the fire alarm system. The alarm is certified for one more year and will be replaced by District 6 in year two. Other expenses such as updating floor surfacing in the health room and science lab to meet code will be performed before students arrive in the fall. Additionally, contracts for security services increase dramatically in year two. During the first school year Early College Academy will share security resources with other schools in the district and rely on the district security office, local police departments and 911 for emergency services. During year two we hope to add a school resource officer and a campus monitor to increase security on the campus. The District 6 Division of Business Operations has not yet established the age of the mechanical systems in the facility. They estimate that a minimum of $6,000 will be spent maintaining the heating mechanicals in the building alone. They also stress that replacement of parts is more prevalent with older equipment. The estimate of $55,000 given represents annual costs on an older facility and actual costs could vary widely. The mechanical door locks and electronic door locking system will be replaced before year one begins and the annual expense indicated only covers maintenance. Food Services equipment will not be new purchases. Food services currently has warehoused donated and used equipment. As such the costs for equipment does not represent actual costs which Early College Academy will pay. In similar fashion furniture, fixtures and repair are estimated as we expect to utilize used and repurposed furniture instead of buying new. In the lease it outlines how District 6 expects to spend money creating and maintaining a safe work environment for students, staff and guests. Capital expenditures which add to the overall value of the facility will be the responsibility of the building owner, Aims Community College. Should the facility need a roof replacement the significant expenditure would be the responsibility of Aims Community College. Parking lot restriping and the replacement of handicapped signs to maintain ADA requirements will fall under District 6 costs, but removing and replacing the parking lot surface would be a capital expenditure which would remain the responsibility of the building owner.
There are additional expenses which will be addressed throughout the year. Food Services will be providing lunches to interested students at the facility. It is estimated that food cost for 170 students will be $50,000. Although District 6 does not anticipate bussing students to the facility, several students have requested transportation assistance. This may involve bussing at a later date. Other potential expenses are listed below and were not included in our original plan.
Facility Costs Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Rent $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Building Maintenance $55,000 $55,000 $55,000 $55,000
