Two Agencies Bid For Sachem's Redistricting Study

The Board of Education sat through presentations from two agencies vying to secure the demographic and redistricting study work that was sent out as an RFP by the district.

Western Suffolk BOCES and a private firm called Applied Data Services both described the process and explained their varying strategies to accomplish the work.

Western Suffolk BOCES was represented by Joan E. Townley, school planning coordinator for the agency. Applied Data Services was represented by Wayne J. Verderber, principal of the Flanders, NJ-based company.

Both entities told the board they would perform a demographic study that would help inform the projected enrollment numbers and provide a plan for building usage according to the configuration expressed by the board. Although a number of scenarios may be planned for, the impetus for the RFP was for the board to evaluate the possibility of closing two middle schools. 

Key differences between the two organizations lie in some of its methodology and how far into the future the projected numbers would reach. BOCES would conduct projected enrollments for the next 10 years, while Applied Data Services said it would only project five years into the future, because anything beyond five years widens the margin of error.

Another key difference is in the BOCES plan to train and provide a software program to the district that would allow the Sachem administration to continually evaluate its demographics and district maps beyond the scope of the study. The program is called "Guide K-12" and it comes with a pricetag of $37,500, which includes a 1-day $1000 training session for whoever would have administrative access to the program. 

Applied Data Services would charge the district $28,800, while the BOCES proposal comes in at $28,200 if the districts opt out of purchasing the Guide K-12 program: $65,700 with the program purchase. 

It was also noted that some of the costs could be reimbursable by the state.

The companies and proposal breaks down as such:

Western Suffolk BOCES: 
Principal Staff: Joan Townley
Past Work Experience: Unknown
Scope of Work: Demographic Study, Enrollment Trends, Projected Enrollment Analysis. Redistricting Options priced separately with Guide K-12 purchase.
Methodology: Demographic study (building by building), historical school enrollment data, Birth Persistence Model, Cohort Survival Model.
Length of Projections: 10 years
Suggested Sachem Committee size: 30 members 
Will make recommendations to the board? No
Completed by: January 2014
Cost: $28,200 - $65,700 (with purchase of Guide K-12)

Applied Data Services:
Principal Staff: Wayne Verderber
Past Work Experience: Half Hollow Hills, William Floyd, Hauppauge, Sayville, Three Village School Districts, among others.
Scope of Work: Demographic Analysis and Enrollment Projections, Facility Evaluation and Usage, Student Reassignment Planning & Execution.
Methodology: Cohort Survival Method, analysis of existing building usage plans and existing enrollment data.
Length of Projections: 5 years
Suggested Sachem Committee size: 12 members (but will work with more if a point person is assigned)
Will make recommendations to the board? Yes
Completed by: January 2014
Cost: $28,800

Also discussed during the presentation was the creation of a Sachem Study Advisory Committee made up of volunteers both in education and of the general public to present the winning agency's updates to the board. Board members discussed the size and makeup of the committee, but all agreed it would need to be a solid representation of district residents at large. 

Applications to be considered for the committee panel are currently in the works and more information will be provided to the public when the time comes. Sachem Patch will report on the winning agency and the committee application process when it becomes available.