Benton Area School District

Benton Area School District
Location
Benton, Pennsylvania Columbia, United States
Information
Type	Public
Superintendent	Penny Lenig-Zerby
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	711 pupils (2009–2010)[1]
Kindergarten	53
Grade 1	57
Grade 2	52
Grade 3	56
Grade 4	52
Grade 5	52
Grade 6	57
Grade 7	66
Grade 8	50
Grade 9	53
Grade 10	52
Grade 11	55
Grade 12	56
Other	Enrollment projected to be 700 in 2020 [2]
Mascot	Tigers
Website	http://www.bentonsd.k12.pa.us/

The Benton Area School District is a small, rural, public school district. It encompasses 96.8 square miles. It covers the Boroughs of Benton and Stillwater and Benton Township, Fishing Creek Township, Jackson Township and Sugarloaf Township in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The district operates two schools: Benton Middle/Senior High School (7th–12th) and L.R. Appleman Elementary School (K-6th). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 5,260. The per capita income of residents was $16,915 in 2009, while the median family income was $40,669.^[3] In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the median family income was $49,501 ^[4] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. ^[5] According to District officials, in school year 2007–08 the Benton Area School District provided basic educational services to 751 pupils while employing: 68 teachers, 38 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 9 administrators.

L.R. Appleman Elementary School is K-6 building that houses less than 400 students in 2010. It has an All-Purpose Room (cafeteria and auditorium), full serving kitchen, library media center, gymnasium, art room, music room and band room. Adjacent to the elementary school are athletic fields for baseball, softball, field hockey and soccer. The elementary school has an extensively equipped playground. ^[6]

In 2011, the district agreed to participate in a pilot program to develop a new way to evaluate teachers that, in part, takes into account student achievement. Two CSIU16 school districts are participating.^[7] The pilot program had 104 K-12 entities, including: nine career and technical centers, nine charter schools and nine intermediate units. Beginning in January 2012, the participating schools will use the new evaluation method and provide feedback to the Department of Education. This new evaluation will not be used to determine an educator’s official 2011-12 professional performance assessment.

Contents 1 Governance 2 Academic achievement 2.1 Graduation Rate 2.2 High school 2.2.1 PSSA results 2.2.2 College remediation 2.2.3 Dual enrollment 2.2.4 Graduation Requirements 2.3 Eighth grade 2.4 Seventh grade 2.5 Appleman Elementary School 3 Special education 3.1 Gifted education 4 Wellness policy 5 Bullying policy 6 Enrollment 7 Budget 7.1 State basic education funding 7.1.1 Accountability Block Grants 7.1.2 Classrooms for the Future grant 7.1.3 Successful Students Participation grant 7.2 Federal Stimulus Grant 7.2.1 Race to the Top grant 7.3 Common Cents state initiative 7.4 Real estate taxes 7.4.1 Act 1 Adjusted index 7.4.2 Property tax relief 8 Extracurriculars 9 References

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[8] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.^[9]

Academic achievement

Benton Area School District was ranked 267th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance based on the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and three years of science.^[10]

• 2010 – 254th ^[11]
• 2009 – 249th
• 2008 – 299th
• 2007 – 245th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts. ^[12]

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Benton Area ranked 142nd. In 2009, the district was 139th. The paper describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question – which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."^[13]

In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Benton Area School District, was in the 58th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0–99; 100 is state best)^[14]

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the graduation rate increased to 98%. ^[15] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Benton Area High School's rate was 98% for 2010.^[16]

Former AYP graduation rate:

• 2010 – 97%^[17]
• 2009 – 96%^[18]
• 2008 – 90%
• 2007 – 90%
• 2006 – 96%^[19]
• 2005 – 94%^[20]

High school

In 2011 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status. Benton High School ranked 444 out of 610 Pennsylvania high schools, vocational schools, and charter schools for student academic achievement as demonstrated on the PSSAs for math and reading, in 2009.^[21]

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 60.9% on grade level (28.2% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level. (46 pupils.) Ranks 17th out of 19 high schools in CSIU 16 region for reading. ^[22] .^[23]
• 2010 - 54%, State - 66% ^[24]
• 2009 - 57%, State – 65% ^[25]
• 2008 - 66.6%, State – 65% ^{[26] [27]}
• 2007 - 47.3%, State – 65% ^[28]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 – 65.2%, on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level. Benton High School ranked 10th out of 18 CSIU 16 region high schools for math achievement of 11th graders.^{[29] [30]}
• 2010 – 44%, State - 59%. Benton High School ranked 17th out of 18 CSIU 16 region high schools for math achievement of 11th graders.^{[31] [32]}
• 2009 – 52.7%, State – 56%. Of the 18 high schools in IU16, Benton High School ranked 10th out of 18 CSIU 16 region high schools for math achievement of 11th graders.^[33]
• 2008 – 60.8%, State – 56%
• 2007 – 49.1%, State – 53%^[34]
• 2006 – 63%, State – 52%^[35]
• 2005 – 53%, State – 51%

11th Grade Writing (percent proficient or better)

• 2009 – 91% on grade level^[36]
• 2008 – 80.9% on grade level
• 2007 – 61%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 – 50% on grade level. State – 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. Benton High School ranked 8th out of 18 CSIU 16 region high schools for 11th grade Science.^[37]
• 2010 – 34%, State – 39% of 11th graders were on grade level. Benton High School ranked 16th out of 18 CSIU 16 region high schools for 11th grade Science achievement.^[38]
• 2009 – 47%, State - 40%^[39]
• 2008 – 38.8%, State - 35.5%^[40]

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 20% of Benton Area High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.^[41] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years.^[42] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual enrollment

The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts with the assistance of a state grant.^[43]

Graduation Requirements

The school board has determined that a student must complete at least 25 credits for graduation including: English 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Science 4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Health 0.50 credit, Physical Education 1.32, Computer 2 credits, Drivers Ed 0.33 credits and 6.85 electives.^[44]

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district. .^[45]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade. ^{[46] [47] [48]}

Eighth grade

8th Grade Reading:

• 2010 – 81.6% on grade level. State - 81.8% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 81%, State - 81%
• 2009 – 85%, State - 80.9%.^[49]
• 2008 – 79%, State – 78%
• 2007 – 77%^[50]

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 81% on grade level. State - 75% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 – 71%, State - 75%
• 2009 – 77%, State - 71%^[51]
• 2008 – 85%, State − 70%^[52]
• 2007 – 77%, State – 54%^[53]

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 61.9% on grade level. State - 58.3% of 8th graders on grade level. ^[54]
• 2010 – 63%, State – 57%
• 2009 – 62%, State - 55%^[55]
• 2008 – 60%, State – 50%

Seventh grade

7th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 79% on grade level. State - 73% of 7th graders were on grade level. ^[56]
• 2010 – 77%, State - 73% ^[57]
• 2009 – 88%, State – 71%
• 2008 – 80%, State – 70%
• 2007 – 62%, State – 66% ^[58]

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 – 67% on grade level. State - 77% of 7th graders were on grade level. Ranks 9th in CSIU region 7th grades for math.^[59]
• 2010 – 67%, State - 77%
• 2009 – 82%, State - 75% ^[60]
• 2008 – 83%, State – 70%
• 2007 – 77%, State – 67%^[61]

Appleman Elementary School

Achieved AYP in 2009, 2010 and 2011. ^[62]

6th Grade Reading: 2011 - 83.3% on grade level. State – 68% of 6th graders were on grade level. Ranks 4th out of 19 sixth grades in CSIU 16 region. [63] 2010 – 81%, State – 68%. The 6th grade results ranked 2nd out of 18 districts within the CSIU16 region. [64] 2009 – 68%, State – 67%[65] 2008 – 70%, State – 67% 2007 – 51%, State – 63%

6th Grade Math: 2011 - 92.6% on grade level. State – 78% of 6th graders were on grade level. Ranks 6th in CSIU region 6th grades for math.[66] 2010 – 100%, State – 78%. (Benton 6th grade results ranked 1st out of 18 districts within the C.S.I.U.)[67] 2009 – 87%, State – 78% 2008 – 89%, State – 72% 2007 – 71%, State – 69%

5th Grade Reading: 2011 - 70.1% on grade level, 42% Advanced, (11% below basic). State - 67.3% 2010 - 84% (2% below basic). State – 64% [68] 2009 - 66% (15% below basic), State - 64% 2008 - 58% (29% below basic), State - 62% 2007 - 64.5% (15% below basic), State - 60% 2006 - 70% (11% below basic), State - 60% 2005 - 77% (14% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math: 2011 - 88.4% on grade level, 59% Advanced, (0% below basic). State - 74% 2010 - 96%, 76% Advanced, (2% below basic). State - 76.3% 2009 - 75% (5% below basic), State - 73% 2008 - 67% (9% below basic), State - 73% 2007 - 77% (4% below basic), State - 71% 2006 - 86% (3% below basic), State - 66% [69]

4th Grade Reading 2011 - 69.8% (13.2% below basic), State – 73.3% [70] 2010 - 82% (10% below basic), State - 73% 2009 - 75% (9% below basic), State - 72% 2008 - 74% (9% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 74% (5% below basic), State - 60%

4th Grade Math 2011 - 92.5% (0% below basic), State – 85.3% [71] 2010 - 90% (4% below basic), State - 84% 2009 - 87% (9% below basic), State - 81% 2008 - 84% (9% below basic), State - 80% 2007 - 84% (3% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 96.2%, 74% Advanced, State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 90%, (4% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 92%, Advanced 63% (4% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 90%, Advanced 55% (3% below basic), State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading 2011 - 85.2%, (9% below basic), State – 77.2% [72] 2010 - 85%, (6% below basic), State - 75% 2009 - 90%, (6% below basic), State - 77% 2008 - 91%, (7% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 88%, (5% below basic), State - 72% 2006 - 73%, (9% below basic), State - 69%

3rd Grade Math 2011 - 94.4%, (1.9% below basic), State – 83.5% [73] 2010 - 87%, (0% below basic), State - 84% 2009 - 94%, (2% below basic), State - 81% 2008 - 89%, (6% below basic), State - 80% 2007 - 81%, (4% below basic), State - 78% 2006 - 89% (2% below basic), State - 82%

Special education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 124 pupils or 16% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.^[74]

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress.^[75] To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the building principal. Students in the Benton Area School District receive services through a combination of district operated programs and services contracted through the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit. Special education is designed to meet the needs of each exceptional student, including specifically designed instruction conducted in the classroom, home, community settings, hospitals, and other appropriate settings.^[76]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.^[77]

Benton Area School District received a $425,059 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[78]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 27 or 3.80% of its students were gifted in 2009.^[79] At Benton Area Elementary School the program will focuses on experiences directly related to general classes, expanding on current instructional material. Acceleration through the grade level content is provided by a gifted instructor, utilized enrichment opportunities, and advanced content related activities. The program is based on the interests of the student, allowing them to develop critical thinking skills. Secondary level students (7–12) are provided the opportunity to participate in Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Additional enrichment activities are provided by the gifted instructor based on student interest. Gifted students also have the ability to pursue higher education courses through dual enrollment and online programs. They can pursue interests through distance learning courses and projects developed to utilize skills and challenge academic performance. Students are permitted to pursue grade level acceleration leading to early graduation.

By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. The principal acts as the case manager for the referral process. A 60 calendar day time-line begins when the signed Permission to Evaluate form is received. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.^[80] Through the strategic planning process, the Superintendent must ensure that the school district provides a continuum of program and service options to meet the needs of all mentally gifted students for enrichment, acceleration, or both. The district's program is based on student needs and provides differentiated curriculum using acceleration, enrichment and pull-out options.

Wellness policy

Benton Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 – Policy 246.^[81] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts are required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.^[82]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Bullying policy

The school district administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.^[83][84]

The Benton Area School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.^[85] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.^[86] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.^[87]

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.^[88]

Enrollment

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there are less than 750 students enrolled in K-12 in 2009–10 school year at Benton Area School District. There were 65 students in the Class of 2009. The district's class of 2010 has 55 students. Approximately 5–10% of the district's students graduate from Columbia-Montour Vocational Technical School. Enrollment is projected to decline to 680 students by 2017<^[89] In 2008, the district administrative costs were $790 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[90] A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard and Poor's, examined the consolidation of Benton Area School Administration with 4 neighboring districts: East Lycoming School District, Millville Area School District, Northwest Area School District and Sullivan County School District. The study found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings which varied by district.^[91]

According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes.^[92] Consolidation of two central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. The Governor's proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.^[93]

Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent.^[94] As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools continue to rise. In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of million by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation, with no impact on programs offered to students.^[95]

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.^[96] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.^[97]

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing 67 teachers with a salary range of $37,000 to 59,000.^[98] The median salary was $44,668.^[99] Teachers earn extra pay for duties such as advising the clubs, writing curriculum or coaching athletics teams. That amount ranges from several hundred dollars a year to a few thousand. When a team progresses past the regular season the coaches are paid additional dollars for each week the team continues to play. In addition to salary, the teachers receive a benefits package which includes: health insurance(teachers contribute 18% of premium), life insurance, a defined benefit pension(teachers invest 7.5% of salary), paid sick and personal days, reimbursement for college courses and more.^[100]

In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $42,978 for 187 days worked, 180 teaching days and 7 in-service days.^[101] This is the lowest salary of all school districts in Columbia County.

In 2008, the administration reported that the district per pupil spending was $11,734. This ranked 307th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts.^[102]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $2,330,463.00.^[103]

In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the school board and administration.^[104]

In 2009, the district began using locally grown switch grass as the fuel in a biomass boiler to heat the school facilities. The administration projects saving 25,500 gallons of heating oil saving nearly $60,000. The project cost $2.1 million with $700,000 in state grants and $1million borrowed from the state.^[105]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, and grants coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In Pennsylvania, pension income and social security income is exempt from the personal income tax and the local earned income tax, regardless of income level.^[106]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the Benton Area School District received $3,091,789 in state Basic Education Funding. ^[107] Additionally, the district will receive $46,427 in Accountability Block Grant funding. ^[108] The Pennsylvania Department of Education reports that 299 pupils received a federal free and reduced lunch, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For the 2010–11 school year, Benton Area received a 3.87% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $3,195,767. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in Columbia County was awarded to Southern Columbia Area School District at 7.38%. Among Pennsylvania school districts, the highest increase in 2010–11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.^[109] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.^[110]

In the 2009–2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.36% increase in Basic Education Funding for $3,195,767. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008–09 was $3,091,788.75. In Columbia County, the highest increase went to Berwick Area School District which received 6.11% increase.^[111] Across the Commonwealth ninety school districts received the base 2% increase in funding in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.^[112]

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004–2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math Coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For the 2010–11 school year, the Warrior Run School District applied for and received $126,015, in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide all day Kindergarten for the fifth year.^{[113] [114][115]}

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The state grant requires the district hire a part time technology coach, whose role is to assist the teachers in using the equipment and software effectively to improve their instruction. The salary is covered by the grant.^[116] The program was funded from 2006–2009. Benton Area School District was denied funding in 2006–07. The district received $109,661 in 2007–08 and $45,413 in 2008–09 for a total funding of $155,074.^[117]

Successful Students Participation grant

The Successful Students’ Partnership is a statewide dropout prevention initiative authorized by Act 49 of 1987 and is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program focuses on positive changes to address the needs of students in ever-changing communities and the issues of low academic achievement, poor school attendance and discipline. Benton Area School District received $35,000.^[118]

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received over $600,000 in ARRA (Federal Stimulus) funding in 2009–2011. This is in addition to all regular state and federal funding.^[119] This funding was for the 2009-10 and 2010-–2011 school years.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Benton Area School District had 282 students receiving free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.

Race to the Top grant

Benton Area School Administration did not apply for the Federal Race to the Top grant. According to the PDE, the school would have received up to $600,000.^[120] School district officials determined that abiding by 'Race to the Top' requirements would cost more than the district would receive. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.^[121] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.^[122]

Common Cents state initiative

The Benton Area School Board decided to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars.^[123] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011 -12 were set by the school board at 42.0902 mills.^[124] A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. On the local level, Pennsylvania district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75–85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.^[125]

• 2011 - 41.5000 mills.^[126]
• 2010 – 41.5000 mills.^[127]
• 2009 – 41.5000 mills.^[128]
• 2007-08 - 41.5000 mills. ^[129]

Act 1 Adjusted index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.^[130]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Benton Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.^[131]

• 2006–07 – 5.3%, Base 3.9%
• 2007–08 – 4.6%, Base 3.4%
• 2008–09 – 6.0%, Base 4.4%
• 2009–10 – 5.6%, Base 4.1%
• 2010–11 – 3.9%, Base 2.9%
• 2011–12 – 1.9%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.3%, Base 1.7% ^[132]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Benton Area School Board did not apply for any exception to exceed the Act 1 Index . Each year, the Benton Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. ^[133]

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction. ^[134]

The Benton Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.^[135] In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.^[136]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the property tax relief was set at $225 for 1,560 property owners. ^[137] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Benton Area School District was $228 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 1541 property owners applied for the tax relief. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Columbia County, 71% have sought the property tax relief exemption for their home or farm.^[138] Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2009 and $641 in 2010.^[139] This was the second year they were the top recipient.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).^[140]

Extracurriculars

Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and the regional Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.^[141][142]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[143][144]

References