| Clarion Area School District | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 221 Liberty Street Clarion, Pennsylvania, Clarion, 16214 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Superintendent | Dr. George E. White |
| Principal | Randy Cathert 7-12 |
| Principal | Todd MacBeth K-6 |
| Vice principal | Brad Wagner HS Dean of Students |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Kindergarten | 50 |
| Grade 1 | 56 |
| Grade 2 | 50 |
| Grade 3 | 64 |
| Grade 4 | 62 |
| Grade 5 | 65 |
| Grade 6 | 75 |
| Grade 7 | 63 |
| Grade 8 | 57 |
| Grade 9 | 85 |
| Grade 10 | 60 |
| Grade 11 | 68 |
| Grade 12 | 75 |
| Other | Enrollment projected to continue to decline below 800 pupils.[1] |
| Mascot | Bobcats |
| Website | http://www.clarion-schools.com/clarionschools/site/default.asp |
The Clarion Area School District is a small, rural public school district which covers the Borough of Clarion and Highland Township, Monroe Township and Paint Township in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 71 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 10,183. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $14,302, while the median family income was $43,665.[2]
The district operates Clarion Area Jr/Sr High School (7th-12th) and Clarion Area Elementary School (K-6th). For students who wish to learn a vocational trade, the Clarion Area School District is associated with the Clarion County Career Center.
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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.[3] 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 Clarion Area School Board and district administration a "F" 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.[4]
Clarion Area School District was ranked 194th out of 498 Pennsylvania School Districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance in five years of PSSA results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science.[5]
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students fell in the 73rd percentile among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. (Scale 0-99; 100 is state best) [8]
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Clarion Area High School's rate was 80% for 2010.[9]
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
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.[18]
To graduate from the Clarion Area School District the school board requires that students earn a minimum of 24 credits including: English 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Math 3 credits, Math or Science: 1 additional credit, Social Studies 4 credits, Physical Education 1 credit with 4 years participation, Arts & Humanities 2 credits, and Health 1 credit.[19]
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.[20]
By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 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.[21]
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 30% of Clarion 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.[22] 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.[23] 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.
In 2010, the school achieved AYP Status. In 2009, the school was in Making Progress: in School Improvement I due to lagging student achievement.[26] In 2010 the attendance rate was 95% which was down from 96% in 2009.[27]
4th Grade Science:
2010 - 94% on grade level. State - 81% of 4th graders were on grade level
2009 - 98%, State - 83%
2008 - 90%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
2010 - 77% on grade level. State - 75% of 3rd graders were on grade level (57 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 91%, State - 77%
2008 - 88%, State - 77%
3rd Grade Math:
2010 - 94% on grade level. State - 84% of 3rd graders were on grade level
2009 - 91%, State - 81%
2008 - 92%, State - 80%
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there are fewer than 860 students enrolled in K-12. There were 92 students in the Class of 2009. The senior class of 2010 has 75 students. Enrollment in Clarion Area School District is projected to continue to decline through 2019. Clarion Area administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $854 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[30] With limited local taxation resources, opportunities for students are limited. Consolidation of the administrations with adjacent school districts would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in each community.[31] These excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging mathematics and science achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to substantially reduce property taxes. Consolidation of the central administrations would not require the closing of any schools.[32][33] A new district composed of Clarion Area School District, Clarion-Limestone Area School District and North Clarion County School District would have a student population of 2500 with declining enrollment projected in all three former districts.
In 2007 a Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study was conducted by Standard and Poors regarding the financial benefits of consolidating Pennsylvania's smallest public school districts. It examined Clarion Area School District consolidating with Keystone School District. It found the savings could be over $1.3 million dollars.[34] The study also examined the Clarion Area School District consolidating with North Clarion County School District. It estimated savings would be over $796,000.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).[35] As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools will continue to rise.
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. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.[36] This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.[37] 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.[38] In 2011, The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants found that the state would save over $1.5 billion dollars if school district administration where consolidated to the county level. It also found that over $613 million would be saved if school districts consolidated just their administrations with one neighboring district. This plan would not require changing the school buildings nor the classrooms, it focused on just the school administrations.[39]
The Clarion Area school administration reported 5 incidents of bullying occurring in the schools in 2009.[40][41]
The Clarion Area School Board prohibits bullying by district students and faculty. A policy defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying.[42] The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. 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.[43] 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.[44]
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.[45]
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 105 pupils or 12% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[46]
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. 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 Supervisor of Special Education.
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.[47]
Clarion Area School District received a $444,000 supplement for special education services in 2010.[48]
The District Administration reported that 46 or 5.47% of its students were gifted in 2009.[49] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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. 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.[50]
In 2009 the district reported employing over 100 teachers with a salary range of $38,000 to $84,000.[51]
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $53,414 for 180 days worked. The district ranked first in Clarion County for average teacher salary in 2007.[52] In 2009 the district employs over 70 teachers with a salary range of $38,658 to $100,000.[53]
In 2008 the district reported a unreserved-designated fund balance of $856,638 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $1,240,849.[54]
In 2008, Clarion Area School District reported spending $12,320 per pupil. This ranked 240th in the commonwealth.[55]
In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.[56]
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of individual's wealth.[57]
For the 2010-11 school year the state will provide the district with a 2% increase in basic education funding for a total of $2,763,318. Among Clarion County districts the highest increase went to Clarion-Limestone Area School District at 3.92%. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in state funding. Fifteen school districts received an increase above 10% with Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County receiving the highest at 23.65%.[58] The amount each school district receives is determined by the Secretary of Education and the Governor in the annual general fund budget.[59]
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.54% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $2,709,135. This was full percentage point higher increase, in Basic Education Funding, than most other school districts in Clarion County received. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $2,616,459.63. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more.[60] Clarion-Limestone Area School District received a 4.86% increase, the highest increase in Clarion County for the 2009-10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.[61]
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 230 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.[62]
The district received an extra $520,761 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money, in 2009-2010, to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. This money was in additional to all regular federal funding.[63] The funding is for 2009–2010 and 2010-2011.
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district over one million dollars of additional federal funding for improving student academic achievement.[64] 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.[65] 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.[66]
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), along with other specialized equipment and provided funding for teacher training to optimize the use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Clarion Area School District did not apply to participate and did not receive any funding.[67]
The school board elected 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.[68] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.
The school board levied a property tax of 54.0000 mills for 2010-11.[69] 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.
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 2010-2011 school year is 2.9 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, increasing rising health care 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.[72]
The School District Adjusted Index for the Clarion Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2012.[73]
2006-07 - 4.7%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 4.1%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 5.3%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 5.1%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 3.5%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 1.4%, Base 1.4%
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.[74]
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Clarion Area School District was $129 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 1633 property owners applied for the tax relief. The highest amount of property tax relief in Clarion County was allotted to Clarion-Limestone at $183 in 2009. Chester Upland School District of Delaware County was allotted the highest tax relief at $632 in 2009 and $641 in 2010.[75] 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 (40,000 m2) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. The Pennsylvania Auditor General's office reported that 47% of eligible property owners, in Clarion County, applied for the property tax relief.[76]
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%).[77]
Clarion Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.[78] 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 hat are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were 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.[79]
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for its approval.
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.[80]
The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policy.[81]
References:
|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}"]. CLARION AREA EL SCHOOL - School AYP Data Table.