| Fairfield Area School District | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Fairfield, Pennsylvania Adams County South Central Pennsylvania United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Superintendent | William B. Chain |
| Grades | K - 12th |
| Enrollment | 1294 (2009-10) [1] |
| Kindergarten | 79 |
| Grade 1 | 106 |
| Grade 2 | 97 |
| Grade 3 | 94 |
| Grade 4 | 92 |
| Grade 5 | 90 |
| Grade 6 | 110 |
| Grade 7 | 116 |
| Grade 8 | 116 |
| Grade 9 | 112 |
| Grade 10 | 99 |
| Grade 11 | 88 |
| Grade 12 | 95 |
| Other | Enrollment projected to decline to 1000 pupils by 2020. |
| Website | http://www.fairfieldpaschools.org/fasd/site/default.asp |
Fairfield Area School District is a small, rural, public school district. It serves Fairfield, Pennsylvania, USA and covers the boroughs of Fairfield and Carroll Valley as well as Hamiltonban Township and Liberty Township. Fairfield Area School District encompasses approximately 61 square miles. Per 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 7,056. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $20,625 a year, while the median family income was $52,087. According to Fairfield Area School District officials, in school year 2007-08, the district provided basic educational services to 1,290 pupils. It employed: 94 teachers, 57 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 7 administrators. Fairfield Area School District received more than $4.9 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.
The district operates three schools: a high school (grades 9-12) and a middle school (grades 5-8) in the main building and an elementary school (grades k-4) in a separate building. There are approximately 1,300 students.
Contents |
Fairfield Area 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.[2] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates the district focus resources on student reading fluency and math skills.
The school district has a superintendent and a school board. Each school has a principal and vice principal (though the middle school and high school share a vice principal).
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.[3]
In 2001, the district filed suit in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas seeking an injunction barring the Einstein Academy (a subsidiary of the National Organization for Children) from operating as a charter school. [4] The suit was later joined by a number of other public school districts. The suit alleged, among other things, that charter schools generally violate various state laws and/or constitutional provisions and could not be legally formed and specifically sought to prevent the Einstein Academy from enrolling students. The suit and requested preliminary injunctions were dismissed on 21 May 2003 by the trial court which found that the district lacked standing to bring the suit. The Appeals Court upheld that decision in December 2003.[5]
The Fairfield Area School District was ranked 373rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSAs results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science. [6]
In 2011, the graduation rate was 94%. [9] The Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate in 2010. Fairfield Area School District's rate was 87% for 2010.[10]
The high school was in AYP status in 2011, 2010 and 2009. [14]
College Remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 40% of Fairfield 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. [24] 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.[25] 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.
Fairfield Area School District School Board has determined that a student must earn the following credits in order to graduate: English 4 credits, Speech 0.5 credits, Math 3-4 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Science 3-4 credits, Health/Physical Education 1 credit, Arts and Humanities 2 credits, Driver Education 0.5 credits and Elective Courses 5.5credits. [26]
By law, all Pennsylvania high 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.[27]
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. [28]
In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the school was in AYP status. [29] The attendance rate was 95% in 2010. [30] The attendance rate was 94% in 2011.
PSSA Results:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5th Grade Reading:
|
5th Grade Math:
|
In 2010 and 2009, the school achieved AYP status. [36] The attendance rate was 94% in 2009 and 2010. [37]
|
|
|
|
For grades 3rd to 12th parents and students have password controlled, online access to the students grades and other school district information.
Middle and High School summer school credit recovery program is online. Students recommended for summer coursework receive their curriculum content online. Students will have the option to work from home or school as they complete their customized learning activities on the web.
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 121 pupils or 9.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[40]
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.[41]
Fairfield Area School District received a $611,435 supplement for special education services in 2010.[42]
The District Administration reported that 20 or 1.64% of its students were gifted in 2009. [43] 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. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student should 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 may be considered for eligibility. [44] Through the strategic planning process, the Superintendent must ensure that Fairfield Area School District provides a continuum of program and service options to meet the needs of all mentally gifted students for enrichment, acceleration, or both.
In 2007, the Fairfield Area School District employed 80 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,956 for 180 days worked. [45]
In 2009, the district reports employing 110 teachers with a starting salary of $41,685 for 180 days for pupil instruction and 188 days total.[46] The average teacher salary was $53,934 while the maximum salary is $109,200. [47] Longevity payments of $400 are added to the base salary of the teacher each year. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.[48] Teachers work a 7 hour 30 minute day which includes a 30 minute paid lunch break. Teachers are provided a planning period each day. In addition to salary, Fairfield Area School District teachers receive: life insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement 100% of costs, 2 paid personal days and emergency day, 10 sick days which accumulate (employee pays up to $50 per month) and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra if they are required to work outside of the regular school day and when they accept extra duties like mentoring in the district's Teacher Induction Plan. Upon retirement or death, teachers are paid for unused sick days. Employees may be granted one (1) day leave per year for the purpose of visiting other schools. The teachers' union is granted a total of six (6) days leave with pay to conduct union business.[49] According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary. [50]
The district's administrative costs per pupil was $890.04 in 2008. The district ranked 110th in administrative sending, out of 500 Pennsylvania School Districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. [51] In July 2007, the school board awarded a five year contract to William B. Chain III to serve as superintendent, with an initial salary of $105,000. The contract includes an extensive benefits package. [52]
In 2008, Fairfield Area School District reported spending $11,936 per pupil. This ranked 280th in the Commonwealth.[53]
Reserves - In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $596,053.00.[54] In 2010, the district has $1,181,631 in an unreserved-undesignated fund.
In April 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Multiple serious findings were reported to the administration and school board. The audit found that a professional employee was not properly certified for her assignment which violated PA School Code and No Child Left Behind which required highly qualified teachers.[55]
In 2011, the school board balanced the budget by raising taxes and cutting $756,727. This included eliminating a seventh grade language arts teaching position. The teacher has been reassigned to the library. Additionally, a third grade teaching position was dropped, leaving the district with three third-grade teachers, but due to low enrollment, third grade class size remained small.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a statewide real estate transfer tax 0.5%, 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the income level. [56]
In 2011-12, the district will receive $3,282,361 in state Basic Education Funding. [57] Additionally, the district received $64,734 in Accountability Block Grant funding. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to [[Duquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[58]
In 2010, the district reported that 211 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level.
For the 2010-11 school year, the highest increase in basic education funding was awarded to Fairfield Area School District at 2% for $3,473,266. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. In Adams County, the highest increase was awarded to Conewago Valley School District 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.[59] 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.[60]
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.74% increase in Basic Education funding for Fairfield Area School District a total of $3,405,162. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $3,282,361.28. The highest increase in Adams County went to Conewago Valley School District which received a 9.48% increase in 2009-10. Muhlenberg School District of Berks County received the highest increase in the Commonwealth - an increase of 22.31 percent. Sixteen school districts received an increase in basic education funding of over 10 percent in 2009. Ninety school districts received the base 2% increase in state basic education funding. [61] The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the budget proposal made in February each year.[62]
In 2009 the district reported having 204 students participating in the federal free and reduced lunch program due to low family income.[63]
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 2010-11 the district applied for and received $175,703 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide Full Day Kindergarten, increased instructional time through tutoring both during the school day and after school and teacher training. [64][65]
The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the Fairfield Area School District received $30,471. [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. Fairfield Area School District did not apply to participate and consequently, did not receive any funding over the three year period of the program. [67]
Fairfield Area School District received an extra $631,489 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used only in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[68] This funding is for the 2009-2011 school years.
Fairfield Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. [69] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. [70] In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. [71] Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state Race To The Top application judging will occur in June 2010.[72]
Property tax 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. In 2010, Adams County conducted a property reassessment. [73]
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, rising health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling local 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.[79]
The School District Adjusted Index for the Fairfield Area School District 2006-2007 through 2012-2013.[80]
For the 2011-12 school year, the Fairfield Area School Board applied for several exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index, including: special education expenses, Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue, Health Care-Related Benefits and pension obligations. Each year the Fairfield 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. [83]
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. [84]
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.[85]
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Fairfield Area School District was $189 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2429 property owners applied for the tax relief. Among Adams County school districts, in 2009, Upper Adams School District received the highest relief allocation at $279. In Pennsylvania, the highest tax relief was allotted to Chester Upland School District in Delaware County which received $632 for 2009 and 2010.[86] 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. In Adams County, 74% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[87]
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. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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%).[88]
Fairfield Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.[89] 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 and physical education that 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.[90]
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is set by school board policies and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.[91]
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.[92]
The schools' sports teams are known as the Fairfield Green Knights.
The school district has internal programs including sports, drama and foreign language. It also participates in other programs such as the Adams County Chorus, Adams County Band, and Adjudications. It also has a chapter of the National Honor Society
Lincoln Intermediate Unit (IU#12) region includes: Adams County, Franklin County and York County. The agency provides Fairfield Area Schools, district home schooled students and area private schools many services including: Special education services, combined purchasing, and instructional technology services. It runs Summer Academy which offers both art and academic strands designed to meet the individual needs of gifted, talented and high achieving students. Additional services include: Curriculum Mapping, Professional Development for school employees, Adult Education, Nonpublic School Services, Business Services, Migrant & ESL (English as a Second Language), Instructional Services, Special Education, Management Services, and Technology Services. It also provides a GED program to adults who want to earn a high school diploma and literacy programs. The Lincoln Intermediate Unit is governed by a 13 member Board of Directors, each a member of a local school board from the 25 school districts. Board members are elected by school directors of all 25 school districts for three-year terms that begin July 1.[93] There are 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania. They are funded by school districts, state and federal program specific funding and grants. IUs do not have the power to tax.