Loyalsock Township School District

Loyalsock Township School District
Address
1720 Sycamore Road
Montoursville, Pennsylvania, Lycoming, 17754
United States
Information
School board 9 elected members
Superintendent Robert Grantier
Grades K-12
Kindergarten 105
Grade 1 101
Grade 2 96
Grade 3 115
Grade 4 120
Grade 5 102
Grade 6 93
Grade 7 110
Grade 8 102
Grade 9 112
Grade 10 117
Grade 11 107
Grade 12 138
Other Enrollment projected to decline to 1200 through 2019
Website http://www.ltsd.k12.pa.us/ltsd/site/default.asp

The Loyalsock Township School District is a small, suburban public school district in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The district serves Loyalsock Township, a suburb of Williamsport. The district encompasses approximately 21 square miles (54 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 10,876. The district residents' per capita income was $23,480, while the median family income was $47,952. [2] According to district officials, in school year 2007-08, the Loyalsock Township School District provided basic educational services to 1,430 pupils through the employment of 105 teachers, 48 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators.

Donald E. Shick Elementary, Loyalsock Township Middle School, and Loyalsock Township High School are located within the district.

Contents

Academic achievement

Loyalsock Township School District was ranked 97th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance, on the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and three years of science.[3]

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students in the Loyalsock Township School District was in the 75th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best).[6]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 92%. [7] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. School District's rate was 90% for 2010. [8]

Former calculation graduation rate

High school

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Science
College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 5% of Loyalsock Township 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. [21] 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.[22] 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 mathematics or English.

MIddle school

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. [23] The attendance rate was 95% in 2011, 2010 - 95% and in 2009 - 96%. [24]

8th Grade Reading
8th Grade Math
8th Grade Science
7th Grade Reading
7th Grade Math
6th Grade Reading
6th Grade Math

Elementary school

In 2011 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status. [30] The attendance rate was 95% in 2011 and 96% in 2010. [31]

5th Grade Reading;
5th Grade Math;
4th Grade Reading;
4th Grade Math;
4th Grade Science;
3rd Grade Reading;
3rd Grade Math;

Special education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 211 pupils or 14.9% of the district's pupils received special education services.[33]

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 Special Education Department.[34]

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.[35]

Loyalsock Township School District received a $687,415 supplement for special education services in 2010.[36] The state funding for the 2011-12 school year was the same as 2010-11. The enacted state budget included $1,026,815,000, for the 2011-2012 Special Education appropriation.[37]

Gifted education

The district administration reported that 37 or 2.64% of its students were gifted in 2009.[38] 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.[39]

Bullying policy

The Loyalsock Township School District administration reported there were no incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.[40][41]

The Loyalsock Township School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.[42] 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]

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing over 120 teachers with a starting salary of $38,000 for 180 days for pupil instruction and 10 days non instructional days.[46] The average teacher salary was $57,810 while the maximum salary is $118,369.[47] 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] Additionally, Loyalsock Township School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, 2.5 paid personal days (.5 days for attending graduation and days may carry over); 10 sick days, 3 days bereavement leave and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra if they are required to work outside of the regular school day. Retiring teachers receive a bonus. The union officers may take up to 4 days, with pay, for union business. Teachers work a 37.5 hour week.[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] Teacher pensions are portable within the Commonwealth.[51]

In 2007, the district employed 89 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $55,553 for 180 school days worked.[52]

Loyalsock Township School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $870.85 per pupil. The district is ranked 125th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[53]

In 2008, Loyalsock Township School District reported spending $12,468 per pupil. This ranked 225th in the commonwealth.[54]

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported $3,725,967 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $1,100,000.[55]

In March 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 income tax, a property tax, and 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.[57]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the Muncy School District will receive $2,698,468 in state Basic Education Funding. [58] Additionally, the district will receive $38,287 in Accountability Block Grant funding. [59] The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. 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.[60] Districts experienced a reduction in funding, due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

In 2010, the school district reported that 389 pupils received a free or reduced price meals through the federal school lunch program, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For 2010-11 the Loyalsock Township School District received a 8.13% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $2,966,393 payment. [61] This was the highest increase in BEF in Lycoming County. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. 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.[62]

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.94% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $2,743,481. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $2,589,668.39. 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.[63] This was the highest increase in BEF, among Lycoming County school districts, 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.[64]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 351 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.[65]

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 program was funded from 2006-2009. Loyalsock Township School District was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $81,173. For the 2008-09, school year the district received $44,414 for a total of $125,587. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.[66]

Federal stimulus grant

The district received an extra $793,324 in ARRA - federal stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[67] The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

Race to the Top grant

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.[68] 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.[69] 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.[70]

Common Cents state initiative

The Loyalsock Township School Board did 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.[71] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

The school board set property tax rates for the school budget 2011-2012 at 13.00 mills. 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. Pennsylvania school 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 (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.[72] The school district includes municipalities in three counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.

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 authorized 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 the Act 1 Index 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.[77]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Loyalsock Township School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.[78]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Loyalsock Township School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each budget year, the Loyalsock Township 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. [80]

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. [81]

Loyalsock Township School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009-10 or in 2010-11.[82] 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.[83]

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead property tax relief from gambling for the Loyalsock Township School District was $131 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,006 property owners applied for the tax relief.[84] The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's 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. The Pennsylvania Auditor General found that 69% of property owners applied for tax relief in Lycoming County.[85] In Lycoming County, the highest property tax relief in 2009 was $310 awarded to the approved property owners in Williamsport Area School District. 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 2010.[86] This was the second year Chester Upland School District was 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, consequently individuals who have income 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.[87]

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]

Enrollment and consolidation

Loyalsock Township School District is experiencing low enrollment in K-12. The Pennsylvania Department of Education projects the district's enrollment will decline to 1200 pupils through 2018.[89] Shifting population trends across the U.S. and Pennsylvania are affecting school enrollment and may impact the building needs of school districts in the years to come.[90] 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).[91]

A study done by Standard and Poors in 2007 (at the request of the PA General Assembly) examined the district consolidating with neighboring districts.[92] As a part of the study, superintendents were asked about savings, if their district were to merge with another district at the administrative level only, but not close any of their schools. It found 42% of the respondents believed consolidation would achieve cost reductions. Additionally, 63% of responding superintendents believed that consolidation with another district would help provide additional academic enrichment opportunities for the students.[93]

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.[94]

Extracurriculars

The Loyalsock Township School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The district is affiliated with the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference.[95] Eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities and sports is set by school board policies.[96][97][98][99]

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.[100]

References

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  48. ^ Teachers need to know enough is enough, PaDelcoTimes, April 20, 2010.
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