| Red Lion Area School District | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 696 Delta Road Red Lion, Pennsylvania, York, 17356 United States |
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| Information | |
| Superintendent | Dr. Scott A. Deisley
web |
| Enrollment | 5684 (2010)[1] |
| Kindergarten | 401 |
| Grade 1 | 483 |
| Grade 2 | 489 |
| Grade 3 | 436 |
| Grade 4 | 454 |
| Grade 5 | 440 |
| Grade 6 | 413 |
| Grade 7 | 439 |
| Grade 8 | 464 |
| Grade 9 | 402 |
| Grade 10 | 432 |
| Grade 11 | 425 |
| Grade 12 | 406 |
| Information | 717-244-4518 |
| Website | http://Rlasd.k12.pa.us |
| Website | http://www.rlasd.k12.pa.us/ |
Red Lion Area School District is a large, public school district located in eastern York County, Pennsylvania that serves the boroughs of Felton, Red Lion, Windsor, and Winterstown; and the townships of Chanceford Township, Lower Chanceford Township, North Hopewell Township, and Windsor Township. It encompasses approximately 140 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 32,661. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $20,325, while the median family income was $51,051.[2] According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Red Lion Area School District provided basic educational services to 5,705 pupils through the employment of 402 teachers, 273 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 24 administrators.
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The Mission of the Red Lion Area School District, in partnership with our communities, is to prepare all students to reach their greatest potential, thus becoming responsible and productive citizens.
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 district has been divided into three regions and board members are elected by their region of residence. 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 its 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 "B-" 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]
Red Lion Area School District was ranked 266th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic achievement on the PSSA results on: reading, writing, math and three years of science.[5]
In 2009, the academic achievement of the children attending the Red Lion Area School District was in the 54th percentile among Pennsylvania's 500 school District. Scale:(0-99; 100 is state best) [8]
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Red Lion Area School District's rate was 89% for 2010. [9]
In 2010, the high school has declined to Warning status due to lagging student achievement. In 2009, the school made AYP. [13] Red Lion Area Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010 [7] | Report Card 2009 [8]
College remediation - According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 29% of Red Lion Area Senior 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. [19] 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.[20] 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.
The high school offers a Dual Enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school, including the graduation ceremony. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[21] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[22]
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $10,994 for the program.[23]
The Red Lion School District School Board requires students to earn 24.6 credits to graduation including: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 3 credits of Mathematics, 3 credits of Science (1 in biology), 1 credit of Arts and Humanities, 1 credit of Health and Safety Education, 1..6 credits of Physical Education and 7 elective credits.[24]
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.[25]
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class 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. [26]
The Alternative Education Program began in Spring 2003. The program is intended for students who have had difficulties in the traditional school setting. In 2004 the program developed its own curriculum, based on the s=academic standards. On April 13, 2005, the Alternative Education Program was recognized by the Shippensburg University School Study Council when the program was awarded an Exemplary Award in recognition of outstanding curriculum innovation.[27]
In 2010, the school declined to Warning status due to lagging student achievement. In 2009 the school achieved AYP status. [28] The attendance rate was 95% in 2009 and 2010. [29]
The Red Lion Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Student Wellness Policy 246. [37] 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."
Parents may restrict A La Carte Items purchases via an online portal in the school district's food service website.
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 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.[38]
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for review and approval. The Highmark Foundation provides the district access to its Healthy High 5 online wellness tools, at no cost to the Red Lion Area School District through 2013. Health eTools for Schools® features a secure web-based portal that enables school nurses to electronically input, track, and communicate student’s health and fitness information through an electronic version of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s required School Health Record for all students. The data is stored off the school's site. [39] [40]
In 2009, the administration reported there was one incident of bullying in the district.[41] [42]
The School Board prohibits bullying by district students and faculty. The board policy 249 Bullying/Cyberbullying 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.[43] 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.[44] 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.[45]
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.[46]
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 880 pupils or 15.6% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[47]
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. When a child experiences difficulty within the classroom, screening information will be gathered by the team located within the child’s school to determine his or her specific needs. 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 make a written request for a multidisciplinary evaluation to the building principal or the Director 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. [48]
Red Lion Area School District received a $$2,755,564 supplement for special education services in 2010. [49]
The District Administration reported that 108 or 1.91% of its students were identified as gifted in 2009.[50] 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. [51]
In 2007, Red Lion Area School District employed 359 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,613 for 180 days worked.[52] In 2007, the district's starting salary was $37,000 and the top teacher salary was $78,706 which was the third highest in York County.[53] Additionally, the district's teachers receive: a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, college credit reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, sick days, 4 paid bereavement days, a retirement incentive bonus and other benefits.[54]
Red Lion Area School District administrative costs was $648.91 per pupil in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 in 2008.[55] In July 2007, the Red Lion Area School Board awarded a five year contract (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2012) to Frank R. Herron. as Superintendent, with an initial salary of $132,000. He was also awarded an extensive benefits package which includes: health insurance, life insurance 2.5 times salary, annual dues paid, paid travel, 23 days paid vacation, defined benefit pension and more.[56] The contract expires in 2012. In 2009, his salary was reported as $138,000.[57] The Pennsylvania School Board Association tracks salaries for Pennsylvania public school employees. It reports that in 2008 the average superintendent salary in Pennsylvania was $122,165.[58] In 2007, the Average District Administrator salary in Red Lion Area School District was $91,550 which ranked ninth in York County. The Average School Administrator salary in Red Lion Area School District was $81,888 which ranked third in York County.[53]
Other Administrators - Dr. LeeAnn Zeroth, Assistant Superintendent salary $106,500 in 2009, Dr. Michael Lowe, Elementary Supervisor - $93,690, Mrs. Mary Smith, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel - $92,933, Mrs. Laura Fitz, Supervisor of Special Education - $94,065, Mr. Terry L. Robinson, Business Manager - $113,779, Mr. Jeffrey A. Bryan, Director of Buildings and Grounds - $98,832, Mrs. Sandy Emerich, Director of Transportation and Human Resources - $90,375, Mrs. Amy Glusco, Supervisor of Language Arts - $82,143, Cynthia Williams, Principal - $83,109, Susan Dunham, Principal - $83,109, Norina Bentzel, Principal - $85,916, Timothy Gulley, Principal - $88,710, Kitty Reinholt, Principal - $91,502, Kurt Fassnacht, Principal - $102,334, Wayne Neff, Ast. Principal - $106,314, Charles Humberd, Principal - $114,604.[59]
The district administration reported that per pupil spending in 2008 was $10,928 which ranked 400th in the state' 501 school districts. [60] [61]
Reserves - In 2009, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $3,000,000 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $4,547,340. [62] In 2010, the reserves had increased to an unreserved designated fund balance of $$4,311,465 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $4,434,011. [63]
In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the administration and the school board. [64]
According to an extensive study of York County school districts conducted by APA Associates in 2008, Red Lion Area School District achieved a +7 rating based on Performance and Relative Efficiency. Central York School District and Northeastern York School District ranked +10. Eleven of 16 York County districts achieved a positive rating.[65]
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.50%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of personal wealth.[66]
In 2011-12, the district will receive $13,851,381 in state Basic Education Funding. [67] [68] Additionally, the district will receive $309,472 in Accountability Block Grant funding. 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.[69] Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.
In 2010, the district reported that 1,321 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.
For the 2010-11 budget year, the Red Lion Area School District received a 6.27% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $15,214,603. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in York County was awarded to Hanover Public School District at 8.39%. 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.[70] 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.[71]
In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.71% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $14,317,901. Four school districts in York County received increases of over 5.9% in Basic Education Funding in 2009. The highest increase was awarded to Central York School District which received 12.54% in 2009. In York County, 12 school districts received a less than 6% increase in state basic education funding in 2009 and three districts received the base 2% increase. Ninety school districts in the commonwealth were given the base 2% increase. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.[72] In 2008, the Red Lion Area School District received $13,673,819 in state basic education funding.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 872 students, in the district, received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.[73]
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 Red Lion Area School District applied for and received $839,964 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten (for the sixth year), to provide teacher coaches for math and reading to improve classroom instruction and to provide extra assistance to struggling students.[74] [75]
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. Red Lion Area School District did not apply in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $474,493 and in 2008-09 received $85,807 for a total of $560,300. Fifty school districts in Pennsylvania did not apply to get the computers, software and special targeted training. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards [76]
The district received an extra $3,813,056 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[77] The Pennsylvania Department of Education advised the districts to use the money for nonrecurring expenses like purchasing equipment and teaching resources like books, and software.
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant. When approved for the grant, the district would have received millions in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[78] 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. [79] Six York County school districts applied to participate in the Race to the Top grant program. [80] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. According to then Governor Rendell, failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. [81]
The Red Lion 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.[82] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.
The school board levied a real estate tax of 22.0579 mills in 2010-11.[83] 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.[84]
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 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.[88]
The School District Adjusted Index for the Red Lion Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012. [89]
For the 2011-12 school year, the Red Lion Area School Board applied for multiple exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year the Red Lion 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. [92]
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. [93]
The Red Lion Area School Board also applied for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010-11, including: special education costs and pension obligation costs. [94] 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.[95] In 2009-10 the board sought an exception due to special education costs.[96] In 2009, 70 school districts passed preliminary budgets that exceeded their anticipated tax revenues. Forty four received approval of an exception request and 31 sought an exception for special education costs.
In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Red Lion Area School District was $184 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 10,295 property owners applied for the tax relief.[97] In 2009, the district's property tax relief amount was set at $184 to 10,295 approved homestead owners.[98] In 2010 within York County, the highest amount went to York City School District set at $495 per approved homestead. The property tax 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. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $641 per homestead and farmstead in 2010.[99] Chester-Upland School District was given $632 in 2009. 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, consequently individuals who have income substantially greater 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%).[100]
The district's students have access to a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by the school board policy.[101][102] In 2007-08 the district spent $698,540 on athletics. In 2010-11 it spent $900,000 on school athletics and in 2011-12 it has budgeted $933,867 for athletics. [103] The district does not charge an activity in 2011-12.
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. [104]
Red Lion Area School District has seen two acts of school violence in its existence:
On February 2, 2001, William Michael Stankewicz, made a machete attack on a kindergarten class at North Hopewell - Winterstown Elementary School that wounded 11 children, the principal, and two teachers.
On April 24, 2003, eight-grade student James Sheets entered Red Lion Area Junior High School armed with his stepfather's pistols and subsequently killed the school's principal, Eugene Segro, before killing himself. (See Red Lion Area Junior High School shooting.)[105]
References