Waynesboro Area School District

Waynesboro Area School District
Address
210 Clayton Avenue Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Franklin, 17268 United States
Information
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	James Robertson
Grades	K-12
Kindergarten	285
Grade 1	332
Grade 2	319
Grade 3	332
Grade 4	343
Grade 5	390
Grade 6	330
Grade 7	351
Grade 8	321
Grade 9	350
Grade 10	323
Grade 11	228
Grade 12	260
Website	http://www.wasd.k12.pa.us/

The Waynesboro Area School District is a public school district located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses the boroughs of Waynesboro and Mont Alto, as well as all of Washington Township and Quincy Township, and a portion of Guilford Township. The district operates four elementary schools: Fairview Avenue Elementary School, Hooverville Elementary School, Mowery Elementary School, and Summitview. It also features one middle school, and one high school.

The 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.

The district is served by the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 which offers a variety of services including: assistance in developing K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards, shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

Contents 1 Academic achievement 1.1 Graduation Rate 1.2 High school 1.2.1 College Remediation 1.2.2 Dual enrollment 1.3 Middle school 1.4 Fairview Avenue Elementary School 1.5 Hooverville Elementary School 1.6 Mowrey Elementary School 2 Special Education 2.1 Gifted Education 3 Budget 3.1 Unreserved Funds 3.2 State basic education funding 3.2.1 Accountability Block Grants 3.2.2 Classrooms for the Future grant 3.2.3 Education Assistance Program 3.2.4 Federal Stimulus Grant 3.2.5 Race to the Top grant 3.3 Real estate taxes 3.3.1 Act 1 Adjusted index 3.3.2 Property tax relief 4 Wellness policy 5 Extracurriculars 6 References

Academic achievement

In 2011, Waynesboro Area School District was ranked 343rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSA results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science.^[2]

• 2010 - 366th ^[3]
• 2009 - 347th
• 2008 - 349th
• 2007 - 369th out of 501 school districts.^[4]

The Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Waynesboro Area School District ranked 311th. In 2010, the district was 363rd. The paper describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations." ^[5]

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 85%. ^[6] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Waynesboro Area School District's rate was 75% for 2010. ^[7]

Former calculation graduation rate

• 2010 - 82% ^[8]
• 2009 – 87% ^[9]
• 2008 – 90% ^[10]
• 2007 – 90% ^[11]

High school

In 2011, the school declined to Warning Status under No Child Left Behind due to chronically low student achievement in math. ^[12] In 2010 the school achieved AYP status. The high school was in Warning level for lagging student academic achievement in 2009.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 70% on grade level, (9% below basic). State - 69% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[13]
• 2010 - 66%, (19% below basic). State - 66% ^[14]
• 2009 – 52%, State - 65% ^[15]
• 2008 – 61%, State – 65% % ^[16]
• 2007 – 61%, State – 65% ^[17]

11th Grade Math

• 2011 - 60%, on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level. ^[18]
• 2010 - 65%, (14% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 – 46%, State - 56% ^[19]
• 2008 – 51%, State – 56% ^[20]
• 2007 – 49%, State – 53% ^[21]

11th Grade Science

• 2011 - 28% on grade level (21% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. .^[22]
• 2010 - 27% (29% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 – 20%, State - 40% ^[23]
• 2008 – 20%, State - 39% ^[24]

College Remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 16% of Waynesboro Area School District 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.^[25] 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.^[26] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual enrollment

The high school 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, including the graduation ceremony. 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. 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.^[27] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[28] The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system. ^[29]

For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $34,151 for the program.^[30]

Other students that reside in the district who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school or are homeschooled are eligible for the university courses contained in the district's dual enrollment contract.

Middle school

In 2011, the middle school declined to Warning status under No Child Left Behind. ^[31] In 2010 the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate in 2011 was reported at 94%, while in 2010 it was 93%. ^[32]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 78% on grade level (10% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2010 - 86% (6% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 – 81%, State - 80% ^[33]
• 2008 – 76%, State – 78%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 71% on grade level (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
• 2010 - 74% (9% below basic), State - 75% ^[34]
• 2009 – 69%, State - 71% ^[35]
• 2008 – 72%, State – 70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 50% on grade level (24% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 57% (23% below basic). State - 57 ^[36]
• 2009 – 49%, State – 55% ^[23]
  
• 2008 – 45%, State – 52% ^[37]

7th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 75% on grade level (9% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 - 71% (11% below basic). State - 73%
• 2009 – 78% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 71% of 7th graders on grade level.^[33]
• 2008 – 70%, State – 70%

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 79% on grade level (9% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 77% (13% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 – 80%, State - 75% ^[35]
• 2008 – 74%, State – 70%

Fairview Avenue Elementary School

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. ^[38] In both 2010 and 2011, the attendance rate was 94%. ^[39]

6th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 72% on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level. ^[40]
• 2010 - 67% (18% below basic). State - 68% ^[41]
• 2009 – 64%, State - 67% ^[42]
• 2008 – 78%, State – 67% ^[43]

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 89% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 - 90% (3% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 – 84%, State - 75% ^[35]
• 2008 – 80%, State – 72%

5th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 71% on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 68% (10% below basic). State – 64%
• 2009 – 70%, State - 64% ^[42]
• 2008 – 58%, State – 61%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 84% on grade level (0% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 85% (3% below basic). State - 76.3%
• 2009 – 88% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 73% of 5th graders are on grade level.^[35]
• 2008 – 69%, State – 73%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 84% (4% below basic). State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 71% (13% below basic). State - 73%
• 2009 – 69%, State - 72% ^[42]
• 2008 – 73%, State – 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 94% (0% below basic). State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 87% (5% below basic). State - 84%
• 2009 – 84%, State - 81% ^[35]
• 2008 – 79%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 95%, (1% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 83%, (7% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 – 83%, State - 83%
• 2008 – 84%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 78%, (15% below basic). State – 77.2%
• 2010 - 78%, (13% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 – 75%, State - 77% ^[42]
• 2008 – 69%, State – 77%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 81%, (10% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 - 82%, (3% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 – 77%, State - 81%
• 2008 – 72%, State – 80%

Hooverville Elementary School

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. ^[44] In both 2010 and 2011, the attendance rate was 94%. ^[45]

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 84% on grade level (5% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level. ^[46]
• 2010 - 86% (4% below basic). State - 68%
• 2009 – 69%, State - 67% ^[47]
• 2008 – 94%, State – 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 95% on grade level (5% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 - 94% (0% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 – 89%, State - 75% ^[35]
• 2008 – 94%, State – 72%

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 81% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 79% (4% below basic). State – 64%
• 2009 – 71%, State - 64% ^[47]
• 2008 – 63%, State – 61%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 89% on grade level (0% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 92% (0% below basic). State - 76.3%
• 2009 – 86%, State - 73% ^[35]
• 2008 – 79%, State – 73%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 77% (6% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 82% (4% below basic), State - 73%
• 2009 – 85%, State - 72% ^[47]
• 2008 – 80%, State – 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 92% (4% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 93% (0% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 – 90%, State -81%
• 2008 – 89%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 92%, (2% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 93%, (4% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 – 94%, State - 83%
• 2008 – 89%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 80%, (7% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 - 88%, (2% below basic), State - 75%
• 2009 – 88%, State - 77% ^[47]
  
• 2008 – 91%, State – 77%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 93%, (0% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 - 94%, (2% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 – 92%, State - 81%
• 2008 – 91%, State – 80%

Mowrey Elementary School

In 2011 and 2010, Mowery Elementary School achieved AYP status. ^[48] In both 2010 and 2011, the attendance rate was 95%. ^[49]

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - % on grade level (% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level. ^[50]
• 2010 - % (% below basic). State - 68% ^[51]
• 2009 – 64%, State - 67% ^[52]
• 2008 – 77%, State – 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 87% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 - 96% (0% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 – 87%, State - 75% ^[35]
• 2008 – 81%, State – 72%

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 70% on grade level (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 64% (15% below basic). State – 64% ^[51]
• 2009 – 58%, State - 64% ^[52]
• 2008 – 69%, State – 61%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 84% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 70% (6% below basic). State - 76.3%
• 2009 – 69%, State - 73% ^[35]
• 2008 – 80%, State – 73%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 62% (16% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 74% (12% below basic), State - 73%
• 2009 – 71%, State - 72% ^[52]
• 2008 – 60%, State – 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 91% (2% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 93% (3% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 – 78%, State - 81%
• 2008 – 76%, State – 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 88%, (0% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 88%, (5% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 – 91%, State - 83%
• 2008 – 79%, State – 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 69%, (13% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 - 75%, (10% below basic), State - 75%
• 2009 – 83%, State - 77% ^[52]
• 2008 – 71%, State – 77%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 83%, (3% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 - 79%, (2% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 – 77%, State - 81%
• 2008 – 71%, State – 80%

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 475 pupils or 11% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. ^[53]

In order to comply with state and federal laws, the school 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.^[54] 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 Special Education administration. 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.^[55]

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. ^[56]

Waynesboro Area School District received a $2,257,352 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[57]

For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.^[58]

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 91 or 2.14% of its students were gifted in 2009.^[59] 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 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.^[60]

Budget

In 2007, the district employed 268 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $51,054 for 180 days worked.^[61] 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.^[62] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, life insurance, retirement bonus and other benefits. ^[63] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year Pennsylvania public school educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.^[64] In 2011, the school baord and teachers' union are negotiating a new contract. ^[65]

Waynesboro Area School District administrative costs per pupil was $471.62 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. ^[66] In 2008, the board hired James L. Robertson as superintendent of schools with an initial salary of $122,000 and an extensive benefits package. ^[67] 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. ^[68]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a local real property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, and a per capita tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.^[69] Grants 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 of the income level.^[70]

Unreserved Funds

In 2008, the district reported a $5,394,759.00 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance.^[71]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $12,350,740 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.^[72] Additionally, the district will receive $239,156 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. ^[73] 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.^[74]

For the 2010-11 budget year, Waynesboro Area School District was allotted a 4.01% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,525,220. The highest increase in Franklin County was provided to Chambersburg Area School District which received a 7.08% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding. ^[75] The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. ^[76]

In 2009–2010, Waynesboro Area School District received an 4.49% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $12,905,087. The highest increase in Franklin County went to Tuscarora School District with a 5.50% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Waynesboro Area School District in 2008–09 was $12,350,739.85.^[77] 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.^[78] In 2008, the district reported that 1,163 students received free or reduced price lunches due to low family income.^[79]

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math Coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010-11, the district applied for and received $649,127, in addition to all other state and federal funding. The Waynesboro Area School District used the funding to provide all day kindergarten; to increase instructional time for struggling students; to pay teachers to write new curriculum and revise current classes; to provide teachers with training to improve instruction and to make research based changes in the curriculum and instruction.^[80][81]

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. Waynesboro Area School District Administration did not apply for funding in any of the three years of the program.^[82]

Education Assistance Program

The EAP initiative provides extended learning opportunities and is designed to boost student achievement and help all students succeed by utilizing evidenced-based instructional models. The funding provides tutoring in Math and Reading for students in grades 7-12. Tutoring is provided during the school day, during study halls and after school. In 2010-11, the Waynesboro Area School District received $104,702.^[83]

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $2,499,012 in ARRA – Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. This was in addition to all regular state and federal funding. ^[84] This funding is for 2009-10 and 2010–2011 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 millions of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.^[85] 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.^[86] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of school districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. ^[87]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011 were set at 85.5000 mills by the Waynesboro Area School Board. 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. ^[88] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. 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, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.^[89]

• 2010-11 - 84.0900 mills. ^[90]
• 2009-10 - 82.5900 mills. ^[91]
• 2008-09 - 82.5900 mills. ^[92]
• 2007-08 - 79.0900 mills. ^[93]

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 permitted to raise taxes above that index, unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the Pennsylvania 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.^[94] With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly voted to end most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.^[95]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Waynesboro Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.^[96]

• 2006-07 - 5.1%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.4%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 5.7%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.2%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 3.7%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 1.8%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.2%, Base 1.7% ^[97]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Waynesboro Area School Board applied for three exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. The exceptions applied for include: grandfathered debt, pension costs and maintenance of Local Tax Effort. Each year, Waynesboro 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 published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.^[98]

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.^[99]

Waynesboro Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010-11. ^[100] For 2009-10, the board did not apply for exceptions.^[101] 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.^[102]

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Waynesboro Area School District was set per approved permanent primary residence and farmstead. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.

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%). ^[103]

Wellness policy

Waynesboro Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 – Policy 246.^[104] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts 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.^[105] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Extracurriculars

The Waynesboro Area School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sport. The school board determines eligibility for participation in coordination with respective individual governing organizations.^{[106] [107]} Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

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.^[108]

References