| Wilkinsburg School District | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 718 Wallace Avenue Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Allegheny, 15221 United States |
|
| Information | |
| School board | 9 elected board members |
| Superintendent | Archie D. Perrin, Jr. |
| Administrator | Patricia Grey, Dir. Curriculum |
| Director | Dan Morrow, Dir Research |
| Principal | Tanya Smith, JES |
| Principal | Rosalind Fisher, KES |
| Principal | Christine French, TES |
| Principal | Jacqueline Blakey-Tate, WMS & HS |
| Kerry Francis, Special Ed | |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Kindergarten | 143 |
| Grade 1 | 96 |
| Grade 2 | 118 |
| Grade 3 | 127 |
| Grade 4 | 100 |
| Grade 5 | 120 |
| Grade 6 | 111 |
| Grade 7 | 82 |
| Grade 8 | 83 |
| Grade 9 | 100 |
| Grade 10 | 90 |
| Grade 11 | 95 |
| Grade 12 | 107 |
| Other | Enrollment Projected to decline to 1000 by 2019[1] |
| Website | http://www.wilkinsburgschools.org |
The Wilkinsburg School District is a small, public school district serving the mostly African American community and Pittsburgh suburb of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 3 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 19,196. According to District officials, in school year 2005–06 the School District of the Borough of Wilkinsburg provided basic educational services to 1,568 pupils through the employment of 169 teachers, 45 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators.
Three separate elementary schools serve grades K-6: Kelly Elementary School, Johnston,Elementary School and Turner Elementary School. Wilkinsburg Middle School was originally housed in a separate building but since 1985 this facility for grades 7–9 has been housed directly next to Wilkinsburg High School. The high school's third floor contains an alternative education academy.
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Wilkinsburg School District was ranked 104th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts in 2010 and 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and two years of science.[2] In 2008 the school ranked 104th.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Wilkinsburg Borough School District, was in the lowest percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0–99; 100 is state best)[6]
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Wilkinsburg Senior High School's rate was 60% for 2010.[7]
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
In January 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Education identified the Wilkinsburg Senior High School as in the bottom 5% of the state's schools, for student academic achievement. According to the report, just 16% of the pupils were on grade level in both math and reading.[12]
In 2010, Wilkinsburg Senior High School is in Corrective Action II 3rd Year due to a low graduation rate coupled with chronically low performance on PSSAs for reading writing, mathematics and science tests. In 2009, Wilkinsburg Senior high school was in Corrective Action II 2nd Year.
In 2009, the school ranks 120th of 123 high school in western Pennsylvania for academic achievement based on three years of PSSA results on: math, reading, writing and one year of science, by Pittsburgh Business Times in May 2009.[13]
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 67% of the Wilkinsburg 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.[20] 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.[21] 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 the 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.[22] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[23]
For the 2009–10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $14,834 for the program.
In 2010, Wilkinsburg Middle School is in Corrective Action II first year for chronic, low student academic achievement. In 2009, the school is in Corrective Action I for poor student academic achievement.[24]
In 2010, the middle school's 8th grade ranked 105th out of 106 western Pennsylvania eighth grades, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on four years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for math, reading, writing and two years for science.[25]
Wilkinsburg Middle School 7th grade was ranked 144th out of 153 Western Pennsylvania 7th grades for academic achievement in: reading, math and writing in 2010.[28]
Kelly Elementary School 5th grade was ranked 241st out of 287 Western Pennsylvania 5th grades for academic achievement in: reading, math and writing in 2010.[29]
In 2009, Kelly Elementary School was ranked 314th out of 327 Western Pennsylvania 3rd grades for academic achievement in reading, math and writing.[31]
Johnston Elementary School 5th grade was ranked 277th out of 287 Western Pennsylvania 3rd grades for academic achievement in: reading, math and writing in 2010.[33]
Johnston Elementary School 3rd grade was ranked 311th out of 327 Western Pennsylvania 3rd grades for academic achievement in reading, math and writing in 2010. In 2009, the 3rd grade was ranked 316th out of 327 Western Pennsylvania 3rd grades.
Turner Elementary School 5th grade was ranked 270th out of 287 Western Pennsylvania 5th grades for academic achievement in reading, math and writing in 2010.[36]
Turner Elementary School 3rd grade was ranked 320th out of 327 Western Pennsylvania 3rd grades for academic achievement in: reading, math and writing in 2010. In 2009, the school ranked 319th out of 327 third grades.
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 364 pupils or 25% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[38]
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.[39]
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.[40]
Wilkinsburg Borough School District received a $1,143,067 supplement for special education services in 2010.[41]
The District Administration reported that 31 or 2.3% of its students were gifted in 2009.[42] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. Wilkinsburg School District works with gifted students and their parents to develop a Gifted Individualized Education Program.[43] 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 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.[44]
The Wilkinsburg Borough School District administration reported there were 65 incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.[45][46]
The Wilkinsburg Borough School Board has not provided the district's antibully policy online. 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.[47] 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.[48]
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.[49]
In 2009, the district reports employing over 170 teachers with a starting salary of $40,000 for191 days with 180 days for pupil instruction.[50] The average teacher salary was $54,794 while the maximum salary is $119,054.[51] 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.[52] Additionally, Wilkinsburg Borough School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 11 paid sick days, 2 personal days, 3 paid death leave days, a variety of special leaves and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra if they are required to work outside of the regular school day[53] 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.[54]
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $50,890 for 180 days worked.[55]
Wilkinsburg Borough School District per pupil administrative costs were $1,107 in 2008. The district ranked 38th out of 500 school districts, for administrative spending per pupil in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[56]
In 2008, Wilkinsburg Borough School District reported spending $17,971 per pupil. This ranked 24th in the commonwealth.[57]
In 2009, the district reported $1,734,068 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as 800,000.[58]
In October 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.[59]
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a 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.[60] 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.[61]
For 2010–11 the Wilkinsburg Borough School District received a 2% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $7,301,273 payment.[62] South Fayette Township School District received a 11.32% increase, which was the highest increase in BEF in Allegheny 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.[63]
In the 2009–2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $7,158,111. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008–09 was $7,017,755. 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.[64] Chartiers Valley School District received an 8.19% increase, the highest increase in Allegheny County for the 2009–10 school year. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.[65]
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,147 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[66]
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 Wilkinsburg Borough School District applied for and received $409,817 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the 7th year.[67][68]
The state's Education Assistance Program funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds were 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 Wilkinsburg Borough School District received $154,778.[69]
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. Wilkinsburg Borough School District received $193,898 in funding in 2006–07. In 2007–08 the district received $250,000. For the 2008–09, school year the district did not apply for funding. Total funding was $443,898. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards.[70]
The district received $2,199,075 in Federal Stimulus ARRA funds in 2009–2011. This was in addition to all regular state and federal funding.[71] These dollars must be focused on programs to improve the academic achievement of students receiving free and reduced lunch or special education students. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,147 students qualified for free or reduced lunch due to low family income in 2008.[72]
Wilkinsburg Borough School District Administration did not apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, for the School Improvement Grant for 2009–10.[73] Wilkinsburg Borough was eligible for funding due to its student achievement ranking among the lowest performing schools in the state.
In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal department of education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were dispersed via a competitive grant program.[74] The Pennsylvania Department of Education identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest achieving," making them eligible for this special funding.[75] Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart – close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve firing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day.[76]
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district millions in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[77] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success.[78] In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.[79] 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.[80]
The Wilkinsburg Borough School Board participated 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.[81] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement any of the recommended cost savings changes. The study found that adopting a wider shared services approach would save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. It proposed a greater use of intermediate unit No. 3 to control costs for a wide variety of student services.
The school board set property tax rates in 2010–2011 at 35.0000 mills.[82] 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.[83]
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.[84]
The School District Adjusted Index for the Wilkinsburg Borough School District 2006–2007 through 2010–2011.[85]
Wilkinsburg Borough School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009–10 or in 2010–11.[86][87] 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.[88]
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Wilkinsburg Borough School District was $301 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 1,943 property owners applied for the tax relief.[89] 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 60% of property owners applied for tax relief in Allegheny County.[90] In Allegheny County, the highest property tax relief in 2009 was awarded to the approved property owners in Duquesne City School District at $346. 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.[91] This was the second year Chester Upland School District was the top recipient.
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%).[92]
Wilkinburg Borough School District enrollment is declining and is projected to decline another 300 students by 2019.[93] Over the next 10 years, 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).[94] As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools continue to rise.[95] In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Fiscal Responsibility Task Force released a report which found that consolidating school district administrations with one neighboring district, would save the Commonwealth $1.2 billion dollars without forcing the consolidation of any schools.[96]
In 2009, a plan was offered by locally prominent citizen, David Wassel, that called for consolidating local school districts in an effort to create more cost-effective, economically competitive and efficient governmental bodies. In the plan, Wilkinsburg Borough School District would consolidate with neighboring Penn Hills School District.[97]
The Commonwealth of 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.[98] This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.[99] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.[100]
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports.
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.[101]
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