Glendale School District (Pennsylvania)

Glendale School District
Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts
Address
1466 Beaver Valley Road Flinton, Pennsylvania, Clearfield County and Cambria County, 16640 United States
Information
Type	Public
School board	9 elected members
Superintendent	Mr. Nandonley
Principal	Mr. Walstrom (Jr.-Sr. High School)
Principal	Mr. DiSabato (Elementary School)
Asst. Principal	Mr. Stackhouse (Jr.-Sr. High School)
Grades	K-12
Age	5 years old to 21 years old for special education
Pupils	809 pupils in 2011 [1]
• Kindergarten	68
• Grade 1	52
• Grade 2	59
• Grade 3	62
• Grade 4	61
• Grade 5	59
• Grade 6	61
• Grade 7	60
• Grade 8	73
• Grade 9	69
• Grade 10	63
• Grade 11	53
• Grade 12	69
• Other	Enrollment projected to decline by over 100 students to 723 by 2020.
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Team name	Vikings
Budget	$11,650,153 in 2012-13 [2]
Website	Glendale School District

The Glendale School District is a diminutive, rural, public school district in Flinton, Cambria County, Pennsylvania and Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It serves Irvona Boro, Coalport Boro, and Beccaria Township in Clearfield County, and Reade Township and White Township in Cambria County. Glendale School District encompasses approximately 60 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 5,582. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $12,955, while the median family income was $32,764.^[3] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 ^[4] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.^[5] Per school district officials, in school year 2005-06 the Glendale School District provided basic educational services to 866 pupils through the employment of 77 teachers, 48 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 6 administrators. Glendale School District received more than $6.7 million in state funding in school year 2005-06. All of the students (K-12) attend school in the same building.

Schools

The district operates one Jr./Sr. High School and one Elementary School

• Glendale Junior/Senior High School
• Glendale Elementary

Governance

The Grendale 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.^[6] 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 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 "F" 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.^[7]

Academic achievement

Glendale School District was ranked 413th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The annual ranking is based on five years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for math, reading, writing and three years of science.^[8]

• 2010 - 459th ^[9]
• 2009 - 454th
• 2008 - 461st
• 2007 - 460th of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts.^[10]

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of the Glendale School District was in the 9th percentile of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best) ^[11]

Graduation rate

In 2011, Glendale School District's graduation rate was 90%.^[12] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Glendale School District's rate was 91% for 2010.^[13]

• 2010 - 91% ^[14]
• 2009 - 93% ^[15]
• 2008 - 90% ^[16]
• 2007 - 90% ^[17]

High school

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status.^[18] In 2009, the school was in Warning status under No Child Left Behind Act.^[19]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 73% on grade level, (16% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[20]
• 2010 - 63% (21% below basic). State - 66% ^[21]
• 2009 - 65% (13% below basic), State - 65% ^[22]
• 2008 - 57% (24% below basic), State - 65% ^[23]
• 2007 - 57% (22% below basic), State - 65% ^[24]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 65% on grade level (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 61% (19% below basic). State - 59% ^[25]
• 2009 - 43% (35% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 47% (23% below basic), State - 56%
• 2007 - 45% (28% below basic), State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 54% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[26]
• 2010 - 43% (9% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 42% (13% below basic). State - 40% ^[27]
• 2008 - 27%, State - 39%

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 10% of Glendale 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.^[28] Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduates in three years.^[29] 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.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 37 Glendale students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 474. The Math average score was 482. The Writing average score was 444.^[30] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[31] In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.^[32]

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. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. Mount Aloysius College and Penn Highlands Community College are open to the students. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[33] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities must accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[34] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,628 for the program.

Graduation requirements

The Glendale School Board has determined that a high school student must earn 24.50 credits in order to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, combined 7 credits in Mathematics and Science, Physical Education and Health 2 credits, Arts and Humanities 2 credits and 8.2 elective credits.^[35] Students must take a course in Environmental Science and Computer Science.

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.^[36]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores count for at least one-third of the final course grade.^[37][38]

Eighth Grade

8th Grade Reading: 2011 - 88% on grade level (3% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level. 2010 - 89% (2% below basic). State - 81% 2009 - 68% (15% below basic). State - 80% 2008 - 81% (9% below basic). State - 78% [39] 2007 - 76% (8% below basic). State - 75%

8th Grade Math: 2011 - 88% on grade level (3% below basic). State - 76.9% 2010 - 95% (2% below basic). State - 75% [40] 2009 - 59% (26% below basic), State - 71% [41] 2008 - 73% (12% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 62% (16% below basic), State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 56% on grade level (14% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 63% (18% below basic). State - 57% ^[42]
• 2009 - 40% (31% below basic), State - 55% ^[43]
• 2008 - 61%, State - 52% ^[44]

Seventh Grade

7th Grade Reading: 2011 - 63% on grade level (19% below basic). State – 76% 2010 - 72% (9% below basic). State - 73% 2009 - 82% (0% below basic), State - 71% 2008 - 56% (21% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 59% (19% below basic), State - 67%

7th Grade Math: 2011 - 87% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 78.6% 2010 - 91% (2% below basic). State - 77% 2009 - 93% (2% below basic), State - 75% 2008 - 78% (10% below basic), State - 71% 2007 - 70% (16% below basic), State - 67%

Elementary School

In 2011 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status.^[45] In 2009, the school was in Warning Status due to low student achievement.^[46] The attendance rate was 95% in 2010 while it was 94% in 2011.^[47]

6th Grade Reading: 2011 - 78% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level.[48] 2010 - 48% (29% below basic). State - 68% [49] 2009 - 56% (12% below basic). State - 67% 2008 - 69% (7% below basic). State - 67% 2007 - 43% (21% below basic). State - 63%

6th Grade Math: 2011 - 87% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 78.8% 2010 - 75% (11% below basic). State - 78% 2009 - 77% (6% below basic). State - 75% 2008 - 84% (9% below basic). State - 72% 2007 - 67% (14% below basic). State - 69%

5th Grade Reading: 2011 - 60% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 67.3% 2010 - 66% (11% below basic). State - 64% 2009 - 41% (32% below basic), State - 64% 2008 - 52% (27% below basic), State - 62% 2007 - 69% (14% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math: 2011 - 70% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 74% 2010 - 78% (9% below basic). State - 74% 2009 - 56% (24% below basic). State - 73% 2008 - 75% (4% below basic). State - 73% 2007 - 74% (9% below basic). State - 71%

4th Grade Reading 2011 - 70% (15% below basic), State – 73.3% 2010 - 68% (17% below basic), State - 73% 2009 - 65% (13% below basic), State - 72% 2008 - 53% (23% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 64% (16% below basic), State - 60%

4th Grade Math 2011 - 85% (5% below basic), State – 85.3% 2010 - 72% (13% below basic), State - 84% 2009 - 75% (12% below basic), State - 81% 2008 - 58% (21% below basic), State - 80% 2007 - 64% (14% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 89%, (2% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 85%, (5% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 89%, (2% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 75%, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading; 2011 - 70%, (20% below basic), State – 77% 2010 - 78%, (12% below basic), State - 75% 2009 - 67%, (18% below basic), State - 77% 2008 - 66%, (8% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 50%, (27% below basic), State - 72%

3rd Grade Math 2011 - 80%, (8% below basic), State – 83% 2010 - 90%, (0% below basic), State - 84% 2009 - 72%, (8% below basic), State - 81% 2008 - 78%, (6% below basic), State - 80% 2007 - 54%, (11% below basic), State - 78%

Special education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 169 pupils or 20% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.^[50][51]

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.^[52] The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs.^[53] The state requires each district to have a three year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.^[54] Overidentification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.^[55]

Glendale School District received a $511,038 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[56] For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. 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.^[57]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 42 or 4.82% of its students were gifted in 2009.^[58] 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.^[59]

Wellness policy

Glendale School Board established a districtwide wellness policy in 2007 - Policy 246.^[60] 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 Superintendent annually reports to the Board on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness. The district also established a Wellness Advisory Board.

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.^[61] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing 80 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $29,480 to $104,000.^[62] The average teacher salary was $47,545 in 2009.^[63]

In 2007, the district employed 65 teachers and the average teacher salary in the district was $41,233 for 180 days worked.^[64]

In 2008, per pupil spending at Glendale School District was $12,321 for each child. This ranked 239th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts.^[65] In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $18,436.98 which ranked 27th in the state.^[66] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.^[67] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.^[68]

Glendale School District administrative costs was $973.88 per pupil in 2008. This ranked 69th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[69]

Reserves - In 2008, the Glendale School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $988,631.^[70] In 2010, the District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $873,000 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $977,839. PA school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.^[71]

In January 2011, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit on the district. Multiple serious findings were reported to the school board and administration. The auditors noted several violations of state law, including entering into contracts without board approval. Teachers had certification deficiencies. On October 5, 2007, the superintendent, elementary principal, and secondary principal each received $5,750 stipend as a site administrator. At the time of audit, the grant education contact person from the US DOE stated to the auditor that no stipends were to be paid from grant funds since the site coordinators were District employees that were performing these duties during their standard work day. Additionally, the stipends were not listed on the program budget.^[72]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned 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 provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Both pension income and Social Security income are both exempted from state income tax and local income tax regardless of the level of income.^[73]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, Glendale School District received a $5,284,420 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.^[74][75] Additionally, the School District received $69,737 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.^[76] 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.^[77] In 2010, the district reported that 421 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.^[78]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.04% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $5,539,075.91. Among the districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Dubois Area School District which got a 7.76% 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.^[79]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.82% increase in Basic Education Funding to Glendale School District, for a total of $5,539,076. Among the districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District which got a 5.57% increase. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $5,284,419.83. Ninety Pennsylvania public school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding, in 2009.^[80] The amount of increase each school district received was set by the Governor Edward G. Rendell and Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given in February.^[81] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 403 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[82]

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 $189,283 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten.^[83][84]

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. Glendale School District applied to participate in 2006-07 and in 2007-08. It was denied funding both years. The district received $17,975 in 2008-09.^[85]

Education Assistance grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11, Glendale School District received $22,620.^[86]

Federal Stimulus grant

Glendale School District received an extra $2.5 million in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used to cover the interest costs for planned building improvements. Eligibility was based on district need, considering in part the number of children eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. Statewide, 46 districts received a total of more than $600 million to help with 101 building projects.^[87]

Glendale School District also received $1,830,443 in stimulus money for use in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.^[88] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.^[89] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly warned to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.

Race to the Top grant

Glendale School District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.^[90] 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.^[91] 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.^[92][93][94]

Technology grant

In 2010, the district was eligible for a federal Enhancing Education through Technology grant.^[95] The district did not apply for the funding.^[96]

Common Cents state initiative

Glendale School Board elected 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.^[97] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011-12 were set by the school board at 59.8100 mills for residents in Cambria County and 59.8100 mills for residents in Clearfield County. 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.^[98] 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.^[99] The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.^[100] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts.^[101]

• 2010-11 - 60.0000 mills for residents in Cambria County and 83.0300 mills for residents in Clearfield County.^[102]
• 2009-10 - 57.4900 mills for residents in Cambria County and 79.8300 mills for residents in Clearfield County.^[103]
• 2008-09 - 56.6400 mills for residents in Cambria County and 87.2300 mills for residents in Clearfield County.^[104]
• 2007-08 - 56.6400 mills for residents in Cambria County and 87.2300 mills for residents in Clearfield County.^[105]

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 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.^[106] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.^[107] The following exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school’s share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.^[108][109]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Glendale School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.^[110]

• 2006-07 - 5.9%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 5.1%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 6.7%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 6.2%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 4.4%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.6%, Base 1.7% ^[111]

For the 2011-12 school year, Glendale School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Glendale 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.^[112]

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.^[113]

Glendale School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.^[114] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.^[115] 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.^[116]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Glendale School District was not reported to the state. The district received $313,700.59 to provide tax relief to property owners.^[117] The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Cambria County, 54.33% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief, in 2009. In Clearfield County, 70.82% property owners applied.^[118] The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead.^[119] Chester Upland School District has been the top recipient every year since the inception of the program.

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, individual with income much 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.^[120]

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%).^[121]

Enrollment

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there are less than 840 students enrolled in K-12 in 2009–10 school year at Glendale School District. There were 67 students in the Class of 2009. The district's class of 2010 had 59 students. Enrollment is projected to decline to 680 students by 2020. <^[122] In 2008, the district administrative costs were among the highest in the state at $973.88 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[123] A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard and Poor's, examined the consolidation of Glendale School Administration with 3 neighboring districts: Cambria Heights School District, Harmony Area School District and Penn Cambria School District. The study found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings which varied by district.^[124]

According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes.^[125] Consolidation of two central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. The Governor's proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.^[126]

Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent.^[127] As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools continue to rise. In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of million by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation, with no impact on programs offered to students.^[128]

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. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.^[129] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, many stated that consolidation of administrations would save money without closing any schools.^[130]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.

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.^[131]

Clubs and activities

• Marching Band
• Jazz Band
• Academic Decathlon
• National Honor Society
• America's Pride
• Drama Club
• SADD
• Science Club
• Student Council
• Tri M
• Viking Voyager
• Varsity Club
• Yearbook

Boys Athletics

• Basketball - Class A
• Basketball - Class A
• Football - Class A
• Wrestling - Class AA

Girls Athletics

• Basketball - Class A
• Softball - Class A
• Volleyball - Class A

References

External links

• Glendale School District
• Penna. Inter-Scholastic Assn.