Western Beaver County School District

Western Beaver County School District
Address
343 Ridgemont Drive
Midland, Pennsylvania, Beaver County, 15059
United States
Information
Type Public
Established 1963
Closed Snyder Elementary School (2011)
Superintendent Robert Postupac , M.Ed ($101,920 in 2010)
School number (724) 643-9310, ext. 1006
Principal Steve Wellendorf, HS
Principal Gabe Engel, ES
Head teacher Karin Pilarski, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction
Grades Preschool-12th grade
Age 4 years old to 21 years old
Enrollment 769 (2009–10)[1]
 • Kindergarten 57
 • Grade 1 53
 • Grade 2 49
 • Grade 3 49
 • Grade 4 47
 • Grade 5 55
 • Grade 6 62
 • Grade 7 59
 • Grade 8 67
 • Grade 9 54
 • Grade 10 72
 • Grade 11 57
 • Grade 12 64
 • Other Enrollment projected to be 500 in 2019[2]
Budget 2011-12: $11,465,563.00
Tuition for nonresident and charter school students ES - $8,947.39, HS - $12,168.72[3]
Website www.westernbeaver.org

The Western Beaver County School District is a diminutive, rural, public school district serving the boroughs of Industry, Pennsylvania, Glasgow, Pennsylvania and Ohioville, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 34.5 square miles (89 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 5,743. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $18,006, while the median family income was $46,433.[4] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[5] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[6] According to school district administrative officials, during the 2009-10 school year, the district provided basic educational services to 806 pupils through the employment of 8 administrators, 73 teachers, and 63 full-time and part-time support personnel. The district's staff is includes a librarian, a library aide, two reading specialists, a gifted coordinator and gifted support teacher, 15 teachers' aides, and a technology coordinator. The average teacher to student ratio is 1:16. Special education was provided by the district and the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27. Occupational training and adult education in various vocational and technical fields were provided by the district and the Beaver County Area Vocational-Technical School.

The district operates two schools: Western Beaver Junior-Seniorr High School (6th grade through 12th grade) and Fairview Elementary School (Preschool through 5th grade).

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four-year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[7] 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.[8]

Academic achievement

Western Beaver County School District was ranked 167th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012.[9] The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science.[10]

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times (PBT) also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Western Beaver County School District ranked 68th. In 2011, the district was 81st.[14] The editor 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-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[15]

Western Pennsylvania region ranking by PBT

(includes 104 districts in: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties excludes Duquesne City SD Midland Borough SD due to no high school)

Western Beaver County School District achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2011.[16] In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania Public School Districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act AYP progress level. In 2011, just 46.9% of Pennsylvania public school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance (72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math). An additional 37.8% of Pennsylvania public school districts achieved AYP recognition based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Western Beaver County School District was in the 57th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)[17]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the Western Beaver County School District graduation rate was 96%.[18] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. High School's rate was % for 2010.[19]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

Junior Senior High School

Western Beaver County Junior Senior High School is located at 216 Engle Road, Industry. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 381 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 137 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 37 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 10:1.[24] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 13 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind Act.[25]

In 2012, Western Beaver County Senior High School's 11th grade ranked 63rd out of 104 high schools in the western Pennsylvania region. In 2011, Western Beaver County High School 11th grade ranked 62nd. In 2010, Western Beaver County Senior High School's 11th grade ranked 55th out of 105 western Pennsylvania high schools based on three years of results in PSSAs on: reading, math writing and science.[26]

In 2010 and 2011, Western Beaver County Junior Senior High School achieved AYP.[27]

11th Grade Reading

11th Grade Math:

11th Grade Science:

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 32% of the Western Beaver County Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges.[37] 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.[38] 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. 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. Pennsylvania State University and University of Pittsburgh offered courses at the High School with seniors getting priority for scheduling. Students may also attend courses at Community College of Beaver County and Clarion University (online courses). The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[39] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[40] For the 2009-10 funding year, Western Beaver County School District received a state grant of $19,125 for the program.[41]

AP courses

The school offers the following AP courses through district faculty: AP Literature, AP Language, AP Government and AP Environmental Science. Students have the opportunity to take the AP Exam for each course. Students who earn a 3 or better on that exam may be awarded credits in accordance with individual college and university policies.

Regional Choice Initiative

Through the Regional Choice Initiative (a federally funded program), students have access to many additional course offerings that may be available through different Beaver County high schools, both on-site and through Interactive Video Conferencing. Students are able to participate through interactive video conferencing, full-day transfer or partial-day transfer. The program is run by Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit 27.

Online Academy

In an effort to retain students who are migrating to Pennsylvania cyber charter schools, the high school offers an online course option. Students take courses offered with flexible scheduling that includes online core coursework (social studies, math, science and English) and classroom electives. Students may complete their coursework at the school building, from home or a combination of both.

Graduation requirements

The Western Beaver County School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 24 credits to graduate, including: Math - 4 credits (Algebra 1 required), English - 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 1.5 credits, Health .5 credit and electives 6 credits which must include 1.5 technology credits.[42][43] Vo-tech students receive a math credit for vo-tech during their senior year.

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.[44] Students earn one credit toward graduation when they complete their graduation project.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.[45][46][47] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.[48] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 35 Western Beaver County School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 463. The Math average score was 481. The Writing average score was 455.[49] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[50] 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.[51]

Eighth grade

PSSA Results

8th Grade Reading

  • 2011 - 96% on grade level (2% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
  • 2010 - 71% (11% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2009 - 83% (9% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2008 - 83% (13% below basic), State - 78%[52]
  • 2007 - 82% (10% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 98% on grade level (2% below basic). State - 76.9%
  • 2010 - 84% (9% below basic). State - 75%[53]
  • 2009 - 85% (4% below basic). State - 71%[54]
  • 2008 - 80% (6% below basic). State - 70%
  • 2007 - 83% (7% below basic). State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

Seventh grade

7th Grade Reading

7th Grade Math:

Sixth grade

6th Grade Reading:

6th Grade Math:

Snyder Elementary School

The school offered 5th and sixth grades. It operated until 2011, when it was closed due to declining enrollment districtwide. The sixth grade was moved to the junior senior high building, while the 5th grade was relocated to Fairview Elementary School. In 2010, Snyder Elementary School achieved AYP status.[57]

6th Grade Reading:

6th Grade Math:

5th Grade Reading:

5th Grade Math:

Fairview Elementary School

Fairview Elementary School is located at 343 Ridgemont Drive, Midland. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 293 pupils in grades preschool through 5th, with 127 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 25 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 11:1.[59] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the school's teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[60]

In 2010 and 2011, Fairview Elementary School achieved AYP status.[61]

PSSA Results

5th Grade Reading:

5th Grade Math:

4th Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 81% (7% below basic), State – 73%
  • 2010 - 78% (9% below basic), State - 73%
  • 2009 - 74% (15% below basic), State - 72% (58 pupils)[63]
  • 2008 - 79% (7% below basic), State - 70% (69 pupils)[64]
  • 2007 - 81% (12% below basic), State - 60% (57 pupils)
4th Grade Math
  • 2011 - 93%, 65% advanced. State – 85%
  • 2010 - 95%, 75% advanced. State - 84%[65]
  • 2009 - 89%, 62% advanced. State - 81%
  • 2008 - 88% (7% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2007 - 84% (7% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science

3rd Grade Reading
  • 2011 - 89%, (9% below basic), State – 77%
  • 2010 - 72%, (11% below basic), State - 75%
  • 2009 - 91%, (7% below basic), State - 77% (56 pupils)
  • 2008 - 71%, (5% below basic), State - 70% (60 pupils)
  • 2007 - 81%, (7% below basic), State - 72% (67 pupils)
3rd Grade Math
  • 2011 - 93%, (7% below basic), State – 83%
  • 2010 - 89%, (4% below basic), State - 84%
  • 2009 - 91%, 66% advanced. State - 81%
  • 2008 - 85%, (5% below basic), State - 80%
  • 2007 - 91%, (1% below basic), State - 78%

The school offers 2 classrooms of taxpayer funded preschool for 4 year olds. The program is funded locally and through a state PreK Counts grant.

Special education

In December 2010, Western Beaver County School District administration reported that 119 pupils or 14.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 118 pupils or 14.5% of the district's pupils received state and federally funded Special Education services. Of those identified 57% had a specific learning disability. The other 43% have no disability in learning or functioning and are allowed to pass through every class with the help of Western's wonderful teacher's aids. These students will absorb very little knowledge and pass only because these aids did the work for them.[66]

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, 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 .[67] To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, 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 district's Special Education Department.[68][69]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for special education services. This funding was in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.[70] 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.[71] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[72] 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.[73]

Western Beaver County School District received a $578,197 supplement for special education services in 2010.[74] 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.[75]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 47 or 5.23% of its students were gifted in 2009.[76] 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.[77][78][79]

Enrollment

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there were less than 770 students enrolled in K-12 in 2009–10 school year at Western Beaver County School District. There were 59 students in the Class of 2009. The district's class of 2010 had 56 students. Enrollment is projected to decline to 575 students by 2020.[80] According to a report from the local intermediate unit showed that the total enrollment in all Beaver County public school districts in 1971-72 was 48,536 children. The countywide public school enrollment had declined to 25,002 children, in 2006-07.[81] In 2008, the Western Beaver County School District administration costs had risen to $1,040.22 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[82] A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard and Poor's, examined the consolidation of Western Beaver County School Administration with 2 neighboring districts: South Side Area School District and Midland Borough School District. The study found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district administration would achieve substantial local cost savings.[83]

According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by Governor Edward G. Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes.[84] 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.[85]

Beginning in 2000, many rural Pennsylvania school district's enrollment decreased by 8 percent or more.[86] As the enrollment declined, per pupil administrative costs of the schools continued to rise. In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of millions of tax dollars, by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation, with no impact on programs offered to students.[87]

In Beaver County, two small districts voluntarily merge into Central Valley School District in 2009: Monaca School District and Center Area School District. Student achievement and available programs have risen since the merger. In 2012, no public school district in Beaver County has an enrollment of 3000 pupils or more. The enrollment in the three county public charter schools has risen steadily since their founding: Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, Beaver Area Academic Charter School and Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. In 2007, Western Beaver County School District brought a lawsuit against the Midland Borough School District, in November 2006,[88] alleging that the district was owed about $260,000 for Midland Borough SD students that were attending Western Beaver County High School during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years.[89] Western Beaver County School District also accepted tuition high school students from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in 2006.

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.[90] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts like Western Beaver County School District, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.[91]

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing 91 teachers and administrators with an average salary range of $52,657 and a top salary of $101,920.[92] Teachers work 185 days with 7 hours 40 minutes per day, including a duty-free lunch and a daily preparation period. The teachers receive substantial benefit compensation, including a defined benefit pension, health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. Each year, five teachers are entitled to visit another public school district for a day without loss of pay.[93][94] In 2011, the average teacher salary in WBCSD was $51,388 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $17,168 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $68,556.[95] According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation, including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.[96]

In 2007, the district employed 73 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $45,072 for 180 days worked.[97] 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.[98]

Western Beaver County School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $1,040.22 per pupil. This ranked 46th out of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[99] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.[100]

In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $13,000 which ranked 175th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $13,587.36[101] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[102] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[103]

Reserves In 2008, Western Beaver County School District reported a balance of zero in its unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $558,102.00.[104] In 2010, Area Administration reported $404,104.00 in the unreserved-undesignated fund. Pennsylvania 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.[105]

In June 2008, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.[106]

In September 2008, the school board accepted a settlement in a lawsuit it had against Oliver Land and Timber Company for $16,000.[107]

The district was the victim of a trojan horse cyber attack in 2009 on its ESB bank account. According to District officials, its accounts had 74 unauthorized bank transfer which took $704,610 over a 4-day period. The bank restored $263,413. The District sued the bank to restore all the missing taxpayer funds.[108] The District sued the bank to recover all the stolen funds.

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.[109] In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of the individual’s personal wealth.[110]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, Western Beaver County School District received a $5,291,924 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[111][112] Additionally, the Western Beaver County School District received $61,464 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $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.[113] 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.[114] In 2010, the district reported that 330 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[115]

In the 2010–2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.21% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $5,516,944. Among the public districts in Beaver County, the highest increase went to Midland Borough School District which got a 7.57% 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.[116] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where a district received at least the same amount as the year before, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell’s policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $5,397,763. Among the districts in Beaver County, the highest increase went to Big Beaver Falls Area School District which got a 5.26%. The state Basic Education Funding to WBCSD, in 2008-09, was $5,291,924.10. Ninety Pennsylvania public school districts received a base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[117] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.[118]

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 $166,830 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide after school tutoring and intensive instruction of struggling students during the school day.[119][120]

PreK Counts grant

Western Beaver County School District receives state funding to provide preschool at Fairview Elementary School. For the 2011 school year, Pre-K Counts was funded at the 2010 levels of $83.6 million statewide in Gov. Tom Corbett`s proposed budget,. The state also supplements the federal Head Start preschool program with an additional $37.6 million. Pre-K Counts funding was initiated during the Rendell administration. In 2007-08 the state funded Pre-K Counts at $75 million. School District received funding in 2007-08.[121] In 2009-10 the district received $209,350 to provide preschool to 52 children.[122][123]

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 to 2009. Western Beaver County School District did not apply to participate in any of the three years of the grant program.[124] In County the highest award was given to Freedom Area School District at $476,723. The highest funding state wide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Science It’s Elementary grant

Fairview Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It’s Elementary grant in 2008-09. For the 2008-09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 2,847 teachers and 66,973 students across Pennsylvania.[125] In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth’s public elementary schools. Called Science: It’s Elementary, the program is a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills.[126] To encourage schools to adopt the program’s standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training.[127] The district was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. They had to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated. The 2006-07 State Education Budget provided $635 million in new spending for pre-K through 12th grades for the 2006-07 school year. This was an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 public school funding.[128] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget.

Federal Stimulus grant

Western Beaver County School District received an extra $1.3 million in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[129] The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010–11 school years.[130] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised 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

Western Beaver County School District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one half million dollar in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[131] 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.[132] 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.[133][134][135]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011-12 were set by the school board at 43.3000 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.[136] 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.[137] When the school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.[138] In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts.[139]

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.[145] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[146] 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.[147][148]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Western Beaver County School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.[149]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Western Beaver County School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: special education costs and teacher pension costs. For 2012–2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.[151]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Western Beaver County School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Western Beaver County 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.[152]

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.[153]

Western Beaver County School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010–2011.[154] For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.[155] 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.[156]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Western Beaver County School District was $188 per approved permanent primary residence. In the Western Beaver County School District, 1,554 residential property owners applied for the tax relief.[157] 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 Beaver County, 64% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[158] Among Beaver County public school districts, the highest amount of property tax relief goes to property owners in Big Beaver Falls Area School District who received $352 in 2010. 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.[159] Residents of Chester Upland School District have been the top recipients each year, since the program began.

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.[160]

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%).[161]

Extracurriculars

Western Beaver County School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. Any violation of the Districts Drug and Alcohol policy may result in suspension from athletics for the remainder of the season. Additionally, the District prohibits the use of anabolic steroids. The use of tobacco or tobacco products is strictly prohibited by student-athletes.[162] The District is a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics League member school and the PIAA. Students have access to taxpayer funded: Football (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Junior High), Volleyball Girls (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Junior High), Varsity Golf, Basketball: Boys and Girls (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Junior High - 7th & 8th grade teams), Baseball: (Varsity, Junior Varsity), Softball (Varsity, Junior Varsity), Track & Field Boys and Girls varsity, Cheerleading, Marching Band, Color Guard, Bowling. Western Beaver High School presented the musical Seussical in March 2012.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[163]

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  161. ↑ Tax Foundation (September 22, 2009). "New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners".
  162. ↑ Western Beaver County School Board, Student Code of Conduct, 2011
  163. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".

Coordinates: 40°41′35″N 80°28′16″W / 40.69298°N 80.47115°W