Delaware Valley School District

For the Delaware Valley School District located in New York see Sullivan West Central School

Delaware Valley School District
Address
236 Route 6 & 209 Milford, Pennsylvania, Pike 18337 United States
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"Educating for life's journey."
Superintendent	John Bell
Grades	K-12
Pupils	5037 (2012)[1]
• Kindergarten	323
• Grade 1	345
• Grade 2	320
• Grade 3	333
• Grade 4	374
• Grade 5	359
• Grade 6	371
• Grade 7	416
• Grade 8	395
• Grade 9	408
• Grade 10	410
• Grade 11	406
• Grade 12	481
• Other	Enrollment projected to be 3066 in 2020
Mascot	Warriors
Website	http://dvsd.schoolwires.net/dvsd/site/default.asp

The Delaware Valley School District is a midsized, rural, public school district located in Pike County, Pennsylvania. Delaware Valley School District encompasses approximately 191 square miles (490 km²), covering the Boroughs of Matamoras and Milford and Delaware Township, Dingman Township, Milford Township, Shohola Township and Westfall Township in Pike County, Pennsylvania. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 24,333. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $20,553, while the median family income was $51,674.^[2] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501^[3] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.^[4] According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Delaware Valley School District provided basic educational services to 5,685 pupils through the employment of 416 teachers, 241 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 25 administrators. Delaware Valley School District received more than $20.7 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

The district operates one High School, two Middle Schools and four Elementary Schools.

Schools

Elementary Schools

• Delaware Valley Elementary School (K-5th)
• Dingman Delaware Primary School (K-2nd)
• Dingman Delaware Elementary School (3rd-5th)
• Shohola Elementary School (K-6th)

Secondary schools

• Delaware Valley Middle School (6th-8th)
• Dingman Delaware Middle School (6th-8th)
• Delaware Valley High School (9th-12th)

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.^[5] 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 "D-" 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.^[6]

Academic achievement

Delaware Valley School District was ranked 56th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2012, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and science PSSAs.^[7]

• 2011 - 59th ^[8]
• 2010 - 63rd^[9]
• 2009 - 83rd
• 2008 - 88th
• 2007 - 109th out of 501 school districts.^[10]

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Delaware Valley School District improved to 58th. In 2010, the district was 92nd. 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."^[11]

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Delaware Valley School District was in the 96th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)^[12]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 96%.^[13] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Delaware Valley High School's rate was 88% for 2010.^[14]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 94%^[15]
• 2009 - 94%^[16]
• 2008 - 95%^[17]
• 2007 - 95%^[18]

High school

Delaware Valley High School is located at. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,870 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 422 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 135 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.^[19] All of the teachers were Highly Qualified Teachers under No Child Left Behind. In 2011, the school was in Warning AYP status due to lagging math achievement.^[20] In 2010, the school achieved AYP.^[21]

PSSA Results:

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 84% on grade level, (5% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[22]
• 2010 - 85% (6% below basic). State - 66%^[23]
• 2009 - 80% (7% below basic). State - 65%^[24]
• 2008 - 81% (7% below basic). State - 65%^[25]
• 2007 - 78% (8% below basic). State - 65%^[26]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 68% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[27]
• 2010 - 72% (10% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 67% (15% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 61% (20% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 70% (13% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 48% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[28]
• 2010 - 51% (7% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 48% (8% below basic). State - 40%^[29]
• 2008 - 39% (8% below basic). State - 39%

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 22% of Delaware Valley 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.^[30] 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.^[31] 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, 311 Delaware Valley High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 505. The Math average score was 508. The Writing average score was 499.^[32] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[33] 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.^[34]

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. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books^[35] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[36] For the 2009-10 funding year, the Delaware Valley School District received a state grant of $43,855 for the program.^[37]

Delaware Valley Middle School

Delaware Valley Middle School is located at 258 Route 6 And 209, Milford. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Delaware Valley Middle School had 409 pupils enrolled in grades 7th and 8th, with 100 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 31 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 13:1.^[38] In 2010 and 2011, Delaware Valley Middle School achieved AYP status.^[39]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 82% on grade level (6% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 79% (7% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 - 79% (3% below basic). State - 55%
• 2008 - 72% (7% below basic). State - 52%^[41]

Delaware Valley Elementary School

Delaware Valley Elementary School is located at 258 Route 6 And 209, Milford. Delaware Valley Elementary School had 589 pupils enrolled in grades preschool through 8th, with 171 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 40 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1.^[42] In 2010 and 2011, Delaware Valley Middle School achieved AYP status.^[43]

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 98%, 81% advanced. State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 95%, 77% advanced. State - 81%

Dingman Delaware Middle School

Dingman Delaware Middle School is located at 1365 Route 739, Dingmans Ferry. Dingman Delaware Middle School had 657 pupils enrolled in grades 6th through 8th, with 187 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 46 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1.^[45] In 2010 and 2011, Dingman Delaware Middle School achieved AYP status.^[46]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 63% on grade level (17% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 56% (21% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 - 68% (12% below basic). State - 55%
• 2008 - %, State - 52%

Dingman Delaware Elementary School

Dingman Delaware Elementary School is located at 1355 Route 739, Dingmans Ferry. Dingman Delaware Elementary School had 653 pupils enrolled in grades 3rd through 5th, with 208 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 40 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.^[48] In 2010 and 2011, Dingman Delaware Elementary School achieved AYP status.^[49]

Dingman Delaware Primary School

Dingman Delaware Primary School is located at 1375 Route 739, Dingmans Ferry. Dingman Delaware Primary School had 631 pupils enrolled in grades preschool through 2nd, with 181 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 39 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.^[50] In 2010 and 2011, Dingman Delaware Primary School is not evaluated for AYP status because of the grade levels it provides.^[51]

Shohola Elementary School

Shohola Elementary School is located at 940 Twin Lakes Road, Shohola. Shohola Elementary School had 651 pupils enrolled in grades preschool through 6th, with 132 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 45 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 14:1.^[52] In 2010 and 2011, Shohola Elementary achieved AYP status.^[53]

Special education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 760 pupils or 13.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. Fifty six percent of the identified students had a specific learning disability.^[54]

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 .^[55] 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.^[56][57]

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for 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.^[58] 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.^[59] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.^[60] 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.^[61]

The Delaware Valley School District received a $2,434,217 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[62] 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.^[63]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that less than 10 of its students were gifted in 2009.^[64] 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.^[65][66]

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing 452 teachers and 12 administrators with an average salary of $60,824 and a top salary of $210,686. The starting salary was $45,250 for 180 days.^[67] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits.^[68]

In 2007, the district employed 359 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,527 for 180 days worked.^[69] 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.^[70]

Delaware County School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $851.41 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[71] In 2009, the district reported that 20 administrators earned $100,000 or more with the superintendent earning over $200,000.^[72] 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.^[73]

In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,424 which ranked 349th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $12,372.21.^[74] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.^[75] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.^[76]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported a balance of $7,430,539. in an unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as zero.^[77] In 2010, Delaware Valley Area Administration reported an increase to $9,051,568.00 in the unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance remained zero. 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.^[78]

In August 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.^[79]

In June 2011, the district developed a mandatory summer school for students with low grades at an estimated cost of $175,000. Enrollment was anticipated to be 200 students. At the end of the school year, only 26 children met the grading criteria for the new program. The district expects to pay between $35,000 and $40,000, or some $1500 per student for the five-week program, for materials, transportation and teacher salaries.^[80][81]

The district is funded by a combination of: a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of the individual’s personal wealth.^[82]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $13,100,420, allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.^[83][84] Additionally, the School District received $278,027 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.^[85] 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.^[86] In 2010, the district reported that 1,296 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.^[87]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.03% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $13,466,578. 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.^[88] 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 receives was set by Governor Edward G. 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 the Governor’s policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided an 8.50% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $13,466,574. Among the districts in Pike County, the highest increase went to Southeastern Greene School District which got a 6.92%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $11,374,795.40. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.^[89] The amount of increase each school district receives was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.^[90] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,091 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[91]

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 $754,634 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten and an to pay teacher coaches to instruct teachers in their teaching techniques.^[92][93]

PreK Counts grant

Wilkinsburg School District receives state funding to provide preschool at the elementary schools. 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. Delaware Valley School District received funding in 2007-08.^[94] In 2009-10 the district received $209,350 from the state, to provide preschool to 52 children.^[95][96]

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. Delaware Valley School District was denied funding by the Department of Education, in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $548,545. The district received $99,595 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $648,140.^[97] The highest funding statewide 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.

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $4,515,609 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.^[98] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.^[99] 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

District officials did not apply 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.^[100] 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.^[101] 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.^{[102][103][104]}

Common Cents state initiative

The 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.^[105] 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 100.8700 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.^[106] 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.^[107]

• 2010-11 - 100.8700 mills^[108]
• 2009-10 - 100.8700 mills.^[109]
• 2008-09 - 100.8700 mills.^[110]
• 2007-08 - 100.8700 mills.^[111]
• 2006-07 - 98.9000 mills.^[112]
• 2005-06 - 94.2000 mills.^[113]

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.^[114] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.^[115] 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.^[116][117]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Delaware Valley School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.^[118]

• 2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 6.1%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.6%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.3%, Base 1.7%^[119]

For the 2011-12 school year, the School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the 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.^[120]

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.^[121]

The Delaware Valley School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.^[122] For 2009-10 school budget, the Delaware Valley School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.^[123] 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.^[124]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the School District was $363 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 8,236 property owners applied for the tax relief.^[125] 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.^[126] 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.^[127] Thdistrict has been the top recipient 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.^[128]

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%).^[129]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.^[130][131]

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.^{[132][133][134]}

References