Mahanoy Area School District

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Mahanoy Area School District
Map of Schuylkill County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Address
1 Golden Bear Drive
Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill 17948
United States
Information
Type Public
School board 9 elected members
Superintendent Joie Green[1]
Principal Tom Smith
Principal Mike Heater
Principal Susan Scheeler
Staff 95 non teaching staff members
Faculty 98 teachers (2011)[2]
Grades K-12
Enrollment 1,051 pupils (2012), 1,098 pupils (2010-11), 1082 (2009-10)[3]
 • Kindergarten 82
 • Grade 1 84
 • Grade 2 88
 • Grade 3 81
 • Grade 4 88
 • Grade 5 92
 • Grade 6 70
 • Grade 7 88
 • Grade 8 88
 • Grade 9 88
 • Grade 10 84
 • Grade 11 78
 • Grade 12 68
 • Other a decline in enrollment is projected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Mascot Golden bear
Rival Shenandoah Valley
Budget $16,603,208 (2013-14)[4]

$14,727,319 (2011-12)
$15,762,527 (2010-11)
$15,217,131 (2009-10)

$13,995,477 (2008-09)
Website http://www.mabears.net/

The Mahanoy Area School District is a small, rural public school district in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It serves the municipalities of Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Delano Township, Ryan Township, and Gilberton. Mahanoy Area School District encompasses approximately 53 square miles (140 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, the district serves a resident population of 8,939 people. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $15,472, while the median family income was $35,759.[5] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[6] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[7] In 2007-08 school year, the school district served 1,122 pupils and employed 105 teachers, 72 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators.

Mahanoy Area School District operates one elementary school (K-4), one middle school(5-8), and one high school (9-12).

Governance

Mahanoy Area School District is governed by nine elected board members who each serve four-year terms, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[8] The federal government controls programs it funds, such as Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2010, 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.[9]

Academic achievement

Mahanoy Area School District was ranked 444th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2013, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic achievement on the PSSA in reading, writing, math and science.[10] The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

  • 2012 - 412th
  • 2011 - 390th
  • 2010 - 376th[11]
  • 2009 - 379th
  • 2008 - 419th
  • 2007 - 398th of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania.[12]
Overachievers ranking

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Mahanoy Area ranked 34th. The newspaper says the 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."[13]

In 2009 the academic achievement of the students in the Mahanoy Area School District was in the 28th percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale.[14]

Lowest achieving school

In July 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying a Mahanoy Area School District school as among the lowest achieving schools for reading and mathematics in 2012. Mahanoy Area High School was among the 15% lowest achieving schools in the Commonwealth. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another local public school district, charter school or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.[15] The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Two nonpublic, Schuylkill County schools can accept the students: Trinity Academy and St. Jerome Regional School.[16] By law, Mahannoy Area School District must provide free transportation to any school within 10 miles of the district's attendance boundary. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.[17] According to the report, parents in 414 public schools (74 school districts) were offered access to these scholarships. For the 2012-13 school year, eight public school districts in Pennsylvania had all of their schools placed on the list including: Sto-Rox School District, Chester Upland School District, Clairton City School District, Duquesne City School District, Farrell Area School District, Wilkinsburg Borough School District, William Penn School District and Steelton-Highspire School District.[18] Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state tax credit for donating.

District AYP status history

In 2012, Mahanoy Area School District declined to Warning AYP status, due to a low graduation rate and lagging student academic achievement.[19] In 2011, Mahanoy Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP 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.[20] Mahanoy Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the District was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.[21]

Graduation rate

In 2012, Mahanoy Area School District's graduation rate declined to 76%. In 2011, the District's graduation rate was 89%.[22] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Mahanoy High School's rate was 81% for 2010.[23]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

High school

Mahanoy Area High School is located at 1 Golden Bear Drive, Mahanoy City. In 2011, the high school enrolled 299 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 148 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The School is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 32 teachers with a student to teacher ratio of 9:1.[28] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[29]

In 2012, Mahanoy Area High School declined further to School Improvement level I, due to a declining graduation rate and chronic, low student academic achievement in reading and mathematics. The school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.[30] According to No Child Left Behind Title I schools that are identified for school improvement are required to offer parents of children attending the school the option to transfer to any other public school within the school district that is NOT identified for school improvement. Mahanoy Area High School missed every academic metric in 2012. In 2011, the school declined to Warning status due to chronic low student achievement in mathematics. In 2010, the School achieved Adequate Yearly Progess status.[31] From 2004 to 2010, Mahanoy Area High School achieved AYP status each year typically under special modification.

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
  • 2012 - 51% on grade level, (25% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[32]
  • 2011 - 73% (14% below basic). State - 69.1% [33]
  • 2010 - 57% (27% below basic). State - 66% [34]
  • 2009 - 60%. State - 65% [35]
  • 2008 - 58%. State - 65% [36]

In order to advance reading achievement Mahanoy Area High School requires all high school students to read two novels during the summer months. The specific books are mandated. An assessment is done at the beginning of the school year that is based on the books.[37]

11th Grade Math
  • 2012 - 29% on grade level (44% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[38]
  • 2011 - 46% (27% below basic). State - 60.3% [39]
  • 2010 - 47% (29% below basic). State - 59%[40]
  • 2009 - 58%. State - 56%[41]
  • 2008 - 34%. State - 56%[42]
11th Grade Science:
  • 2012 - 30% (16% below basic). State - 42%[43]
  • 2011 - 30% (14% below basic). State - 40%[44]
  • 2010 - 32% (27% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 30%, State - 40%
  • 2008 - 23%, State - 39%

Science in Motion Mahanoy Area High School did not take advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate.[45] Susquehanna University provided the enrichment experiences to schools in the region.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 23% of Mahanoy Area 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.[46]

Dual enrollment

Mahanoy Area 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. Mahanoy Area School District works with Lehigh Carbon Community College to provide the course opportunities. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.[47] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[48] Under state rules, other students that reside in the district, who attend a private school, a charter school or are homeschooled are eligible to participate in this program.[49] In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.

For the 2009-10 funding year, the Mahanory Area School District received a state grant of $4,139 for the program.[50]

SAT scores

In 2012, 56 Mahanoy Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 447. The Math average score was 451. The Writing average score was 436. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 51 Mahanoy Area High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 435. The Math average score was 457. The Writing average score was 425.[51]

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. The Mahanoy Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 26 credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education/health 1.5 credits, Technology/Business 2.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and electives 6 credits.[52] Effective with the class of 2015 graduation requires earning 28 credits. All students are required to take a personal finance course in 11th grade.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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.[53] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.[54]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.[55] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate.[56][57] For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements.[58] 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.[59] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

Middle school

Mahanoy Area Middle School is located at 1 Golden Bear Drive, Mahanoy City. In 2010, the School had 336 students in grades 5th through 8th, with 201 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. Mahanoy Area Middle School employed 31 teachers yielding a student to teacher ratio of 11:1.[60] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[61]

In 2012, Mahanoy Area Middle School achieved AYP status even though it missed all the metrics measured in both reading and math. In 2011, the school declined to Warning status due to lagging student achievement in reading and math.[62] In 2010, the school achieved AYP, while in 2009 it was in Warning status.

PSSA Results
8th Grade Science:
  • 2012 - 56% (22% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2011 - 55% (23% below basic). State – 58.3%
  • 2010 - 59% (16% below basic). State - 57%
  • 2009 - 52%, State - 55%
  • 2008 - 76%, State - 52%[66]

Elementary School

Mahanoy Area Elementary School is located at 1 Golden Bear Drive, Mahanoy City. In2010, the school had 418 students in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 271 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. Mahanoy Area Elementary School is a Title I school. The school employed 34 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12:1.[67]

In 2012, Mahanoy Area Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to missing all metrics in reading. In 2011, the school achieved "AYP" status[68]

4th Grade Science:
  • 2012 - 85% (2% below basic). State - 82%
  • 2011 - 92% (2% below basic). State – 82.9
  • 2010 - 90% (4% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2009 - 93%, State - 83%
  • 2008 - 89%, State - 81%

Special education

In December 2012, Mahanoy Area School District reported that 228 pupils or 22% of the District's pupils received Special Education services, with just 45% of identified students having a specific learning disability. In 2009, the Administration reported that 237 pupils or 22% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[77] The District works with Schuylkill Intermediate Unit to provide a wide variety of services to exceptional children.[78]

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.[79] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. 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.[80] Over identification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts reported that more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.[81] The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[82] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that public schools, including Mahanoy Area School District, include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.[83]

Mahanoy Area School District received a $796,349 supplement for special education services in 2010.[84] For the 2011-12, 2012–13 and 2013-14 school years, 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.[85][86] Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.

Gifted education

Mahanoy Area School District Administration reported that 16 (1.52%) of its students were identified as gifted in 2009.[87] The highest percentage of gifted students reported, among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania, was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted.[88] Mahanoy Area School District must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels in compliance with Pennsylvania School Code. 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.[89][90]

Wellness policy

Mahanoy Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006.[91] 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." Most Pennsylvania school districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[92]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[93] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Mahanoy Area School District offers a universal free school breakfast and free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[94] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[95] Mahanoy Area School District also provides a summer meal program to needy children in the District. The lunch meals are served at the middle school, elementary schools and six local parks. In 2007, the District was recognized by the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center as a Star Performer for its aggressive efforts to combat student hunger and efforts to control the foods children consume.[96]

In May 2013, Mahanoy Area School Board raised student lunch and a la carte prices by 25 cents per meal, of which 10 cents is required by the federal Healthy-Hunger Free Kids Act. Breakfasts will remain free to all children regardless of eligibility to pay while adults are charged $1.75.

In 2010, Mahanoy Area School District set limits on the nature and size of snacks provided to students, by parents and groups during the school day.[97]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[98]

Mahanoy Area School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[99]

Highmark Healthy High 5 grant

In 2011, the Mahanoy Area School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Mahanoy Area Middle School received $3,500 which was used to implement SPARK into the 5th-8th grade curriculum.[100] Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.

Mahanoy Area School District participated in Highmark Healthy High 5 Health eTools for Schools which enabled mobile data collection of health and physical fitness screening data on students K-12 in a database held by InnerLink, Inc. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Health eTools for Schools also provided interdisciplinary research-based curriculum in nutrition, physical education and physical activity to participating districts. The program was discontinued in 2013.[101]

Budget

Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1.

Under Pennsylvania’s Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.[102]

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Mahanoy Area School District was $45,629 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $16,112 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $60,328.[103] The District reported employing 108 teachers and administrators with the top salary of $100,000.

In 2009, Mahanoy Area School Administration reported employing over 100 teachers with a beginning salary of $34,000.[104] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.[105]

Mahanoy Area School District administrative costs was $816.96 per pupil in 2008. This was in the top 20% of administrative spending among the 500 public school districts in the Commonwealth.[106]

Per pupil spending In 2008, Mahanoy Area School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $13,105 which ranked 170th among Pennsylvania's then 501 public school districts. In 2010, the Mahanoy Area School District’s per pupil spending had increased to $17,527.71 which was 48th in the Commonwealth.[107] In 2011, on the whole, Pennsylvania’s per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th among the 50 states in the United States of America and the District of Columbia.[108] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.[109] The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.[110]

Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[111] Pennsylvania’s total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.[112]

Tuition Students who live in the Mahanoy Area District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Mahanoy Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the Mahanoy Area District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $9,274.32, High School - $9,757.33.[113]

Reserves In 2008, the Mahanoy Area School District reported a balance of $1,812,800 in its unreserved-undesignated fund. The unreserved-designated fund balance was reported as zero. [114] In 2010, Mahanoy Area School District Administration reported an increase to $3,177,895 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The District also reported zero in its unreserved-designated fund in 2010. By 2012, Mahanoy Area School District held $4,198,342 in reserves. Pennsylvania public 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.[115] By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.[116]

Audits In June 2013, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the Mahanoy Area School District. The Findings were reported to the Mahanoy Area School Board and district administration.[117]

Mahanoy Area District is funded by a combination of local earned income tax 0.5%, property tax, real estate transfer tax 0.5%, occupation tax $130, Occupational privilege tax $5, and an Amusement tax of 5 percent, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[118] Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the District. 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.[119] The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds local public schools.[120]

State basic education funding

For the 2013-14 school year, the Mahanoy Area School District will receive a 1.3% increase or $7,225,490 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $94,347 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Mahanoy Area School District will receive $91,156 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County, both Blue Mountain School District and Saint Clair Area School District received the highest percentage increase at 2.2%. The District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth’s budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding.[121] The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[122]

For the 2012-13 school year, Mahanoy Area School District received $7,131,143.[123] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Mahanoy Area School District received $91,157 in ABG funds. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[124] This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett’s first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

In 2011-12, Mahanoy Area School District received a $7,131,143 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[125][126] Additionally, the Mahanoy Area School District received $91,157 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 was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.[127] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.[128] In 2010, Mahanoy Area School District reported that 675 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[129]

For the 2010-11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided Mahanoy Area School District with a 2.02% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,650,469. Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County, the highest increase went to Minersville Area School District which got a 9.69% 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.[130] Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when 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 public school districts at a far greater rate than others.[131]

In the 2009-10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.16% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,498,923 to Mahanoy Area School District. Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County, the highest increase went to Shenandoah Valley School District which got a 14.50%. Ninety (90) Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.[132] 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.[133]

The state Basic Education Funding to the Mahanoy Area School District in 2008-09 was $7,131,143.35. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 660 District students received free or reduced- price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[134] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.[135][136]

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 Mahaony Area School District applied for and received $247,421 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The District used the funding to provide Full-Day Kindergarten beginning in 2004 and to provide health services to the students.[137][138] In 2009, 100% of the kindergarteners in Mahanoy Area School District attended full-day kindergarten

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. Mahanoy Area School District applied but was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08, Mahaony Area School District applied again receiving $144,611. The District received $45,413 in 2008-09.[139] Among the public school districts in Schuylkill County the highest award was given to North Schuylkill School District which received $245,673. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

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 the Mahanoy Area School District received $24,864.[140]

Other grants

Mahanoy Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell), 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal Stimulus grant

Mahanoy Area School District received an extra $2,531,639 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[141][142] On the whole the public schools in Schuylkill County received $26,249,374 from the Stimulus funds. The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[143] 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

Mahanoy Area School 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.[144] 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.[145] 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.[146][147][148]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2012-13 were set by the Mahanoy Area School Board at 44.8000 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.[149] 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 all government property (local, state and federal). 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.[150] When a Pennsylvania public 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.[151] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.[152]

  • 2012-13 - 44.8000 mills [153]
  • 2011-12 - 44.8000 mills.[154]
  • 2010-11 - 44.8000 mills.[155]
  • 2009-10 - 43.0000 mills.[156]
  • 2008-09 - 43.0000 mills.[157]
  • 2007-08 - 43.0000 mills.[158]
  • 2006-07 - 43.0000 mills.[159]
  • 2005-06 - 41.0000 mills.[160]

The average yearly property tax paid by Schuylkill County residents amounts to about 2.84% of their yearly income. Schuylkill County ranked 700th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[161] According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011.[162] 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%).[163]

Act 1 Adjusted Index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise property taxes above their annual Act 1 Index unless they either: allow Districts voters to approve the increase through a vote by referendum or they receive an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The base index for the school year is published by the PDE in the fall of each year. Each individual school district’s Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values and the personal income of district residents. Originally, Act 1 of 2006 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.[164]

In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation eliminating six of the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[165] Several 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.[166][167] The legislature also froze the payroll amount public school districts use to calculate the pension-plan exception at the 2012 payroll levels. Further increases in payroll cannot be used to raise the district’s exception for pension payments.

A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[168]

The School District Adjusted Index history for the Mahanoy Area School District:

For the 2013-14 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget year 2013-14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[172]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Mahanoy Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index for rising 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.[173]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Mahanoy Area School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: special education costs and escalating teacher pension costs. Each year, the Mahanoy Area School Board has the option of adopting either: 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index.

According to a state report, for the 2011-12 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.[174]

Mahanoy Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2010-11.[175]

For the 2009-10 school budget, the Mahanoy Area School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Index: Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue and Maintenance of Selected Revenue Sources.[176] 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.[177]

Property tax relief

In 2009, Mahanoy Area School District approved homestead properties received $180. Within the District 2,560 homesteads and farmsteads participated.[178] 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. The amount of property tax relief each Pennsylvania public school district receives is announced by the PDE in May of each year. The amount of tax relief is dependent on the total tax revenue collected on the casino slots in the previous year. Thirty five percent of the slots tax revenues are used for property tax relief. In Schuylkill County, the highest tax relief went to Schuylkill Haven School District which was set at $195.[179] The highest property tax relief provided, among Pennsylvania school districts, goes to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District in Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.[180] Within Schuylkill County 39,553 properties sought property tax relief through this program.[181]

Extracurriculars

The District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA). Mahanoy Area School District is within PIAA District 11.

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.[182]

Sports

The District funds:

Middle School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [183]

References

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  3. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and Projections by School District January 2009
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  21. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania District AYP History 2003-2010, 2011
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  81. ↑ Kintisch, Baruch., Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, Education Law Center, November 11, 2011
  82. ↑ Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary, Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, Pennsylvania Department of Education, November 11, 2011
  83. ↑ US Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education Clarifies Schools' Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics, January 25, 2013
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  158. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, 2008
  159. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, 2006
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  171. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2013-2014 School District Adjusted Index, May 2012
  172. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2013-2014, April 2013
  173. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2012-2013, March 30, 2012
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  180. ↑ Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report, May 1, 2009
  181. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, Special Report Pennsylvania Property Tax Relief, February 23, 2010
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  183. ↑ Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association, PIAA School Directory, 2013
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