Pleasant Valley School District (Pennsylvania)

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For the district of the same name in Ventura County, see Pleasant Valley School District (California).
Pleasant Valley School District
Map of Monroe County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Pleasant Valley School District shown in orange
Address
One School Lane Rte. 115
Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, Monroe County 18322
United States
Information
Type Public
Closed Polk Elementary School K-3 (Closed after 2013-14 school year)
Eldred Elementary School (Closed 2010) Chestnuthill Elementary School K-4 (closed June 2013)
School board 9 locally elected members
Superintendent Dr. Carole Geary contract August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2017[1] salary $152,000.[2]
School number (570) 402-1000
Dean Mr. Matthew Triolo, HS

David J. Stefani, MS
Ms. Kelli George, IS

Ms. Valerie Rudawski, PVES
Administrator Ms Susan H Famularo, Business Manager contract July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2017[3]

Ms. Monica Kotzmann, Asst to Business Manager
Bonnie Grammes, Director of Food Services
Christopher Fisher, Asst to Superintendent salary $142,917 (2013)
Howard Drake, salary $122,458 (2013)
Lee J Lesisko, Specialist salary $113,820 (2013)
Ellen B Mc-Masters, Supervisor/Coordinator salary $106,620 (2013)
Cheryl L Caines, Supervisor/Coordinator salary $98,678 (2013)
Rocco T Seiler, salary $89,133 (2013)
Kenneth V Newman, Supervisor, salary $87,455

Kathleen M Balch, Health & Wellness Coordinator $83,200
Principal Mr Rocco Seiler, MS salary $89,133 (2013)[4]
Principal Mr John Gress, HS salary $123,317 (2013)
Principal Mr Joshua Krebs, ES salary $94,271
Principal Mr Todd Van Nortwick, IS salary $90,000
Staff 426 non teaching staff members
Faculty 427.53 teachers (2012), 456.53 teachers in 2010
Grades K-12
Age 5 years to 21 years
Pupils 5,435 pupils (2013),[5] 5,636 pupils (2010-11),[6] 5,885 pupils (2009-10),[7] 6,768 pupil (2006-07)[8]
 • Kindergarten 304 (2012),[9] 318 (2010)
 • Grade 1 336 (2012), 373
 • Grade 2 352 (2012), 375
 • Grade 3 348 (2012), 406
 • Grade 4 389 (2012), 420
 • Grade 5 386 (2012), 440
 • Grade 6 417 (2012), 441
 • Grade 7 439 (2012), 510
 • Grade 8 457 (2012), 506
 • Grade 9 471 (2012), 559
 • Grade 10 554 (2012), 548
 • Grade 11 470 (2012), 505
 • Grade 12 512 (2012), 484 (2010)
 • Other Enrollment projected to be 4,679 pupils in 2019[10]
Student to teacher ratio 12.89:1 student-teacher ratio
Language English
Mascot Bears
Budget $96,983,979 (2014-15)[11]

$95,027,112 (2013-14)[12]

$93,220,713 (2012-13)[13]
Tuition ES - $9,866.55
Per Pupil Spending $11,422 (2008)
Per Pupil Spending $14,317.35 (2010) ranks 181st out of 500 PA school districts[14]
Website http://www.pvbears.org/pvbears/site/default.asp

Pleasant Valley School District is a midsized, rural, public school district in the west end of Monroe County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The district encompasses approximately 114 square miles (300 km2) including: Chestnuthill, Eldred, Polk, and Ross Townships, as well as communities in them, such as Brodheadsville. According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 29,051. By 2010, the US Census Bureau reported the District's population increased to 33,891 people.[15] In 2009, the District residents’ per capita income was $19,853, while the median family income was $51,433.[16] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501[17] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.[18] The educational attainment levels for the School District population (25 years old and over) were 89.5% high school graduates and 17.9% college graduates.[19]

According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Pleasant Valley School District (PVSD) provided basic educational services to 6,621 pupils through the employment of 498 teachers, 508 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 31 administrators. Pleasant Valley School District received more than $31.5 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.[20] In school year 2009-10, Pleasant Valley School District provided basic educational services to 5,987 pupils. It employed: 468 teachers, 718 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 32 administrators. PVSD received more than $37.0 million in state funding in school year 2009-10.

Schools

The District operates four schools.

High school students may choose to attend Monroe Career & Tech Institute for training. The Colonial Intermediate Unit IU20 provides the District with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

Governance

Pleasant Valley 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.[21] 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 Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board. The School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the Superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.[22]

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "B-" 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.[23]

Academic achievement

In 2014, Pleasant Valley School District ranked 285th out of 496 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[24] The ranking is based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school.[25] Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.

  • 2013 - 316th[26]
  • 2012 - 315th[27]
  • 2011 - 362nd[28]
  • 2010 - 367th[29]
  • 2009 - 392nd
  • 2008 - 377th
  • 2007 - 362nd out of 501 school districts.[30]

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Pleasant Valley School District ranked 414th. 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."[31]

  • 2011 - 446th
  • 2010 - 456th

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of School District was in the lower 35th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)[32]

District AYP status history

In 2012, Pleasant Valley School District declined to Warning AYP status due to declining student achievement at the high school, the middle school and the elementary school.[33] In 2011, Pleasant Valley 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.[34][35] Pleasant Valley School District achieved AYP status each year from 2006 to 2010.[36]

  • 2005 - Maling Progress in School Improvement Status
  • 2004 - declined to School Improvement Status
  • 2003 - Warning status due to lagging student achievement.

Graduation rate

In 2013, Pleasant Valley School District’s graduation rate was 85.7%. In 2012, the District’s graduation rate was 86%.[37] In 2011, the graduation rate was 93%.[38] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Pleasant Valley High School's rate was 78% for 2010.[39]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

High school

Pleasant Valley High School is located at Route 209, Brodheadsville. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 2,001 pupils in 9th through 12th grades, with 38% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 15.79% of pupils received special education services, while 6.45% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 101 teachers.[44] Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Effective with the 2012-13 school year, the ninth grade was shifted to the High School building from the Middle School.

In 2010, there were 1,537 pupils enrolled in grades 10th through 12th, with 428 pupils qualifying for a federal free or reduce priced lunch due to family poverty. The School employed 107 teachers yielding a 14:1 student–teacher ratio.[45] Per the PA Department of Education 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act mandates.

2013 School Performance Profile

Pleasant Valley High School achieved 84.4 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature - 81% were on grade level. In Algebra 1, 68.97% showed on grade level skills. In Biology, 37% showed on grade level science understanding.[46] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[47]

AYP status

In 2012, Pleasant Valley High School declined further to Corrective Action II 4th Year status due to chronic, low student academic achievement and a low graduation rate.[48] In 2011, Pleasant Valley High School declined again to Corrective Action II 3rd Year status due to chronic low student academic achievement. In 2010, the high school was in Corrective Action II 2nd Year status due to continuing low student academic achievement.[49] In compliance with No Child Left Behind, the administration was mandated to notify parents about the low achievement and that they could transfer their child to a successful school in the district.[50] Additionally, the administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop a School Improvement Plan and to submit it for state approval.

PSSA Results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: algebra I, algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[51]

11th Grade Reading
  • 2012 - 69% on grade level, (13% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[52]
  • 2011 - 70%, (13% below basic). State - 69.1%[53]
  • 2010 - 69%, (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.[54]
  • 2009 - 65% (17% below basic). State - 65%[55]
  • 2008 - 59% (22% below basic). State - 65%[56]
  • 2007 - 65% (15% below basic). State - 65%[57]
11th Grade Math
  • 2012 - 66% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[58]
  • 2011 - 65%, (15% below basic). State - 60.3%[59]
  • 2010 - 62%, (19% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2009 - 58%, (17% below basic). State - 56%.
  • 2008 - 39% (35% below basic). State - 56%
  • 2007 - 45% (31% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

  • 2012 - 35% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[60]
  • 2011 - 36% (17% below basic). State - 40%[61]
  • 2010 - 32% (17% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 42% (15% below basic). State - 40%[62]
  • 2008 - 26% (21% below basic). State - 39%

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 25% of Pleasant 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.[63] 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.[64] 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

In 2013, Pleasant Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 476. The Math average score was 489. The Writing average score was 458. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.[65]

In 2012, Pleasant Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 479. The Math average score was 489. The Writing average score was 462. 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, 310 Pleasant Valley School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 479. The Math average score was 486. The Writing average score was 455.[66] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.[67] 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.[68]

Graduation requirements

The Pleasant Valley School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28.5 credits to graduate, including: Math 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 1 credit, Drivers Ed theory 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Computer Lit 0.5 credits and 6 PSSA Enhancement/electives.[69] Each student in Pleasant Valley High School, sophomores and juniors, must be registered for at least 8.0 credits per year. Seniors are required a minimum of 6.5 credits. Students who score below the proficient level on the 11th grade PSSA test must enroll in and demonstrate proficiency in a 9-week 1⁄2 credit course in Math and/or Reading prior to graduating called PSSA Enhancement.

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.[70] Completion of the graduation projects earns the student 0.5 credit towards graduation. 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.[71]

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.[72] The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade.[73]

Students have several opportunities to pass the exam. Schools are mandated to provide targeted assistance to help the student be successful. Those who do not pass after several attempts can perform a project in order to graduate.[74][75] 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.[76] 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.[77] 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.

Dual enrollment

Pleasant Valley 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. By state regulation, 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. For the first few years of the program, the state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books[78] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[79] For the 2009-10 funding year, Pleasant Valley School District received a state grant of $7,422 for the program.[80]

AP Courses

In 2013, Pleasant Valley High School offered 12 Advanced Placement (AP) courses at a higher cost than regular courses. Students have the option of taking College Board approved courses and then taking the College Board's examination in the Spring. Students, who achieve a 3 or better on the exam, may be awarded college credits at US universities and colleges. Each higher education institution sets its own standards about what level of credits are awarded to a student based on their AP exam score. Most higher education give credits for scores of 4 or 5. Some schools also give credits for scores of 3. High schools give credits towards graduation to students who take the school's AP class. At Pleasant Valley High School 15% of students who took an AP course earned a 3 or better on the exam.[81]

Middle school

Pleasant Valley Middle School is located at Route 115, Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania. In 2013, enrollment was 902 pupils, in grades 7th and 8th, with 41% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 17% of pupils received special education services, while 9.53% of pupils were identified as gifted.[82] The school was not a federally designated Title I school. According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[83] The School was part of a District-wide realignment of schools which shifted ninth grade to the High School and brought seventh grade to the middle school in 2012-13.

In 2010, Pleasant Valley Middle School had 1,056 students enrolled in grades 8th and 9th, with 354 students receiving the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 82 teachers yielding a 13:1 student–teacher ratio.[84] The attendance rate rose from 90% in 2010 to 94% in 2011.[85] The School was a Title I school.

2013 School Performance Profile

Pleasant Valley Middle School achieved 79.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, 78.8% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 81% of the students showed on grade level skills. In Science, only 68% of the 8th graders demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, just 65% of the 8th grade students demonstrated on grade level writing skills.[86]

AYP History: In 2011 and 2012, Pleasant Valley Middle School remained in Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in both reading and mathematics.[87]

  • 2009 and 2010 - AYP status
  • 2008 - Making Progress to School Improvement Level I
  • 2007 - declined to Corrective Action Level I due to chronic, low academic achievement in math
  • 2006 - declined to School Improvement Level II.
  • 2005 - Making Progress to School Improvement Level I The school was mandated by the PDE to develop a School Improvement plan to raise student achievement.
  • 2004 - declined to School Improvement Level I due to lagging academic achievement
  • 2003 - Warning AYP status

PSSA Results: PSSAs are given in the Spring of each school year. Seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I, take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999.[88] Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science.[89] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[90] In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[91]

8th Grade Science:

  • 2012 - 61% on grade level (15% below basic). State - 59%[101]
  • 2011 - 57% (22% below basic). State – 58.3%
  • 2010 - 53% (26% below basic). State – 57%[102]
  • 2009 - 47% (26% below basic). State - 55%[103]
  • 2008 - 49%, (18% below basic). State - 52%[104]

Intermediate School

Pleasant Valley Intermediate School was established in 2000. It is located at 477 Polk Township Road, Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. In 2013, Pleasant Valley Intermediate School's enrollment was 1,192 pupils in grades 4th through 6th, with 39.9% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 17.8% of the pupils receive special education services, while 9.98% are identified as gifted.[105] The School is a Title I school. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. In 2012-13, the School was part of the district-wide realignment where seventh grade was moved to the middle school building.

In 2010, Pleasant Valley Intermediate School had 1,391 students enrolled in grades 5th and 7th, with 509 students receiving the federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 111 teachers yielding a 12:1 student–teacher ratio.[106] The school had a principal, 2 assistant principals and 76 support-staff personnel.[107] In order to focus on academic success, fifth grade students receive one hour of Math instruction and 90 minutes of combined Reading and Language Arts instruction daily. Sixth grade students receive one hour each of Math, Reading, and Language Arts instruction for each student daily. Seventh grade students have a 42-minute rotating class schedule within instructional teams of five teachers. Pleasant Valley Intermediate School houses a district operated self-contained life-skilled for students in grades 4-6. PVI is currently is 4-6 grades as of the 2012-2013 school year. The attendance rate was 94% in 2010 and 2011.[108]

2013 School Performance Profile

Pleasant Valley Intermediate School achieved a score of 73.3 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 64% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 4th through 6th. In math, just 77% were on grade level (4th-6th grades). In 4th grade science, 87.7% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing only 65% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[109]

AYP history

In 2011 and 2012, Pleasant Valley Intermediate School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status under No Child Left Behind.[110]

  • 2010 - Making Progress - School Improvement level I[111]
  • 2009 - declined to School Improvement level I due to lagging academic achievement in reading and mathematics[112]
  • 2008 - declined to Warning AYP status[113]
  • 2007 - achieved AYP status
  • 2006 - Warning AYP status
PSSA Results

Pleasant Valley Elementary School

Pleasant Valley Elementary School is located 476 Polk Township Road, Kunkletown. In 2013, the School's enrollment is 1,036 pupils in grades Kindergarten through third grade, with 39% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 13.5% of the pupils receive special education services, while 2.21% are identified as gifted.[120] The school is a federally designated Title I school. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten.[121] As a part of the District wide realignment the 4th grade was moved to another building in 2012-13.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, enrollment was 1,165 pupils in grades Kindergarten through 4th, with 408 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 93 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.[122] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[123]

2013 School Performance Profile

Pleasant Valley Elementary School achieved a score of 87.3 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 82% of the 3rd grade pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 91.5% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades).[124]

AYP History

In 2012, Pleasant Valley Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading.[125] In 2011, the Pleasant Valley Elementary School achieved AYP status.

  • 2008-2010 - achieved AYP status each year
  • 2007 - declined to Warning AYP status
  • 2004-2006 - achieved AYP status
PSSA History

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade was tested in reading, math and science.[126] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[127][128][129] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[130]

4th Grade Science
  • 2012 - 93%, (0% below basic). State - 82%
  • 2011 - 90%, (2% below basic). State - 82.9%
  • 2010 - 91%, (3% below basic). State - 81%
  • 2009 - 91%, (1% below basic). State - 83%
  • 2008 - 90%, (3% below basic). State - 81%

Polk Elementary School

Polk Elementary School is located at 630 Interchange Road, Kresgeville. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 304 pupils in kindergarten through third grade, with 38.8% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 20% of the pupils receive special education services, while 4.93% are identified as gifted.[133] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under No Child Left Behind. The school provides half day kindergarten.[134] The School is not a federally designated Title I school. In May 2014, the school board voted to close the school due to district-wide realignment to cope with steadily declining enrollment.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, Polk Elementary School's enrollment was 401 pupils in grades kindergarten through fourth, with 120 pupils receiving a free or reduced price lunch. The School employed 31 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1.[135] The school provided half day kindergarten to all its pupils.[136]

2013 School Performance Profile

Polk Elementary School achieved a score of 84.9 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, 3rd grade, 78.8% of the third grade pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 90% were on grade level (3rd grade).[137]

AYP History

In 2011 and 2012, Polk Elementary School achieved AYP status.[138]

PSSA History

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. Polk Elementary School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress status every year 2006-2010. Polk Elementary School and Chestnuthill Elementary school were the only Pleasant Valley School District schools to achieve AYP every year it was measured.[139]

4th Grade Science
  • 2012 - 95%, (0% below basic). State - 82%
  • 2011 - 89%, (3% below basic). State - 82.9%

Special education

In December 2012, Pleasant Valley School District administration reported that 900 pupils or 16.4% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. Of the identified pupils 37.9% had a specific learning disability and 9% were autistic.[142] In December 2010, Pleasant Valley School District administration reported that 845 pupils or 14.2% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.[143] Among these students 45% were identified as having a Specific Learning Disability, while 9% were identified as autistic.

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, Pleasant Valley 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.[144] 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, the building Principal or contact the district's Special Education Department.[145][146][147] The IDEA 2004 requires each school entity to publish a notice to parents, in newspapers or other media, including the student handbook and website regarding the availability of screening and intervention services and how to access them.

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.[148] 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.[149] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[150] 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.[151] 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.[152] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.[153]

Pleasant Valley School District received a $3,098,571 supplement for special education services in 2010.[154] 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.[155][156] Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.

Gifted education

Pleasant Valley School District Administration reported that 300 or 5.10% of its students were gifted in 2010. The Administration reported that 264 or 3.87% of its students were gifted in 2009.[157] 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.[158][159]

PV Cyber Academy

The Pleasant Valley School District offers an online education option for students grades 5 through 12th. Students are required to follow the dress code when coming on the district's campuses. Students have full access to all extracurriculars.[160] The school is run by an associate principal and a cyber academy coordinator. The students have the same academic and graduation expectations as the students attending the District's traditional, bricks and mortar buildings. The students must take the PSSAs.

School safety and bullying

Pleasant Valley School District administration reported there were six incidents of bullying in the District in 2012. Additionally, there were five assaults on students and two sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in twenty six incidents at the schools, with 13 arrests.[161]

In 2009, the District's administration reported there were 13 incidents of bullying. There were 46 incidents involving the police with 38 arrests.[162] The district has implemented district-wide coordination of safety initiatives. In 2009, the school district: 1) Established a PVSD Workplace Safety Committee; 2) Upgraded the high school access system; 3) Added video cameras to the high school system; 4) Increased security patrols; 5) Increased the use of metal detectors; and 6) Worked to coordinate the school district’s school police and PSP School Resource Officer’s efforts.[163]

The Pleasant Valley School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.[164] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.[165] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.[166][167]

Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[168]

Safe School grant

In 2013, Pleasant Valley School District has not participated in a state Safe Schools Targeted Grants. The maximum of $25,000 grants were awarded through a competitive application process.[169] The funds must be used for research based interventions, like: peer mediation, staff training in managing behavioral issues and creating a positive school climate. Pleasant Valley School District did not participate in 2012 nor in 2013.

School Resource Officer and Police Officer grant

In 2013-2014, Pennsylvania began a grant program providing funding for programs to address school violence and security. Eligible schools and municipalities could apply for up to $60,000 for a school resource officer and up to $40,000 for a school police officer.[170] Pleasant Valley School District did not apply.[171]

Wellness policy

Pleasant Valley School Board established a district wellness policy in March 2006.[172] The Board approved nutritional standards for Competitive Foods in the District.[173][174] The District's 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 districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[175]

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.[176] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

The Pleasant Valley School District offers both a free school breakfast and a 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.[177] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[178]

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.[179] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[180] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[181] The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.[182]

Pleasant Valley 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 the Pennsylvania 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.[183][184] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

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.[185]

In 2012, the average teacher salary in Pleasant Valley School District was $61,243,98 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $19,541.73 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $80,785.71.[186] The District employed 484 teachers with an average salary of $65,121 and a top salary of $154,737.[187]

In 2011, Pleasant Valley School Board entered into a contract agreement which provided for 6 percent raises to teachers spread over 3 years.[188] The Board also entered into a contract for staff to receive similar raises, with their contribution towards their health insurance costs rising to 9% of the premium. The Act 93 employment contract with administration expires in 2014.

In 2009, Pleasant Valley School District reported employing 578 teachers and administrators with a median teacher salary of $58,252 and a top salary was $136,544.[189] The starting salary in 2010 was $39,800 for a new graduate teacher.[190] The teachers work 184 days with a 7.5-hour work day that includes a 30-minute duty-free lunch. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance (teacher contributes $35 per pay), vision insurance, dental insurance (including orthodontics), prescription coverage, professional development reimbursement 6 college credits per year per teacher, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, 3 paid bereavement days and other benefits. When teachers retire with 25 years of service or more, they receive free full health insurance until through the age of 65 years. Teachers with 10 years employment are eligible for a sabbatical leave for one year at one half their salary. They continue to earn time towards their pension.[191]

In 2007, Pleasant Valley School District employed 415 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $49,827 for 180 days worked.[192] 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.[193]

Per pupil spending Pleasant Valley School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $610.41 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[194] Dr. Douglas C. Arnold was the superintendent with a salary of $154,737 in 2013. 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.[195]

In 2008, Pleasant Valley School District Administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,422 which ranked 330th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $14,127.58 which ranked 171st in the Commonwealth.[196] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.[197] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.[198]

Reserves In 2008, Pleasant Valley School District reported $4,708,116 in an unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,843,770.[199] In 2010, Pleasant Valley Administration reported an increase to $13,941,843 in its unreserved-designated fund and $1,000,000.00 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.[200] For the 2011-12 school year budget, the Board used $5.2 million of fund balance. The proposed budget for 2012-13 calls for using another $4.1 million from the reserve to fund the budget. The district has experienced steady declined of enrollment of over 2000 students since 2000, but has not adequately adjusted staffing.[201] In 2006 enrollment was 6,958 pupils. Enrollment is projected to decline further to 4679 pupils by 2020.[202] Enrollment was 5,885 in 2010 with 456.53 teachers for a 13:1 student - teacher ratio.[203]

Audits In March 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the Pleasant Valley School District. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.[204] In January 2013, the District was audited again. Several irregularities were noted.[205]

Closures In June 2010, the Pleasant Valley School Board voted 8-0 to close Eldred Elementary School located in Kunkletown, Monroe County, due to steadily declining enrollment.[206] In June 2013, the District closed Chestnuthill Elementary School (K-4).

As of March 2014, the Pleasant Valley School Board voted 9-0 in favor of closing Polk Elementary School due to a district-wide decline in enrollment, which has continued to fall since 2008. The closing of Polk is also expected to save the district more than $2.6 million over the next three years.[207] Thirty (30) teachers across the district received layoff notices due to the reduced enrollment and general lack of need for teachers.

Tuition Students who live in the 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 Pleasant Valley 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 Pleasant Valley School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $10,538.12, High School - $10,131.45.[208]

The Pleasant Valley School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax of 0.5%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.[209] Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Interest earnings on the District's bank accounts also provides 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 the of individual’s personal wealth.[210] 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.[211]

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, School District receives 42.1% of its annual revenue from the state.[212]

For the 2013-14 school year, the Pleasant Valley School District received a 1.8% increase or $21,497,053 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $379,209 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Pleasant Valley School District received $455,248 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Allegheny County, South Fayette Township School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 5.5%. 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.[213] The highest percent of state spending per student is in the Chester-Upland district, where roughly 78 percent comes from state coffers. In Philadelphia, it is nearly 49 percent.[214] As a part of the education budget, the state provided the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.[215]

For the 2012-13 school year, the Pleasant Valley School District received $21,117,844.[216] 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. Pleasant Valley School District received $455,248 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.[217] 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, Pleasant Valley School District received a $21,118,631, allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.[218][219] Additionally, the School District received $455,248 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.[220] 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.[221] In 2010, the district reported that 1,870 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[222]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $22,736,142 to Pleasant Valley School District. Among the districts in Monroe County, the highest increase went to East Stroudsburg Area School District which got a 7.50% increase in state funding. 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.[223] 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 Governors policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.56% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $22,295,357. Among the districts in Monroe County, the highest increase went to Stroudsburg Area School District which got a 6.34%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $21,123,735.70. 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.[224] The amount of increase each school district receives was set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education, as a part of the state budget proposal.[225] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,605 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.[226]

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 $1,235,658 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to increase instructional time, to reduce class size K-3rd grade and to provide social and health services to students.[227][228]

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. The Pleasant Valley School District was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $95,590. The district received $31,989 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $127,579.[229] In Monroe County the highest award was given to Pocono Mountain School District - 1,419,802. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073.

Science It’s Elementary grant

Pleasant Valley Elementary School successfully applied to participate in the Science It’s Elemenetary 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.[230] 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.[231] 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.[232] 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 marks an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 public school funding.[233] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 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 School District received $166,371.[234]

Federal Stimulus grant

The Pleasant Valley School District received an extra $2 million in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.[235] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[236] 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. According to the Superintendent the money was used for operating costs, such as salaries and benefits, and for debt service. The district also used the money for materials and supplies, computers, professional development, behavioral and health services and testing materials for school psychologists. The district had planned to buy all of that with state funds before the grant was made.[237]

American Jobs Act

The district received an extra $3,154,645 million for teacher jobs and $671,020 for modernization.[238]

Race to the Top grant

Pleasant Valley School District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided nearly two million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.[239] 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.[240] 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.[241][242][243]

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.[244] 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 2014-15 were set by the Pleasant Valley School Board at 146.0160 mills.[245] 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. 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.[246]

The average yearly property tax paid by Monroe County residents amounts to about 5.52% of their yearly income. Monroe County ranked 115th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.[254] 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.[255] 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%).[256]

Pleasant Valley School District provides a targeted rebate on property taxes to low income senior citizens (less than $18,500 a year).[257] They must apply each year for the tax benefit.

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.[258] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index.[259] 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.[260][261]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Pleasant Valley School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.[262]

For the 2014-15 budget year, Pleasant Valley School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit: special education costs and escalating teacher pension costs, which rose over $888,489 in 2014. In 2014-15, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 21.4% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (PSERS).[267] For the school budget 2014-15, 316 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above its Act 1 Index limit. Another 181 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeding the Index limit. Districts may apply for multiple exceptions each year. For the pension costs exception, 163 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full, while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 104 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Seven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for the grandfathered construction debts exception.[268]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Pleasant Valley School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit: teacher pension costs and special education spending. In 2013-14, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 16.93% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (PSERS). 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 pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.[269]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Pleasant Valley School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: School Construction Grandfathered Debt and rapidly escalating teacher pension costs. In 2012-13, all Pennsylvania school districts were required to make a 12.36% of payroll payment to the teacher’s pension fund (PSERS). For 2012-2013 budget year, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; while 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.[270]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Pleasant Valley School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: teacher pension costs and special education costs. Each year, the Pleasant Valley 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.[271]

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.[272]

Pleasant Valley School Board applied for three exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011:School Construction Grandfathered Debt, Special Education costs and teacher pension costs.[273] For 2009-10 school budget, the board applied for several exceptions to exceed the Index: Maintenance of Revenue Sources, Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue and for School Construction Grandfathered Debt.[274] 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.[275]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for Pleasant Valley School District was $458 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 8,900 property owners applied for the tax relief.[276] 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 Monroe County, 58% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[277] In Monroe County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2010, went to property owners in Pleasant Valley School District. 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.[278] This was the third year they were the top recipient.

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 may 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 this state funded tax rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief and the Pleasant Valley senior tax relief programs.[279]

Extracurriculars

The Pleasant Valley School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. Any student not passing two or more credits per semester will be declared ineligible for further participation until passing averages are earned.[280][281][282] The District is compliant with state law, posting its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website in 2014.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the District, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.[283][284]

According to Pennsylvania’s Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.[285][286][287]

Sports

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[288] In 2013-14, the District reported spending $1,289,195 on student activities, excluding transportation and facility costs.[289]

The District funds:

Varsity
Middle School Sports

According to PIAA directory July 2013 [290]

References

  1. ↑ PDE, EdNA 2013, 2013
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  4. ↑ OpenPaGov.org, Payroll Report 2013 Pleasant Valley School District, 2013
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  6. ↑ NCES, Common Core for Education Statistics, 2013
  7. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA 2009-10, 2010
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and Projections by LEA 2006-07-2020, July 2011
  9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment by LEA and School 2012-13, 2013
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  14. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Finances Selected Data 2010, 2012
  15. ↑ US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Poverty Data by Local Education Agency, 2011
  16. ↑ US Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, 2009
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  20. ↑ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, Pleasant Valley School District Report, 2010
  21. ↑ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
  22. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Pennsylvania School Code, 2013
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  26. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools Statewide Honor Roll Rankings 2013, April 4, 2013
  27. ↑ Pittsburgh Business Times, Guide to Pennsylvania Schools Statewide rankings, April 6, 2012
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  35. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania Public School District AYP History, 2011
  36. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania District AYP History 2003-2010, 2011
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  40. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, 2010
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  50. ↑ Douglas C. Arnold, Ph.D., Pleasant Valley School District Newsletter, November 2011
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  71. ↑ Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Proposed changes to Chapter 4, May 10, 2012
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  83. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Pleasant Valley Middle School, October 4, 2013
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  85. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley Middle School AYP DataTable 2011, September 29, 2011
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  113. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley Intermediate School AYP Overview 2008, August 15, 2008
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  115. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley Intermediate School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011
  116. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley intermediate School Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  117. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley intermediate School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, October 20, 2009
  118. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley intermediate School Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008
  119. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pleasant Valley intermediate School Academic Achievement Report Card 2007, September 2007
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  121. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, Pleasant Valley Elementary School Fast Facts, October 4, 2013
  122. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data – Pleasant Valley Elementary School, 2011
  123. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Pleasant Valley Elementary School, September 21, 2012
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  134. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, School Performance Profile, Polk Elementary School Fast Facts, 2013
  135. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data – Polk Elementary School, 2011
  136. ↑ Pennsylvania Partnership for Children, Full-Day Kindergarten Enrollment, 2010
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  152. ↑ Amy Morton, Executive Deputy Secretary, Public Hearing: Special Education Funding & Accountability Testimony, Pennsylvania Department of Education, November 11, 2011
  153. ↑ 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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  177. ↑ USDA, Child Nutrition Programs - Eligibility Manual for School Meals, 2012
  178. ↑ Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, 2009
  179. ↑ USDA, Child Nutrition Programs, June 27, 2013
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  185. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, June 27, 2006
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  201. ↑ Koehler, Linda. Times News online., Pleasant Valley School District's preliminary proposed budget calls for 7.1547 mills increase, January 20, 2012
  202. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Enrollment and projections by LEA, July 2010
  203. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core Data - Pleasant Valley School District, 2010
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  206. ↑ Famularo, Susan Pleasant Valley School Board Secretary, School Board meeting minutes June 3, 2010
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  215. ↑ Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, 2013-14 State Budget Highlights, 2013
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  222. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, District Allocations Report 2009, 2009-10
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  230. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Science: It’s Elementary Grantees Students in 143 Schools Benefit from Intensive Science Curriculum, July 22, 2008
  231. ↑ Patricia Vathis Pennsylvania Department of Education, Grants and Subsidies Science: It’s Elementary, 2006
  232. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2010–2011 Science: It’s Elementary Application Guidelines, July 2010
  233. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Governor Rendell Commends Teachers for Enhancing Science Education in Pennsylvania, August 10, 2006
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  237. ↑ Pocono Record, Where did the Stimulus money go?, February 13, 2011
  238. ↑ US Department of Education, American Jobs Act: Impact Per District, 2011
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  241. ↑ Race to the Top Fund, U.S. Department of Education, March 29, 2010.
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  254. ↑ Tax-rates.org., The 2013 Tax Resource County Property Taxes 2012, 2012
  255. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania School Finances - Summaries of Annual Financial Report Data 2010-11, 2011
  256. ↑ New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, Tax Foundation, September 22, 2009.
  257. ↑ Pleasant Valley School District Business Office, Senior Citizen Property Tax Rebate information, February 2014
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  265. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2013-2014 School District Adjusted Index, September 2012
  266. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2014-2015 School District Adjusted Index, September 2013
  267. ↑ Pennsylvania School Employees, Retirement System, PSERS Chart showing payment mandates 2007-2020, 2014
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  269. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2013-2014, April 2013
  270. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2012-2013, March 30, 2012
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  278. ↑ Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report May 1, 2010
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  288. ↑ Pleasant Valley School Board, Pleasant Valley School District Teacher Union Contract, 2014
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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

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