Austin Area School District
Encyclopedia
The Austin Area School District covers the Austin Boro
as well as Keating
, Portage
, Sylvania and Wharton
townships in Potter County, Pennsylvania
. The district is part of the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 which provides services for special education
students, curriculum development and teacher training.
The district operates Austin High School
(7th–12th) and Austin Elementary School (K-6th). The school district campus is located in one building. According to its 2009 Academic Achievement report card 13 teacher were not Highly Qualified as is required by the NCLB law and Pennsylvania School Code. In Pennsylvania, a Highly Qualified teacher is one who: (1)holds full certification, (2) has at least a bachelor’s degree, (3) has completed a content area major, (4) has passed a content area test, and (5) has completed teacher education coursework.
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
and President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act
which mandates that the district focus its federal funding resources on student reading and math skills and testing children one time a year to assess whether they are on grade level in reading and math.
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.
s for: reading, writing, math and one year of science.
Graduation rate
The high school graduates 17 students per year.
11th Grade Reading
2010 – 62% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level. (16 pupil, 0 low income0
2009 – 68%, 65%
2008 – 40%, State – 65%
2007 – 61%, State – 65%
11th Grade Math:
2010 – 50% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 – 53%, State – 55%
2008 – 40%, State – 56%
2007 – 38%, State – 53%
11th Grade Science:
2010 – 37% on grade level. State – 39% 11th graders on grade level.
2009 – 40%, State – 40%
2008 – 40%, State – 39%
Dual Enrollment The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 Pennsylvania school districts with the assistance of a state grant.
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 13% of the Austin Area Junior-Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
or community colleges. 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. 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.
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
5th Grade Reading:
5th Grade Math:
4th Grade Reading:
4th Grade Math:
4th Grade Science:
3rd Grade Reading:
3rd Grade Math:
Austin Area ranked near the top in administrative costs per pupil, in Pennsylvania in 2008 at $1,620 per pupil. This was the 3rd highest administrative spending in 2008 for the 501 school districts in the state. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In July 2007 awarded a five year contract to Matthew J. Hutcheson to serve as district superintendent. His initial salary was set at $86,000 (2007) to rise to $99,500 (2012). He also received an extensive benefits package which included: $1,000 payment on departure for each year served, health insurance, life insurance, payment for conferences and more.
In 2008, the district reported spending $15,863 per pupil which was 44th in the state out of 500 school districts.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. 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 individual's wealth level.
districts received a 2% increase. The highest increase in Potter County went to Coudersport Area School District
which received a 5.50% increase. The largest increase in Pennsylvania, went to Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
which received a 23.65% increase in state Basic Education Funding in 2010.
In the 2009–2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $1,181,460. The majority of Potter County districts received a 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Austin Area School District in 2008–09 was $1,158,294.04 The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
– Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. These dollars were in addition to all regular state and federal funding to the district. The funds are for the 2009–2011 school years.
federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. 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. 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.
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.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Austin Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.
2006–07 – 5.5%, Base 3.9%
2007–08 – 4.7%, Base 3.4%
2008–09 – 6.0%, Base 4.4%
2009–10 – 5.5%, Base 4.1%
2010–11 – 3.9%, Base 2.9%
2011–12 – 1.9%, Base 1.4%
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. In 2010, the Austin Area School Board did not seek any exceptions and budgeted within the Act 1 Index limit.
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Austin Area School District was $358 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 370 property owners applied for the tax relief. 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In 2009, 79% of Potter County property owners applied for the property tax relief.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.
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%).
, total enrollment K-12 is 181 students. There were 23 students in the Class of 2009. The senior class of 2010 has 17 students. Enrollment in Austin Area School District is projected to continue to decline to a total enrollment of 147 in 2017. The administrative and mandated infrastructure costs per pupil are high. With limited resources, opportunities for students are limited. Consolidation of the administrations with adjacent school districts would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in both communities. These excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to substantially reduce property taxes. Consolidation of multiple central administrations into one would not necessitate the closing of any schools. Neighboring Coudersport Area School District
has an enrollment of less than 850 with declining enrollment. The athletics program shares costs between the two districts.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
Cooperative Sports
The district has a cooperative sports agreement with the Coudersport Area School District
in the following sports:
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 aged 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.
Austin, Pennsylvania
Austin is a borough in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 623 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Austin is located at ....
as well as Keating
Keating Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania
Keating Township is a township in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land....
, Portage
Portage Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania
Portage Township is a township in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 223 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.7 square miles , all of it land.Portage Township is bordered by Keating Township...
, Sylvania and Wharton
Wharton Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania
Wharton Township is a township in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 91 at the 2000 census.-Geography:In 2000, according to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 61.8 square miles , all of it land...
townships in Potter County, Pennsylvania
Potter County, Pennsylvania
Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
. The district is part of the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 which provides services for special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
students, curriculum development and teacher training.
The district operates Austin High School
Austin High School (Austin, Pennsylvania)
Austin High School is a public high school in southern and rural Potter County, Pennsylvania. AHS serves grades 7–12 and is the smallest school in the state. The school shares the kitchen and administrative offices with the adjoining Elementary School, which makes up the Austin Area School...
(7th–12th) and Austin Elementary School (K-6th). The school district campus is located in one building. According to its 2009 Academic Achievement report card 13 teacher were not Highly Qualified as is required by the NCLB law and Pennsylvania School Code. In Pennsylvania, a Highly Qualified teacher is one who: (1)holds full certification, (2) has at least a bachelor’s degree, (3) has completed a content area major, (4) has passed a content area test, and (5) has completed teacher education coursework.
Governance
The district is governed by a 9 member school board that is elected to serve four year terms, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act , is a United States federal statute enacted April 11, 1965. It was passed as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and has been the most far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by Congress...
and President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
which mandates that the district focus its federal funding resources on student reading and math skills and testing children one time a year to assess whether they are on grade level in reading and math.
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.
Academic achievement
In 2008, Austin Area School District ranked 473rd out of 498 Pennsylvania School districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic achievement on the PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s for: reading, writing, math and one year of science.
- 2007 – 475th out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts.
Graduation rate
The high school graduates 17 students per year.
- 2010 – 95%
- 2009 – 100%
- 2008 – 91%
- 2007 – 91%
High school
PSSA Results11th Grade Reading
2010 – 62% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level. (16 pupil, 0 low income0
2009 – 68%, 65%
2008 – 40%, State – 65%
2007 – 61%, State – 65%
11th Grade Math:
2010 – 50% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2009 – 53%, State – 55%
2008 – 40%, State – 56%
2007 – 38%, State – 53%
11th Grade Science:
2010 – 37% on grade level. State – 39% 11th graders on grade level.
2009 – 40%, State – 40%
2008 – 40%, State – 39%
Dual Enrollment The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 Pennsylvania school districts with the assistance of a state grant.
Graduation project
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.College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
study released in January 2009, 13% of the Austin Area Junior-Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large public university system in the United States. It is the tenth-largest university system in the United States and 43rd largest in the world...
or community colleges. 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. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, 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.
Eighth grade
8th Grade Reading:- 2010 – 63% on grade level. In Pennsylvania 81% of 8th graders are on grade level. (19 pupils, 0 low income)
- 2009 – 75%, State – 80.9%
- 2008 – 75%, State – 78%
8th Grade Math:
- 2010 – 89% on grade level. State – 75% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 – 81%, State – 71% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2008 – 65%, State −70%
8th Grade Science:
- 2010 – 68% on grade level. PA – 57% on grade level.
- 2009 – 71%, State – 55%
- 2008 – 40%, State – 52%
Seventh grade
7th Grade Reading:- 2010 – 64% on grade level. State: 73% of 7th graders were on grade level. (17 pupils, 4 low income)
- 2009 – 67%, State – 71%
- 2008 – 86%, State – 70%
7th Grade Math:
- 2010 – 88% on grade level. State – 77% of 7th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 – 81%, State – 75%
- 2008 – 71%, State – 70%
- Austin Area Elementary School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
6th Grade Reading:
- 2010 – 45%, State – 68% on grade level. (11 pupils, 0 low income)
- 2009 – 65%, State – 67%
- 2008 – 67%, State – 67%
6th Grade Math:
- 2010 – 64%, State – 67% on grade level.
- 2009 – 67%, State – 75%
- 2008 – 65%, State – 62%
5th Grade Reading:
- 2010 – 45%, State – 64% on grade level. (11 pupils, 0 low income)
- 2009 – 9 pupils results not reported
- 2008 – 50%, State −61%
5th Grade Math:
- 2010 – 81%, State – 73% on grade level.
- 2009 – 9 pupils results not reported
- 2008 – 75%, State – 73%
4th Grade Reading:
- 2010 – 60%, State – 72% on grade level. (10 pupils, 0 low income)
- 2009 – 50%, State – 72%
- 2008 – 9 pupils – results not reported
4th Grade Math:
- 2010 – 80%, State – 84% on grade level.
- 2009 – 70%, State – 81%
- 2008 – 9 pupils – results not reported
4th Grade Science:
- 2010 – 90%, State – 81%
- 2009 – 90%, State – 83%
- 2008 – 9 pupils – results not reported
3rd Grade Reading:
- 2010 – 81%, State – 75% on grade level. (11 pupils, 0 low income)
- 2009 – 82%, State – 77%
- 2008 – 92%, State – 77%
3rd Grade Math:
- 2010 – 90%, State – 84% on grade level.
- 2009 – 100%, State – 86%
- 2008 – 92%, State – 80%
PreK Counts
In 2009, the district received state funding to offer a taxpayer subsidize preschool program. Children who are at least age three and younger than the entry age of kindergarten are eligible to apply. Priority enrollment for PA Pre-K Counts is designed for children who are at risk of school failure, either because of income (300 percent of the federal poverty level, or a family of four earning $63,600 per year), language (English is not your first language), cultural or special needs issues.Special Education
The district reports that in December 2009 21% of pupils received special education services. This was much higher than the state rate of 15% of pupils. All the special education students were white. The district used services provided by the IU 12 to meet the needs of these students. Total enrollment in the district was reported at 193 pupils in 2009. In 2008 enrollment was 220 pupils in the district.Budget
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $45,373 for 180 days worked. Austin Area is ranked fourth in Potter County for average teacher salary in 2007. 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. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.Austin Area ranked near the top in administrative costs per pupil, in Pennsylvania in 2008 at $1,620 per pupil. This was the 3rd highest administrative spending in 2008 for the 501 school districts in the state. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In July 2007 awarded a five year contract to Matthew J. Hutcheson to serve as district superintendent. His initial salary was set at $86,000 (2007) to rise to $99,500 (2012). He also received an extensive benefits package which included: $1,000 payment on departure for each year served, health insurance, life insurance, payment for conferences and more.
In 2008, the district reported spending $15,863 per pupil which was 44th in the state out of 500 school districts.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. 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 individual's wealth level.
State basic education funding
In the 2010–2011 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $1,205,189. The majority of Potter CountyPotter County, Pennsylvania
Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
districts received a 2% increase. The highest increase in Potter County went to Coudersport Area School District
Coudersport Area School District
The Coudersport Area School District is a small rural, public school district which covers the Borough of Coudersport and the southern and western portions of Allegany Township, Eulalia Township, Hebron Township, Homer Township, Summit Township and Sweden Township in Potter County, Pennsylvania. ...
which received a 5.50% increase. The largest increase in Pennsylvania, went to Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
which received a 23.65% increase in state Basic Education Funding in 2010.
In the 2009–2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $1,181,460. The majority of Potter County districts received a 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District
Muhlenberg School District
The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Austin Area School District in 2008–09 was $1,158,294.04 The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
Federal Stimulus Grant
The school district received $241,010 in 2009 in ARRAArra
Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...
– Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. These dollars were in addition to all regular state and federal funding to the district. The funds are for the 2009–2011 school years.
Race to the Top grant
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the TopRace to the Top
Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...
federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. 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. 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.
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. Austin Area School District applied to participate in 2006–07, but was denied funding The district received $58,944 in 2007–08 and $35,439 in 2008–09 for a total of $94,433 in state funding.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. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.Real estate taxes
Property tax rates were set by the Austin Area School Board at 44.0000 mills in 2009. 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.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 2010–2011 school year is 1.4 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local 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, increasing rising health care 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 StatisticsBureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...
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.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Austin Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.
2006–07 – 5.5%, Base 3.9%
2007–08 – 4.7%, Base 3.4%
2008–09 – 6.0%, Base 4.4%
2009–10 – 5.5%, Base 4.1%
2010–11 – 3.9%, Base 2.9%
2011–12 – 1.9%, Base 1.4%
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. In 2010, the Austin Area School Board did not seek any exceptions and budgeted within the Act 1 Index limit.
Property tax relief
In 2010, the state set the district's property tax relief at $324 for 409 approved homesteads and farmsteads.In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Austin Area School District was $358 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 370 property owners applied for the tax relief. 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In 2009, 79% of Potter County property owners applied for the property tax relief.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.
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%).
Enrollment
According to the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, total enrollment K-12 is 181 students. There were 23 students in the Class of 2009. The senior class of 2010 has 17 students. Enrollment in Austin Area School District is projected to continue to decline to a total enrollment of 147 in 2017. The administrative and mandated infrastructure costs per pupil are high. With limited resources, opportunities for students are limited. Consolidation of the administrations with adjacent school districts would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in both communities. These excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to substantially reduce property taxes. Consolidation of multiple central administrations into one would not necessitate the closing of any schools. Neighboring Coudersport Area School District
Coudersport Area School District
The Coudersport Area School District is a small rural, public school district which covers the Borough of Coudersport and the southern and western portions of Allegany Township, Eulalia Township, Hebron Township, Homer Township, Summit Township and Sweden Township in Potter County, Pennsylvania. ...
has an enrollment of less than 850 with declining enrollment. The athletics program shares costs between the two districts.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of extracurriculars including: clubs, activities and sports.Athletics
- Basketball – Class A
- Golf – Class AAAA
- Softball – Class A
- Volleyball – Class A
Cooperative Sports
The district has a cooperative sports agreement with the Coudersport Area School District
Coudersport Area School District
The Coudersport Area School District is a small rural, public school district which covers the Borough of Coudersport and the southern and western portions of Allegany Township, Eulalia Township, Hebron Township, Homer Township, Summit Township and Sweden Township in Potter County, Pennsylvania. ...
in the following sports:
- FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- Track and Field
- Soccer
- WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
- Baseball
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 aged 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.