Warrior Run School District - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Warrior Run School District is a small, rural public school district

School district

School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...

that covers 113 square miles (292.7 km²). It spans three counties: Union County

Union County, Pennsylvania

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile . There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...

, Northumberland County

Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...

, Montour County

Montour County, Pennsylvania

Montour County is located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, the county's population was 18,267. Its county seat is Danville. It is named for Andrew Montour, a prominent métis interpreter who served with George Washington during the French and Indian War. The county is part of the...

in central Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, USA. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 16,542. In 2009, the residents' per capita income was $15,727, while the median family income was $43,010. Per district officials, in school year 2005–06, the Warrior Run School District provided basic educational services to 1,802 pupils through the employment of 144 teachers, 111 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 14 administrators.

The school district operates two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The school district was formed from the combination of the former Turbotville-Lewis Township School District and Watsontown School District.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education

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...

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 the 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 the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.

Academic achievement

Warrior Run School District was ranked 216th out of the 498 ranked Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times

American City Business Journals

American City Business Journals is an American newspaper chain based in Charlotte, North Carolina owned by Advance Publications. It has a range of media including 41 primary metropolitan weekly publications, which reach 4 million readers with business community related news, and Bizjournals, the...

. The ranking was based on student academic performance as demonstrated in 5 years of PSSA

Pennsylvania 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 results in: reading, writing, math and three years of science.

2010 – 219th
2009 – 220th
2008 – 226th
2007 – 274th of 500 school districts.

Warrior Run School District students academic achievement was in the 55th percentile in Pennsylvania public school districts in 2009. Scale – (0–99; 100 is state best)

Graduation Rate

In 2011 the graduation rate was 885. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Wilkes-Barre School District's graduation rate was 85.80% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

2010 – 90.97%
2009 – 89%
2008 – 86%
2007 – 86%
2006 – 90%

Warrior Run High School

In 2009, Warrior Run High School ranked 344th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.

PSSAs
11th Grade Mathematics

2011 – 67.8% on grade level, State – 60.3%
2010 – 61.8%, State – 59%. Ranked 13 out of 18 11th grades in the CSIU 16 region.
2009 – 49%, State – 56%
2008 – 48.9%, State – 56%
2007 – 60%, State – 53%
2006 – 47%, State – 52%
2005 – 47%, State – 51%

11th grade Science

2011 – 36.4% on grade level, State – 40%. Males – 37%, Females – 40%. Ranks 12th in CSIU16 high schools.
2010 – 46.9%, State – 39%. Ranked 10th in the CSIU16 region.
2009 – 47.7%, State 40%
2008 – 44.3%, State −39%

11th grade Reading

2011 – 76.1% on grade level, State – 69.1%
2010 – 72% on grade level, State – 66% on grade level. (110 pupils) Ranked 11th of 18 schools in the region.
2009 – 71%, State – 65% of 11th graders were on grade level in Reading.
2008 – 63%, State – 65%
2007 – 79.4%, State – 65.4%

2006 – 68%, State – 65%
2005 – 72%, State – 65%

College Remediation – In January 2009, research was presented to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The research examined course enrollment trends at the state’s 14 community colleges and the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The data, provided by PASSHE and the community colleges, showed that during the 2007–08 school year 20% of Warrior Run High School graduates required costly remediation in math and/or reading before they could take regular college courses. This was the average remediation rate among the IU16 region's high schools. 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

, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual Enrollment – The high school 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. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program.

Graduation requirements

The Warrior Run School Board has determined that students must earn 25 credits to graduate including: 4 credits in English, 4 credits in social studies, 4 credits in math, 3 credits in science, 2 credits or 4 courses in physical education, 1⁄2 credit in health, 1 course in driver education, and enough electives to complete the total requirements.

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.

Beginning with the class of 2016, students must take the Keystone Exams in Literature, Biology 1 and Algebra 1.

Middle school

In 2010 and 2009, the middle school's attendance rate was 95%.

8th Grade Reading:

2011 – 87%, State – 81.8 on grade level.
2010 – 85%, State – 81% (136 pupils)
2009 – 89%, State – 80%
2008 – 78%, State – 78%
2007 – 78%, State – 67%

8th Grade Math:

2011 – 80.9%, State – 76.9%
2010 – 83%, State – 75% on grade level.
2009 – 75%, State – 71%
2008 – 75%, State – 70%
2007 – 56%, State – 74%

8th Grade Science:

2011 – 76.3% on grade level. State – 58.3% on grade level.
2010 – 73%, State – 57%. Ranked 4th among 19 – 8th grades in the CSIU16 region.
2009 – 65%, State – 54%
2008 – 59%, State – 52%

7th Grade Reading:

2011 – 85.2% on grade level. State – 76% on grade level. Ranked 2nd among 19 CSIU16 7th grades.
2010 – 72%, State – 73% (126 pupils)
2009 – 68%, State – 71%
2008 – 74%, State – 70%
2007 – 75%, State – 66%

7th Grade Math:

2011 – 85.2%, State – 78.6% on grade level.
2010 – 78%, State – 77%
2009 – 83%, State – 75%
2008 – 78%, State −70%
2007 – 71%, State – 67%

6th Grade Reading:

2011 – 69.5%, State – 69.9% on grade level.
2010 – 63%, State – 68%. (111 pupils)
2009 – 57%, State – 67%
2008 – 56%, State – 67%
2007 – 67%, State – 63%

6th Grade Math:

2011 – 86.6, State – 76.8% on grade level.
2010 – 82%, State – 78%
2009 – 79%, State – 75%
2008 – 82%, State – 72%
2007 – 79%, State – 68%

5th Grade Reading:

2011 – 57.2% on grade level. State – 67.3% on grade level.
2010 – 60%, State – 64% (111 pupils)
2009 – 68%, State – 64%
2008 – 58%, State – 61%
2007 – 58%, State – 60%

5th Grade Math:

2011 – 81.9% on grade level, State – 74% on grade level.
2010 – 82%, State – 74%. Ranked 16th out of 34 fifth grades in CSIU16 region.
2009 – 86%, State – 73%
2008 – 83%, State – 73%
2007 – 84%, State – 71%

Elementary Schools

Turbotville Elementary School, 301 Pine Street, Turbotville. Report Card 2010 http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S116498003000003572.PDF In 2010, the 4th grade was the top scoring in science among CSIU16 region school 4th grades. In 2010, the 4th grade was ranked 12th in reading among CSIU16 region school 4th grades.
Watsontown Elementary School, 1100 Main Street, Watsontown. Report Card 2010 http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S116498003000003574.PDF In 2010, the 4th grade was ranked 26th in reading among CSIU16 region school 4th grades. In 2009, the 4th grade was ranked 28th in math among CSIU16 region school 4th grades.

Bullying Policy

In 2009, the administrative reported there was one incident of bullying in the district.

In January 2010, the administration reported implementing an antibully program which includes teacher trainings, web based information for parents and student interventions.

The school board prohibits bullying by district students. A policy approved in December 2008 defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. 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. 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.

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.

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 238 pupils or 13.7% of the district's pupils received 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,...

services.

The 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. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. When a child experiences difficulty within the classroom, screening information will be gathered by the team located within the child’s school to determine his or her specific needs. 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 Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. 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 make a written request for a multidisciplinary evaluation to the building principal or the Director of Special Education.

Once permission is given for the evaluation, the district has 60 calendar days to complete the report. The parent will be sent a copy 10 days before the team IEP meeting called an Educational Review. Following the ER, the district has 30 days to develop an IEP (individual Education Plan) with parent/guardian participation. The time from IEP written plan to implementation may be no more than 10 days.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding.

Warrior Run School District received a $1,011,053 supplement for special education services in 2010. The school district was level funded for 2011.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 19 pupils or 1.14% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. 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.

Budget

In 2007, the district employed 124 teachers and the average teacher salary in the district was $47,049 for 180 days worked.

The district administrative costs in 2008 were $631.78 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In November 2010, the board hired Dr. John Kurelja as superintendent with a contract awarding a $115,000 initial salary for a 4.5 year term. In April 2008, the school board approved a three year for Daniel B. Sheaffer as Superintendent, with an initial salary of $112,450 beginning July 1, 2008. Shaffer retired December 2010. The contract included an extensive benefits package including: life insurance, health insurance, defined benefit pension, paid sick and vacation days, dues paid and more. In June 2010, the superintendent announced his intention to retire in December 2010.

The district administration reported that per pupil spending in 2008 was $10,234 which ranked 460th in the state' 501 school districts.

In January 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and the school board, including possible conflicts of interests in the actions of board members.

In 2011, the school board passed a $18,800,000 budget that included raises for administration and support staff which averaged three percent. Classified staff received a 35 cent per hour increase. The district is in negotiations with the teachers' union for a new contract.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax at 1.3%, a property tax, a $5 per capita tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, 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 Pennsylvania, both pension income and social security income are exempted from local earned income tax and state personal income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.

State basic education funding

In 2011–12, the district will receive $6,013,463 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $105,050 in Accountability Block Grant funding for kindergarten.

In the 2010–2011 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.01% increase in Basic Education funding to Warrior Run School District for a total of $6,408,536. Milton Area School District

Milton Area School District

The Milton Area School District is a small, rural public school district headquartered in Milton, Pennsylvania. The district is located in Northumberland and Union counties. Milton Area School District encompasses approximately 85 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a...

received the highest increase in Northumberland County a 6.46% in Basic Education Funding from the state. Among the 500 school districts in the commonwealth, 150 received a base 2% increase while 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...

received a 23.65% increase for 2010. Fifteen school district received an increase greater than 10%.

In the 2009–2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.46% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $6,221,470. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008–09 was $6,013,462.59. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gave 15 school districts an increase of Basic Education Funding of over 10% in the 2009 – 10 budget. Mount Carmel Area School District

Mount Carmel Area School District

Mount Carmel Area School District is a small, suburban, public school district in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Marion Heights, and...

received 6.23% which was the highest increase in Northumberland County

Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

in 2009. In Pennsylvania, ninety school districts were allotted the base increase of 2%. 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

Berks County, Pennsylvania

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...

received an increase of 22.31%. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation made in the Governor's budget proposal released in February each year.

The Department of Education reported that, in the 2007–08 school year, 403 students received a free or reduced price lunch due to low family income.

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 the 2010–11 school year, the Warrior Run School District applied for and received $285,131, in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide additional training to teachers to improve instruction (1st year) and to improve science instruction (4th year).

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, Mathematics) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The state grant requires the district hire a part time technology coach, whose role is to assist the teachers in using the equipment and software effectively to improve their instruction. The salary is covered by the grant. The program was funded from 2006–2009. Warrior Run School District did not seek funding in 2006–07 or in 2007–08. The district received $102,676 in 2008–09.

Federal Stimulus Funding

The district received $1,297,635 in ARRA

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...

– Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top

Race 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.

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

Warrior Run School Board set property tax rates in 2011 at 8.9900 mills for districts residents whose property is in Anthony Township and Limestone Township

Limestone Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania

Limestone Township is a township in Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,004 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.4 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...

in Montour County

Montour County, Pennsylvania

, at 52.1800 mills for property in Northumberland County

Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

and 8.63 mills for Gregg Township

Gregg Township, Union County, Pennsylvania

Gregg Township is a township in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,687 at the 2000 census, .-History:Gregg Township, named for U.S...

, Union County

Union County, Pennsylvania

properties. The school district includes eight municipalities in three counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. 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.

2010 – 8.0600 mills for districts residents whose property is in Anthony Township and Limestone Township]] in Montour County, at 48.5000 mills for property in Northumberland County and 8.0600 mills for properties in Gregg Township in Union County.
2009 – 7.6500 mills for districts residents whose property is in Anthony Township and Limestone Township]] in Montour County, at 47.3500 mills for property in Northumberland County and 7.33 mills for properties in Gregg Township in Union County.
2008 – 7.6300 mills for districts residents whose property is in Anthony Township and Limestone Township]] in Montour County, at 47.5600 mills for property in Northumberland County and 7.53 mills for properties in Gregg Township in Union County.
2007 – 7.2100 mills for districts residents whose property is in Anthony Township and Limestone Township]] in Montour County, at 45.4400 mills for property in Northumberland County and 8.33 mills for properties in Gregg Township in Union County.

Property tax rates in 2009–10 were complicated by an error of the Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization Board. The board establishes the market aid ratio for each community which is used in the calculation. The board produced erroneous numbers for 2010, which lead to a community protest. The numbers were eventually corrected. An audit of the agency, called for by local legislators, revealed that the STEB's documentation of municipalities showed 65 percent of the sample contained one or more deficiencies.

Warrior Run School Board set property tax rates in 2009 at 7.6300 mills for districts residents whose property is in Anthony Township and |Limestone Township in Montour County, at 47.5600 mills for property in Northumberland County and 7.53 mills for Gregg Township, Union County properties. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

Act 1 Index

The Special Session Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise 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 it can be adjusted higher on a per district basis by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values (Market Aid Ratio) 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 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 Statistics

Bureau 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

United States Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...

, 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 Warrior Run School District 2006–2007 through 2012–2013.

2006–07 – 5.2%, Base 3.9%
2007–08 – 4.6%, Base 3.4%
2008–09 – 5.9%, Base 4.4%
2009–10 – 5.5%, Base 4.1%
2010–11 – 3.9%, Base 2.9%
2011–12 – 1.9%, Base 1.4%
2012–13 – 2.3%, Base 2.2%

For the 2011–12 school year, the Warrior Run School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. They were for special education costs and for employee pension costs. Each year the Warrior Run 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 publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Department of Education

.

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.
For the 2010 budget the Warrior Run School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index limit. 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 Warrior Run School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the index. 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 2009, the Warrior Run School Board did not apply for any Act 1 Exceptions.

In June 2009, the Warrior Run School Board voted to approve two resolutions requested by the Union County Industrial Development Corp. to extend tax benefits of the Keystone Opportunity Zone and Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone in Great Stream Commons in Gregg Township, Union County, by seven years. The owners of these properties will be not be required to pay income taxes related to the property nor any local property taxes or school property taxes.

Property tax relief

In 2010, the homestead owners of Warrior Run School District were allotted $107 in tax relief to 3,719 properties. 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 Northumberland County the highest amount of relief in 2009 went to Mount Carmel Area School District

Mount Carmel Area School District

Mount Carmel Area School District is a small, suburban, public school district in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Marion Heights, and...

. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District

Chester Upland School District

The Chester Upland School District is a public school district serving the City of Chester, the Borough of Upland and Chester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...

of Delaware County

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....

who received $631 per approved homestead.

2010 – $110
2009 – $120 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,314 property owners applied for the tax relief. In 2009, The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District
Chester Upland School District
The Chester Upland School District is a public school district serving the City of Chester, the Borough of Upland and Chester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...

of Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....

who received $632 per approved homestead.

According to a Pennsylvania Auditor General report, only 55.32% of Northumberland County residents applied for property tax relief from gaming in 2009.

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.

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%).

Enrollment

In April 2011, Superintendent John Kurelja, reported that the district has been experiencing a significant decline in enrollment over the past five years. The state permits furloughs of staff when enrollment declines 1.4% annually. Warrior Run has declined 1.9% per year. The district is examining the realignment of staffing to reduce expenses. On a local radio program, Superintendent John Kurelja reported that the district has experienced a 9% decline in enrollment from 2006 to 2011, which indicates a realignment of programs and staffing is necessary. He anticipates decreasing the staffing per state guidelines through staff retirements and furloughs to address a $450,000 budget deficit.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there are 1681 students enrolled in K-12 for the 2009 school year. There were 146 students in the Class of 2009. The class of 2010 had 136 students. Enrollment in Warrior Run School District is projected to continue to decline by another 150 students by 2017. Warrior Run School District administrative costs in 2008 were $631.78 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In 2009, Governor Edward Rendell proposed consolidation of school district administrations with adjacent school districts in the respective county to reduce the total number of school districts from 500 to 100. The proposal called for excessive administrative overhead dollars to be redirected to: improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to substantially reduce local property taxes. According to Governor Rendell, the consolidation of central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools.

Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools will continue to rise.

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 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.

Wellness policy

Warrior Run School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 – Policy 246. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act

National School Lunch Act

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...

(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."

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 hat are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, 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.

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

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of extracurriculars including: clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policy.

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.

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