Sharon City School District

Sharon City School District
Address
215 Forker Blvd Sharon, Pennsylvania, Mercer County 16146-3606 United States
Information
Type	Public
School board	9 elected members
Oversight	PDE, PA General Assembly, USDOE
Superintendent	Michael Calla, acting superintendent June 2013[1]
School code	State District ID: 104435603
Administrator	Mr. Michael Calla – Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction K-8 salary $99,781 2012 Mrs Tresa Templeton - Business Manager, salary $85,591 in 2012 Mcelfresh, Gary, Supervisor of Student Services, salary $93,136
Principal	Ms. Traci Valentino, Case ES salary $85,591 in 2012
Principal	Mr. Michael Gay, West Hill ES salary $85,591
Principal	Mr. Jeff DeJulia, C.M. Musser ES salary $80,000
Principal	Terry Karsonovich, MS salary $89,363
Principal	Mr. Leonard Rich, HS salary $97,396
Staff	147 staff members, including 10 administrators 2010[2]
Faculty	148 classroom teachers
Grades	K-12
Age	5 years old kindergarten to 21 years old special education
Number of students	2,099 pupils in 2012, 2,129 pupils (2009-10)[3]
• Kindergarten	153
• Grade 1	153
• Grade 2	169
• Grade 3	155
• Grade 4	175
• Grade 5	166
• Grade 6	143
• Grade 7	172
• Grade 8	151
• Grade 9	153
• Grade 10	152
• Grade 11	131
• Grade 12	153
• Other	Enrollment projected to be 1750 in 2019[4]
Student to teacher ratio	14.34 Student:Teacher ratio
Budget	$31.2 million (2013-14)[5] $29.2 million budget (2012-13)[6] $27,826,040 (2011-12)[7] $26 million (2007-08) [8]
Tuition	or nonresident and charter school students ES - $7,992.87, HS - $9,110.96 [9]
Per pupil spending	$10,745 (2008)
Per pupil spending	13,185.09 (2010)
Website	http://www.sharon.k12.pa.us/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

The Sharon City School District is a small, urban, public school system serving the city of Sharon, Pennsylvania on the western edge of the state. Sharon City School District encompasses approximately 5 square miles (13 km²). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 16,328. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $15,913, while the median family income was $34,581.^[10] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501^[11] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.^[12] By 2010, Sharon City School District's population declined to 14,028 people.^[13]

Per District officials, in school year 2007-08, the Sharon City School District provided basic educational services to 2,277 pupils through the employment of 170 teachers, 125 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators. Sharon City School District received more than $16.9 million in state funding in school year 2007-08. In 2009, 61% of the students qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. According to District officials, in school year 2009-10 the Sharon City School District provided basic educational services to 2,128 pupils. The District employed: 173 teachers, 110 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 10 administrators. Sharon City School District received more than $17.2 million in state funding in school year 2009-10. Sharon City School District received 70% of its funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Sharon City School District currently operates four schools:

• Case Avenue Elementary School (grades K-6) built 1923, expanded 1950, renovated 1976 demolished 2011, rebuilt 2013
• C.M. Musser Elementary School (grades K-6) built 1958, renovated and expanded 2000
• West Hill Elementary School (grades K-6) built 1961, renovated and expanded 2000
• Sharon Middle-High School (grades 7-12) built 1969, renovated 2003

Governance

Sharon City 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.^[14] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration an "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.^[15]

Academic achievement

Sharon City School District was ranked 465th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2012, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and science PSSAs.^[16] The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

• 2013 - 462nd
• 2011 - 462nd ^[17]
• 2010 - 462nd ^[18]
• 2009 - 461st
• 2008 - 444th
• 2007 - 424th out of 501 school districts.^[19]

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Sharon City School District ranked 65th in 2013. 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."^[20]

• 2012 - 54th
• 2011 - 72nd
• 2010 - 66th^[21]

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Sharon City School District was in the bottom 12th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)^[22]

EOTC Scholarship In July 2012, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released a report identifying three Sharon City School District schools as among the lowest-achieving schools for reading and mathematics in 2011. Musser Elementary School, Sharon Middle School and Sharon High School are all three among the 15% lowest-achieving schools in the Commonwealth. For the 2013-14 school year, West Hill Elementary was added to the lowest achievement list statewide. Parents and students may be eligible for scholarships to transfer to another public or nonpublic school through the state's Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program passed in June 2012.^[23] The scholarships are limited to those students whose family's income is less than $60,000 annually, with another $12,000 allowed per dependent. Maximum scholarship award is $8,500, with special education students receiving up to $15,000 for a year's tuition. Parents pay any difference between the scholarship amount and the receiving school's tuition rate. Students may seek admission to neighboring public school districts. Each year the PDE publishes the tuition rate for each individual public school district.^[24] Fifty three public schools in Allegheny County were among the lowest-achieving schools in 2011. According to the report, parents in 414 public schools (74 school districts) were offered access to these scholarships. For the 2012-13 school year, eight Pennsylvania public school districts had all of their schools placed on the list, including: Sto-Rox School District, Chester Upland School District, Clairton City School District, Duquesne City School District, Farrell Area School District, Wilkinsburg Borough School District, William Penn School District and Steelton-Highspire School District.^[25] Funding for the scholarships comes from donations by businesses which receive a state tax credit for donating. For the 2013-14 school year, both Musser Elementary School and West Hill Elementary School are identified as EOTC schools.

District AYP status history

In 2012, Sharon City School District declined to Warning AYP status, due to lagging student achievement in both reading and mathematics.^[26] In 2011, Sharon City 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.^[27] Sharon City School District achieved AYP status each year from 2008 to 2010,^[28]

• 2007 - Warning status due to lagging student achievement.
• 2003 through 2006 - achieved AYP

Graduation rate

In 2012, Sharon High School's graduation rate was 88%.^[29] In 2011, the District's graduation rate was 88%.^[30] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Sharon High School's rate was 86.42% for 2010.^[31]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 86%^[32]
• 2009 - 80.8%^[33]
• 2008 - 80%^[34]
• 2007 - 80%^[35]

High school

Sharon High School is located at 1129 East State Street, Sharon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 617 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 379 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 35 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.^[36] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[37]

In both 2011 and 2012, Sharon High School was in Warning AYP status due to chronic, low student achievement in both reading and mathematics.^[38]

PSSA Results History

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 59% on grade level, (20% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[39]
• 2011 - 54% (28% below basic). State - 69% ^[40]
• 2010 - 54% (27% below basic). State - 66%^[41]
• 2009 - 49% (23% below basic). State - 65%^[42]
• 2008 - 53% (22% below basic). State - 65%^[43]
• 2007 - 55% (30% below basic). State - 65%^[44]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 58% on grade level (27% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 58% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[45]
• 2011 - 49% (34% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[46]
• 2010 - 55%, (30% below basic). State - 59% ^[47]
• 2009 - 47%, (30% below basic). State - 56%
• 2008 - 43%, (29% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 55%, (22% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 21% on grade level (32% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[48]
• 2010 - 22% (27% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 30% (23% below basic). State - 40% ^[49]
• 2008 - 12% (25% below basic)s. State - 39%

College remediation rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of the Sharon 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.^[50] 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.^[51] 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.

Dual enrollment

Sharon High School offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[52] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[53] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $31,824 for the program.^[54]

SAT scores

In 2012, 95 Sharon City School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 409. The Math average score was 414. The Writing average score was 384. 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, 89 Sharon High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 427. The Math average score was 454. The Writing average score was 402.^[55] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[56] 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.^[57]

Graduation requirements

Among Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts, graduation requirements widely vary. Sharon City School Board has determined that a pupil must earn a set number of credits to graduate, including: a required class every year in math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education and electives.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.^[58] Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.^[59]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, around 98% of the school's body is made up of black African Americans. Beginning with the class of 1879, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams.^[60][61][62] 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.^[63] 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.^[64] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

Middle school

Sharon Middle School Middle School is located at 1129 East State Street, Sharon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 325 pupils in grades 7th and 8th, with 219 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 30 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 10:1.^[65] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[66]

In 2012, Sharon Middle School declined to School Improvement II AYP status due to continuing low student achievement. In 2011, Sharon Middle School declined to School Improvement I status due to chronic, low student achievement. In 2010, Sharon Middle School was in Warning AYP status due to lagging student academic achievement.^[67] The attendance rate was 93% in 2011. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the school administration to write a school improvement plan and to submit it for approval.

PSSA Results

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 29% on grade level (35% below basic). State – 59% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2011 - 37% (37% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - 35% (38% below basic). State – 57% ^[75]
• 2009 - 37% (38% below basic). State - 55%^[76]
• 2008 - 21%, (40% below basic). State - 52%^[77]

Elementary schools

Case Avenue Elementary School is located at 36 Case Avenue, Sharon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 531 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 372 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 33.6 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1.^[78] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[79] Case Avenue Elementary School provides Full-Day Kindergarten. Case Avenue Elementary School construction was nearly $22 million.^[80]

In 2012, Case Avenue Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.^[81] In 2011, Case Avenue Elementary School achieved AYP status under No Child Left Behind Act. In 2011, The United States Department of Education declared the school a Blue Ribbon School.^[82] From 2007 to 2010 the School achieved AYP status. In 2006 the School was in Warning AYP status.

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 81%, (5% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 81%, (6% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 79%, (2% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 87%, (6% below basic). State - 83%
• 2008 - 92%, (2% below basic). State - 81%

C. M. Musser Elementary School is located at 500 Cedar Ave, Sharon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 354 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 310 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 23 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1.^[87] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[88] Musser Elementary School provides Full-Day Kindergarten.

In 2012, Musser Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status.^[89] In 2011, the School achieved AYP status. In 2011 and 2012, Musser Elementary School was listed among the lowest 15% achieving schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. in 2007 theough 2010 the school achieved AYP status, while in 2006 the school was in Warning AYP status.

PSSA Results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 64% (9% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 50% (21% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 52% (18% below basic). State - 81%

West Hill Elementary School is located 301 Ellsworth Street, Sharon. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, West Hill Elementary School reported an enrollment of 272 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 251 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 23 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 11:1.^[92] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[93] West Hill Elementary School provides a Full-Day Kindergarten. In 2005, West Hill Elementary School was a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School.

In 2012, West Hill Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to missing all reading metrics and some math metrics.^[94] In 2009, 2010 and 2011, West Hill Elementary School achieved AYP status in reading and mathematics. In 2008 West Hill Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics.

PSSA results

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 72% (16% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 77% (5% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 69% (6% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 48% (13% below basic). State - 83%
• 2008 - 58% (14% below basic). State - 81%

Special education

In December 2012, the District administration reported that 413 pupils or 19.5% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 42% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.^[100] In December 2009, the District administration reported that 392 pupils or 18% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 45.9% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. Special education services in the Commonwealth are provided to students from ages three years to 21 years old. In the 2010-11 school year, the total student enrollment was more than 1.78 million students with approximately 275,000 students eligible for special education services. Among these students 18,959 were identified with mental retardation and 21,245 students with autism.^[101] The largest group of students are identified as Specific Learning Disabilities 126,026 students (46.9 percent) and Speech or Language Impairments with 43,542 students (16.2 percent).

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.^[102] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs.^[103] Over identification 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.^[104] 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.^[105] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.^[106]

Sharon City School District received a $1,472,345 supplement from the Commonwealth to pay for special education services in 2010.^[107] 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.^[108][109] Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.

Gifted education

Sharon City School District Administration reported that 126 or 5.92% of its students were gifted in 2009. The highest percentage of gifted students reported among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted.^[110] By law, public schools 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.^[111][112]

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 First.

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 (Spring Primary election). 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.^[113]

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Sharon City School District was $54,987 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $19,330 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $74,317.^[114]

In 2009, the Sharon City School District reported employing 179 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $56,530 and a top salary of $113,500.^[115] The teacher’s work day is 8.5 hours with a 30-minute duty-free lunch and a daily preparation period. There are 186 days in the teacher contract year. Additionally, the teachers receive: a defined benefit pension; health insurance, professional development reimbursement; 3 paid personal days; 10 paid sick days which accumulate; paid funeral leave; and other benefits. Sharon City School District pays a $400 bonus to teachers who do not use a single sick day in a school year.^[116]

Superintendent Mr. John Sarandrea's contract was terminated in June 2013, by the Sharon City School Board. The original contract was through June 30, 2014, with Mr Sarandrea's salary frozen for 3 years at $117,000.^[117][118] Sharon City School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $612.96 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[119] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains 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.^[120] According to PSBA, the median Superintendent salary rose to over $130,000 in 2011.^[121]

Per pupil spending In 2008, the Sharon City School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $10,745 which ranked 418th among Pennsylvania's then 501 public school districts. By 2010, the District’s per pupil spending had increased to $13,185.09.^[122] In 2011, Pennsylvania’s per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States.^[123] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.^[124] The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.^[125]

Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.^[126] Pennsylvania’s total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.^[127]

Reserves In 2013, Sharon City School District reported $8,125,000 in its designated fund. There was $1,882, 862 in the undesignated-unreserved fund for a total of $10,007,862 in reserves. In 2008, Sharon City School District reported a balance of $4,073,000, in its unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $1,735,938.^[128] In 2010, Sharon City School District Administration reported $1,716,051 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The District also reported $7,273,315 in its unreserved-designated fund in 2010 for total reserves of $8,989,366. Pennsylvania public school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. By law the state limits the total unreserved-undesignated fund balance at 8% of the annual budget for school districts that have budgets over $19 million a year. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.^[129] By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.^[130]

Audit In April 2013, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the District. The multiple serious findings were reported to the Sharon City School Board and the District’s administration.^[131]

Tuition Students who live in the Sharon City School 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 Sharon City 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 Sharon City School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $7,992.87, High School - $9,110.96.^[132]

The Sharon City School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax of 0.5%,^[133] a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.^[134] Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the District. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of the individual’s personal wealth.^[135] 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.^[136]

State basic education funding

For the 2013-14 school year, the Sharon City School District will receive $13,604,134 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding, which is $196,286 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Sharon City School District will receive $189,534 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. 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. The state funded the PSERS (state school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.^[137]

In the 2012-13 school year, the Sharon City School District received $13,597,382.^[138] 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. Sharon City School District received $189,534 in ABG funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.^[139] 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, Sharon City School District received a $13,407,439 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding.^[140][141] Additionally, the Sharon City School District received $189,534 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.^[142] The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.^[143] In 2010, the district reported that 1,427 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.^[144]

In the 2010-11 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.80% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $14,874,215 to Sharon City School District. Among the districts in Mercer County, the highest increase went to Greenville Area School District which got a 7.54% increase in BEF. 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.^[145] Fifteen (15) Pennsylvania public school districts received a BEF increase of greater than 10%. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell’s policy to fund some public school districts at a far greater rate than others.^[146]

In the 2009-10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.59% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $14,059,155. This was the highest increase awarded to Mercer County public school districts. Ninety (90) Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.^[147] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.^[148] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.^[149][150]

The state Basic Education Funding to the Sharon City School District in 2008-09 was $12,305,679.66. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,418 District students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[151]

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 Sharon City School District applied for and received $514,443 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten and extensive teacher training to improve instruction.^[152][153]

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Sharon City School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the District received $211,888. The District received $45,413 in 2008-09.^[154] Among Mercer County public school districts, the highest award was given to Greenville Area School District which received $344,743. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

Education Assistance grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11, the Sharon City School District received $46,404.^[155]

Science It’s Elementary grant

Musser Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It’s Elementary 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.^[156] 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.^[157] 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.^[158] 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.^[159] The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget. The grant was discontinued in 2010, by Governor Rendell, due to a massive state budget crisis.

Other grants

Sharon City School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal Stimulus grant

Sharon City School District received an extra $4,501,570 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.^[160][161] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.^[162] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one-time expenditures like: acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.

Race to the Top grant

Sharon City School District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars, in additional federal funding, to improve student academic achievement.^[163] 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.^[164] 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.^{[165][166][167]}

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2013-14 were set by the Sharon City School Board at 68.3000 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the Commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.^[168] Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and all government property (local, state and federal). Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.^[169]

The average yearly property tax paid by Mercer County residents amounts to about 2.88% of their yearly income. Mercer County ranked 672nd out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.^[177] 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.^[178] 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%).^[179]

Act 1 Adjusted Index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not permitted to raise property taxes above their annual Index unless they either: allow voters to vote by referendum or they receive an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The base index for the school year is published by the PDE in the fall of each year. Each individual school district’s Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as local property values and the personal income of district residents. Originally, Act 1 or 2006 included 10 exceptions: 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.^[180] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six exceptions to the Act 1 Index.^[181] Several exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school’s share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.^[182][183]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Sharon City School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.^[184]

For the 2013-14 budget year, Sharon City School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: teacher pension costs and Grandfathered Debt. Each year, the Sharon City 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.^[187] For 2013-2014, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.^[188]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Sharon City School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: special education costs and high teacher pension costs. For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.^[189]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Sharon City School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. 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.^[190]

Sharon City School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011.^[191] For the 2009-10 school budget, the Sharon City School Board also did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.^[192] 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.^[193]

Property tax relief

In 2012, 3,232 approved homestead/farmsteads in Sharon City School District received $233.^[194] The amount of property tax relief each Pennsylvania public school district receives is announced by the PDE in May each year. It is dependent on the amount of tax revenue collected on the casino slots in the previous year. In 2010, property tax relief for the approved homesteads of Sharon City School District was set at $237.^[195] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the School District was $257 per approved permanent primary residence. Among the 12 Mercer County public school districts, the highest tax relief went to Sharon City School District.^[196] The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.^[197] The tax 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.^[198]

Extracurriculars

Sharon City School District offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA).^[199] In sports, a students must be achieving at least a 74% in the core academic subject to be eligible to compete and a student must be passing at least four (4) credits to remain eligible per PIAA requirements.^[200]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[201]

Sports

The District funds:

Middle School Sports:

References

External links

• http://www.sharon.k12.pa.us