The Lakeview School District is a small, rural public school district serving parts of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The District encompasses multiple rural communities, including: Fairview Township, New Vernon Township, New Lebanon, Mill Creek Township, Stoneboro, Lake Township, Sandy Lake, Sandy Lake Township, Jackson Township, Jackson Center, and Worth Township. Lakeview School District encompasses approximately 146 square miles (380 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, Lakeview School District served a district population of 8,462. By 2010, the District's population increased to 8,604 people. In 2009, Lakeview School District residents' per capita income was $16,811, while the median family income was $40,063. The District is one of the 500 public school districts of Pennsylvania.
During the 2007-08 school year, the Lakeview School District provided basic educational services to 1,318 pupils through the employment of 102 teachers, 70 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 6 administrators. Lakeview School District received more than $8.8 million in state funding in school year 2007-08. In 2009-10, Lakeview School District provided basic educational services to 1,291 pupils. At the time, the District employed 98 teachers, 76 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 6 administrators during the 2009-10 school year. Lakeview School District received $9 million in state funding in the 2009-10 school year.
Lakeview School District operates: Oakview Elementary School, Lakeview Middle School, and Lakeview High School. The District provides a full-day kindergarten and a taxpayer funded preschool.
Video Lakeview School District (Mercer County, Pennsylvania)
Governance
Lakeview 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. 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 a "F" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.
Maps Lakeview School District (Mercer County, Pennsylvania)
Academic achievement
Lakeview School District was ranked 243rd out of the 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2013, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, mathematics and science PSSAs. The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.
- 2012 - 229th
- 2011 - 211th
- 2010 - 211th
- 2009 - 177th
- 2008 - 157th
- 2007 - 148th out of 501 school districts.
- Overachiever statewide ranking
In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Lakeview School District ranked 200th. In 2011, the District was ranked 164th. 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."
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of the Lakeview School District was in the 58th percentile of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
- District AYP status history
In 2012, Lakeview School District achieved AYP status. In 2011, Lakeview 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. Lakeview School District also achieved AYP status each year from 2003 to 2010.
Graduation rate
In 2012, Lakeview School District reported a 95% graduation rate. In 2011, The District's graduation rate was 97%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Lakeview School District's rate was 96% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 98%
- 2009 - 96%
- 2008 - 100%
- 2007 - 100%
High school
Lakeview High School is located at 2482 Mercer Street, Stoneboro. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 407 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 157 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school is a federally designated Title I school. Lakeview High School employed 28 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 5 teachers were rated "Non-Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 2012, Lakeview High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging student academic achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Lakeview High School achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. Lakeview High School also achieved AYP in both 2009 and 2010.
- 11th Grade Reading
- 2012 - 71% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2011 - 71% (8% below basic). State - 69.1%
- 2010 - 76% (13% below basic). State - 66%
- 2009 - 70% (15% below basic), State - 65%
- 2008 - 76% (8% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 79% (11% below basic), State - 65%
- 11th Grade Math
- 2012 - 57% on grade level (19% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2011 - 64% (12% below basic). State - 60.3%
- 2010 - 65% (20% below basic). State - 59%
- 2009 - 53% (26% below basic). State - 56%.
- 2008 - 60% (20% below basic), State - 56%
- 2007 - 52% (23% below basic), State - 53%
- 11th Grade Science
- 2012 - 38% on grade level (9% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2011 - 55% (10% below basic). State - 40%
- 2010 - 44% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 42% (15% below basic). State - 40%
- 2008 - 49%, State - 39%
Science in Motion Lakeview High School took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. The High School faculty worked with Westminster College to provide the enrichment experiences.
College Remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 10% of Lakeview High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual enrollment
Lakeview 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 the high school. The courses count towards both high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. Lakeview High School students can participate in dual enrollment opportunities through Butler Community College and Clarion University. The students continue to have full access to activities at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the Lakeview School District received a state grant of $17,752 for its Dual enrollment program. The grants were discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell with the 2010-11 budget.
Graduation requirements
The Lakeview School Board has determined that District students must earn 26 credits in order to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Social Studies 3 credits, Mathematics 3 credits, Science 3 credits, Physical Education 1.75 credits, Health 0.25 credit and 8.5 elective credits. Students are required to schedule 7 credits each year.
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. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate. 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. 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. 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.
SAT scores
In 2012, 58 Lakeview School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 474. The Math average score was 465. The Writing average score was 447. 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, 69 Lakeview School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 466. The Math average score was 477. The Writing average score was 451. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. 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.
Middle school
Lakeview Middle School is located at 2482 Mercer Street, Stoneboro. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 403 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 165 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 32 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1 teacher was rated "Non-Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 2009 through 2012, Lakeview Middle School achieved AYP status each school year.
- PSSA Results
- 8th Grade Science
- 2012 - 71% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 59%
- 2011 - 65% (13% below basic). State - 58.3%
- 2010 - 69% (14% below basic). State - 57%
- 2009 - 67% (14% below basic). State - 55%
- 2008 - 63%, State - 52%
Oakview Elementary School
Oakview Elementary School is located at 1387 School Road, Stoneboro. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 450 pupils in grades preschool through 5th, with 200 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 33.5 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. The Oakview Elementary School hosts an Intermediate Unit Early Intervention program for students that are 3 years old and a taxpayer funded Pre K program for 4-year-old students as well as a full-day kindergarten.
In 2012, Oakview Elementary School achieved AYP status. In 2011, Oakview Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status. In 2010 and 2009, the School achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was 94% both years.
- 4th Grade Science
- 2012 - 97%, 71% advanced (1% below basic). State - 82%
- 2011 - 93%, 63% advanced (1% below basic). State - 82.9%
- 2010 - 89% (4% below basic). State - 81%
- 2009 - 92% (1% below basic). State - 83%
- 2008 - 81%, State - 81%
Special education
In December 2012, Lakeview School District administration reported that 201 pupils or 16% of the District's pupils received Special Education services with 39% of identified students having a specific learning disability. In 2009, the District administration reported that 192 pupils or 14.9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.
In compliance with state and federal laws, the school district engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are intended to yield student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Special Education administration. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from the professional employees of the District or contact the Special Education Department.
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. 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. 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. 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. In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.
Lakeview School District received a $724,649 supplement for special education services in 2010. 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. 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. Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.
Gifted education
The District Administration reported that 33 or 2.38% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.
Bullying policy and school safety
In 2012, Lakeview School District administration reported there was one incident of bullying and one incident of a pupil with a gun. In 2010, Lakeview School District administration reported there were three reported episodes of bullying in the District. There were 23 incidents of fighting and no students were placed in Alternative Education.
The Lakeview School Board provides its bullying policy online. 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 and are required to review their antibullying policy every three years. According to Pennsylvania law, the district must conduct an annual review of its bullying 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.
Enrollment
According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there were 1,200 students enrolled in preK-12th in 2012-13 school year at Lakeview School District. There were 98 students in the Class of 2009. The District's class of 2010 had 96 students. Enrollment is projected to decline to 1,056 students by 2020. A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard and Poor's, examined the consolidation of neighboring districts with enrollment under 2000 pupils. The study found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings which varied by public school district.
According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes. Consolidation of two central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. The Governor's proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.
Over the decade 2000-2010, rural Pennsylvania public school district enrollment decreased 8 percent. As the enrollment declined, per pupil administrative costs of the schools continue to rise. In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of millions of tax dollars, by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation, with no impact on programs offered to students.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
Budget
Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1.
Under Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days' public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.
In 2011, the average teacher salary in Lakeview School District was $52,979 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $16,366 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $69,346. In 2012, the District reported employing 106 teachers and administrators with the top salary of $111,250.
In 2009, Lakeview School District employed over 102 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $51,798 for 185 days worked. The beginning salary was $37,560, while the highest salary was $103,115. Teachers work a 7-hour 30 minutes day, with one planning period and a paid 30 minute lunch included. Additionally, the teachers receive: a defined benefit pension, health insurance (employee pays $55 per month), dental insurance, life insurance, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 2 paid emergency days, 10 paid sick days which accumulate, paid bereavement leave and many other benefits. The district provides the union with 10 paid teacher days to be used for union business. The union pays for a substitute teacher when needed. After 15 years in the district teachers receive annual longevity bonuses in addition to the raises. The district offers an extensive retirement/longevity package which includes payment for unused sick days. The district offers strong compensation for coaching in sports and advising clubs. According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System Board of Trustees, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the Lakeview School District employed 86 teachers working 180 days of pupil instruction. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,369. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.
Per pupil spending In 2008, per pupil spending at Lakeview School District was $10,667 for each child. This ranked 425th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. In 2010, the District's per pupil spending had increased to $11,045. In 2011, Pennsylvania's per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.
Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. Pennsylvania's total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.
Lakeview School District administrative costs was $731.38 per pupil in 2008. This is ranked 273rd among in the 500 school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
Contract In 2012, the Lakeview School Board and the District's teachers union agreed to a contract for the years July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2015. The contract includes a pay freeze for the first year. The faculty will then average a 0.68 percent base pay raise plus 1.57 percent step increases. The teachers will pay a small health care deductibles, monthly premiums and co-pays. There are a;so modifications to the teachers' prescription drug plan and tuition reimbursement benefits.
Reserves In 2008, the Lakeview School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $1,434,628 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $1,049,447. In 2012, Lakeview School District reported having $7,683,376 in reserves. Pennsylvania public school district reserve funds are divided into two categories - designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds. By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.
Audits In June 2013, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the Lakeview School District. Multiple serious findings were uncovered including: conflicts of interest, certificate deficiencies, erroneous pupil membership reporting, failure to comply with state law regarding voting on salary raises and others. Multiple teachers lacked appropriate certificates to teach.The Issues were reported to the Lakeview School Board and administration. In July 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The audit covered the period September 21, 2007 through February 19, 2010. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.
Tuition Students who live in the Lakeview 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 Lakeview 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 Lakeview School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $7,626.44, High School - $8,214.50.
Lakeview School District is funded by a combination of: a local tax on earned income 0.5%, an Occupation Privilege Tax $10 per annum, Per Capita taxes $10 per person, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants have provided 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. 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.
State basic education funding
For the 2013-14 school year, Lakeview School District will receive a 1.4% increase or $6,486,426 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $$87,786 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Lakeview School District will receive $91,945 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Mercer County, Hermitage School District received the highest percentage increase at 2.2%. The District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth's budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania's 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding. The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.
For the 2012-13 school year, Lakeview School District received $$5,130,855 in state basic education funding. 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. Lakeview School District received $91,945 in Accountability Block Grant 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. 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 the 2011-12 budget, Lakeview School District received $6,398,640 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, Lakeview School District received $114,032 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. In 2010, Lakeview School District reported that 471 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level.
For the 2010-11 budget year, the Lakeview School District received a 2.57% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $6,843,926. This was the second lowest increase awarded a public school district in Mercer County. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received the 2% base increase for budget year 2010-11. The highest increase in Mercer County was awarded to Greenville Area School District which got a 7.54% increase in basic education funding from the state. The highest increase in the state was awarded to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which was given a 23.65% increase in state basic education funding. 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.
In the 2009-10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.28% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $6,672,635 to the Lakeview School District. Three county school districts received increases of over 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2009-10. Sharon City School District received a 7.59% increase. In Pennsylvania, 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by then Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak through the allocation they set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
The state Basic Education Funding to the Lakeview School District in 2008-09 was $6,398,640.43. In 2008, Lakeview School District reported that 396 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level. 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.
Accountability Block Grant
The state provides additional education funding to schools in the form of Accountability Block Grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses designed to improve student academic achievement. Lakeview School District uses its $249,563 to fund all-day kindergarten and to do teacher training to improve their instruction. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding. Public School Districts apply each year for Accountability Block Grants. In 2009-10, the state provided $271.4 million in Accountability Block grants, with $199.5 million going to providing all-day kindergartens.
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 program was funded from 2006-2009. Lakeview School District did not apply for funding in 2006-07 nor in 2007-08. For the 2008-09, school year Lakeview School District received a final $77,057. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards. Among the public school districts in Mercer County, Greenville Area School District received the largest funding $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.
Other grants
Lakeview School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell), Education Assistance Grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.
Federal stimulus grant
The Lakeview School District received $1,208,600. in ARRA - Federal stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years. 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
Lakeview School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district several hundred thousand additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Several Mercer County school districts did apply for funding. 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 Lakeview School District School Board chose 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
Lakeveiw School Board set the property taxes rate at 46.1700 mills for the 2012-13 school year. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. 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. 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. Taxpayers qualify for a 2% discount if paid within two (2) months.
- 2011-12 - 46.1700 mills
- 2010-11 - 46.1700 mills
- 2009-10 - 46.1700 mills.
- 2008-09 - 46.1700 mills.
- 2007-08 - 46.1700 mills.
- 2006-07 - 46.1700 mills.
- 2005-06 - 44.1700 mills.
The average yearly property tax paid by Mercer County residents amounts to about 2.88% of their yearly income. Schuylkill County ranked 672nd out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income. 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. 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%).
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 taxes above that index, unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year. With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly voted to end most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Lakeview School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.
For the 2013-14 budget year, Lakeview School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed their Act 1 Index limit. For the school budget year 2013-14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.
For the 2012-13 budget year, Lakeview School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. 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.
For the 2011-12 school year, the Lakeview School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Lakeview 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.
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.
Lakeview School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009-10 or in 2010-11. 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.
Property tax relief
In 2011, property tax relief for 2,498 approved residents of Lakeview School District was set at $146. In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Lakeview School District was $156 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,330 property owners applied for the tax relief. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.
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, consequently individuals who have income substantially more than $35,000, still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief. The Property tax/rent rebate program is funded by revenues from the Pennsylvania Lottery. In 2012, these property tax rebates were increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the state, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more than 15% of their income in property taxes.
Extracurriculars
Lakeview School District offers a variety of clubs, activities and costly middle school and high school sports programs. The high school is a District 10 member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Eligibility to participate is determined by school board policies and the PIAA.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
Sports
The District funds:
- Junior High School Sports
According to PIAA directory January 2018
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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