Carmichaels Area School District
Encyclopedia
The Carmichaels Area School District serves the Borough
of Carmichaels
and Cumberland Township
in Greene County, Pennsylvania
. The district operates one elementary school
, one junior high school and one senior high school. The district encompasses approximately 39 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 7,120. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06, the CASD provided basic educational services to 1,103 pupils through the employment of 81 teachers, 40 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 7 administrators. The district provides a taxpayer funded preschool program that is open to children who will be 3 or 4 years old before September 1. The program began in 2008.
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.
s.
2009 - 419th
2008 - 448th
2007 - 465th out of 501 school districts.
In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Carmichaels Area ranked 301st. In 2009 the district was 310th. The paper 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 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 Carmichaels Area School DIstrict was in the 21st percentile among 500 Pennsylvania School Districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
In 2009 the school was in Corrective Action I level
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
study released in January 2009, 41% of the Carmichaels Area Junior Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual Enrollment The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts with the assistance of a state grant.
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.
Beginning with the class of 2015, students must take the Keystone Exams in reading and math.
2010 - 82% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level. (69 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 68%, State - 80%
2008 - 79%, State - 78%
Math:
2010 - 75% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 75% of 8th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 76%, State - 71%
2008 - 76%, State - 70%
Science:
2010 - 49% on grade level. State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 74%, State - 55%.
2008 - 65%, State - 52%
2010 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders are on grade level. (71 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 63%, State - 71%
2008 - 56%, State - 70%
Math:
2010 - 74% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 77% of 7th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 70%, State - 75%
2008 - 70%, State - 70%
2010 - 68% on grade level. State: 68% of 6th graders were on grade level. (93 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 74%, State - 67%
2008 - 63%, State - 67%
6th Grade Math:
2010 - 80% on grade level. State - 78% of 6th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 83%, State - 75%
2008 - 67%, State -72%
5th Grade Reading:
2010 - 59% on grade level. State - 64% of 5th graders were on grade level. (76 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 66%, State - 64%
2008 - 64%, State - 61%
5th Grade Math:
2010 - 85% on grade level. State - 74% of 5th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 74%, State - 73%
2008 - 83%, State - 73%
4th Grade Reading:
2010 - 63% on grade level. State - 72% of 4th graders were on grade level. (71 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 55%, State - 72%
2008 - 53%, State - 70%
4th Grade Math:
2010 - 87% on grade level. State - 84% of 4th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 79%, State - 81
2008 - 83%, State - 79%
4th Grade Science:
2010 - 80% on grade level. State - 81% of 4th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 82%, State - 83%
2008 - 82%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
2010 - 72% on grade level. State - 75% of 3rd graders were on grade level. (65 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 77%, State - 77%
2008 - 74%, State - 77%
3rd Grade Math:
2010 - 90% on grade level. State - 84% of 3rd graders were on grade level.
2009 - 81%, State - 81%
2008 - 86%, State - 80%
The Carmichaels Area School Board prohibits bullying by district students and faculty. The policy defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
In 2007, the district employed 78 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,658 for 180 days worked. Carmichaels teachers were the highest paid in the county. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.
Carmichaels Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $723.08 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported a $2,523,851.00 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was repoted as zero.
The district administration reported that per pupil spending in 2008 was $11,391 which ranked 353rd in the state' 501 school districts.
In January 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the administration and the school board.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of personal wealth.
which got a 4.97% increase. 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.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6.33% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,997,835. This was among the second highest increase, in Basic Education Funding, that school districts in Greene County received. Southeastern Greene School District
got a 6.92%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,787,151.79. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District
in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, 292 students qualified for free or reduced lunch due to low family income in 2008.
grant which would have provided hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars to improve student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
and Southeastern Greene School District
is being conducted.
A study was done in 2004, examining consolidating Carmichaels Area School District with neighboring Southeastern Greene School District. It was estimated that over $2 million dollars in savings would be achieved. The study noted that consolidation could significantly decrease administrative costs for both communities while improving offerings to students. Consolidation of school district administrations does not require the consolidation of schools.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater). Statewide, there are 187 districts that are projected to have an enrollment decline of 15 percent or greater. Geographically, these districts are clustered in western Pennsylvania and in the state’s northern tier.
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. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.
in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Carmichaels Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.
2006-07 - 5.9%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 5.1%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 6.7%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 6.3%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 4.4%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%
The Carmichaels Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2009-10 or 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.
at $296. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District
of Delaware County
who received $632 per approved homestead. This was the third year they were the top recipient.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently, individual with income much more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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%).
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The policy requires that the Superintendent or designee shall report to the Board on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
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.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Carmichaels
Carmichaels, Pennsylvania
Carmichaels is a borough in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 556 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carmichaels is located at ....
and Cumberland Township
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,564 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
in Greene County, Pennsylvania
Greene County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,672 people, 15,060 households, and 10,587 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 16,678 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
. The district operates one elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, one junior high school and one senior high school. The district encompasses approximately 39 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 7,120. According to District officials, in school year 2005-06, the CASD provided basic educational services to 1,103 pupils through the employment of 81 teachers, 40 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 7 administrators. The district provides a taxpayer funded preschool program that is open to children who will be 3 or 4 years old before September 1. The program began in 2008.
Governance
The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act , is a United States federal statute enacted April 11, 1965. It was passed as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and has been the most far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by Congress...
and the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "F" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.
Academic achievement
Carmichaels Area School District was ranked 420th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts in 2010 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on four years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and two years of science PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s.
2009 - 419th
2008 - 448th
2007 - 465th out of 501 school districts.
In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Carmichaels Area ranked 301st. In 2009 the district was 310th. The paper 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 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 Carmichaels Area School DIstrict was in the 21st percentile among 500 Pennsylvania School Districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)
Graduation Rate
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Carmichaels Area High School's rate was 85% for 2010.According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 87%
- 2009 - 92%
- 2008 - 92%
- 2007 - 92%
Carmichaels Area Junior-Senior High School
In 2010, the school is in Making Progress: in Corrective Action I due to the chronic low academic performance of its students.In 2009 the school was in Corrective Action I level
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 69% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level. (79 pupils enrolled)
- 2009 - 57%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 63%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 57%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 58% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders on grade level.
- 2009 - 45%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 43%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 45%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 36% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 32%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 26%, State - 39%
College Remediation Rate
According to a Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
study released in January 2009, 41% of the Carmichaels Area Junior Senior High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large public university system in the United States. It is the tenth-largest university system in the United States and 43rd largest in the world...
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual Enrollment The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts with the assistance of a state grant.
Graduation requirements
The Carmichaels Area School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 25 credits to graduate including: a required class every year in math, English, social studies, science, Physical Education and eight electives.By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.
Beginning with the class of 2015, students must take the Keystone Exams in reading and math.
Challenge Program
The Challenge Program, Inc. offers $250.00 cash incentives to Carmichaels Area Junior Senior High School students who excel in the categories of: Academic Improvement, Attendance, Community Service and Academic Excellence. The program partners with businesses to motivate students both in and out of the classroom by encouraging good habits in students that will last throughout their education and into their future careers. For the 2010-2011 school year, the top 10% of students in each of the categories will be eligible to win $250.00.Eight Grade
Reading2010 - 82% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 81% of 8th graders on grade level. (69 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 68%, State - 80%
2008 - 79%, State - 78%
Math:
2010 - 75% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 75% of 8th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 76%, State - 71%
2008 - 76%, State - 70%
Science:
2010 - 49% on grade level. State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 74%, State - 55%.
2008 - 65%, State - 52%
Seventh Grade
Reading:2010 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 73% of 7th graders are on grade level. (71 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 63%, State - 71%
2008 - 56%, State - 70%
Math:
2010 - 74% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 77% of 7th graders are on grade level.
2009 - 70%, State - 75%
2008 - 70%, State - 70%
Carmichaels Area Elementary School
6th Grade Reading:2010 - 68% on grade level. State: 68% of 6th graders were on grade level. (93 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 74%, State - 67%
2008 - 63%, State - 67%
6th Grade Math:
2010 - 80% on grade level. State - 78% of 6th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 83%, State - 75%
2008 - 67%, State -72%
5th Grade Reading:
2010 - 59% on grade level. State - 64% of 5th graders were on grade level. (76 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 66%, State - 64%
2008 - 64%, State - 61%
5th Grade Math:
2010 - 85% on grade level. State - 74% of 5th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 74%, State - 73%
2008 - 83%, State - 73%
4th Grade Reading:
2010 - 63% on grade level. State - 72% of 4th graders were on grade level. (71 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 55%, State - 72%
2008 - 53%, State - 70%
4th Grade Math:
2010 - 87% on grade level. State - 84% of 4th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 79%, State - 81
2008 - 83%, State - 79%
4th Grade Science:
2010 - 80% on grade level. State - 81% of 4th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 82%, State - 83%
2008 - 82%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
2010 - 72% on grade level. State - 75% of 3rd graders were on grade level. (65 pupils enrolled)
2009 - 77%, State - 77%
2008 - 74%, State - 77%
3rd Grade Math:
2010 - 90% on grade level. State - 84% of 3rd graders were on grade level.
2009 - 81%, State - 81%
2008 - 86%, State - 80%
Bullying policy
In 2009 the administrative reported there were no incidents of bullying in the district.The Carmichaels Area School Board prohibits bullying by district students and faculty. The policy defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
Budget
In 2009, the district reported employing 88 teachers with a salary range of $37,000 to $95,000.In 2007, the district employed 78 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,658 for 180 days worked. Carmichaels teachers were the highest paid in the county. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.
Carmichaels Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $723.08 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported a $2,523,851.00 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was repoted as zero.
The district administration reported that per pupil spending in 2008 was $11,391 which ranked 353rd in the state' 501 school districts.
In January 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the administration and the school board.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of personal wealth.
State basic education funding
For the 2010-11 budget year, the district was allotted a 3.92% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,272,489. The highest increase in Greene County was given to Central Greene School DistrictCentral Greene School District
The Central Greene School District covers the Borough of Waynesburg and Franklin Township, Perry Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township and Whiteley Township in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 168 square miles. According to the 2000 federal census data, it serves a...
which got a 4.97% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6.33% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,997,835. This was among the second highest increase, in Basic Education Funding, that school districts in Greene County received. Southeastern Greene School District
Southeastern Greene School District
Southeastern Greene School District is a public school district located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It serves the borough of Greensboro, Monongahela Township, Dunkard Township, and Greene Township. Upper level students attend the district's Mapletown Jr-Sr High School. The SGSD encompasses...
got a 6.92%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,787,151.79. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District
Muhlenberg School District
The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...
in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.
Accountability Block Grants
Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, All Day Kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math Coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010-11 the district applied for and received $256,293 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full day kindergarten for the fifth year.- 2009-10 - $256,293 for Full Day Kindergarten
- 2008-09 - $256,293 for Full Day Kindergarten
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. For the 2010-11 school year the state awarded $47.6 million in Education Assistance grants. 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 Carmichael Area School District received $23,680.Classrooms for the Future grant
The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Carmichaels Area School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $50,000 and in 2008-09 $45,413 for a total of $95,413.Environmental Education Grant
The Environmental Education Grant Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates that 5 percent of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department of Environmental Protection be set aside for environmental education. In 2009, Carmichaels was awarded $3000 to conduct several field trips and in class studies that will allow for students to understand ecosystem composition and properties. In 2010, Carmichaels was awarded $3,000 to coordinate field trips where students will assess biodiversity at various nature centers, including forest composition, soil properties, wildlife signs and water quality.Federal Stimulus Grant
The district received an extra $1,331,892 in ARRAArra
Arra is a census town in Puruliya district in the state of West Bengal, India.-Demographics: India census, Arra had a population of 19,911. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Arra has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 59% of the...
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, 292 students qualified for free or reduced lunch due to low family income in 2008.
Race to the Top grant
District officials did not apply for the federal Race to the TopRace to the Top
Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...
grant which would have provided hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars to improve student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
Common Cents state initiative
The school board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.Enrollment and Consolidation
In 2010 a study on the possible consolidation of services between Carmichaels Area School District, Jefferson-Morgan School DistrictJefferson-Morgan School District
Jefferson-Morgan School District is located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It serves the boroughs of Jefferson, Rices Landing, and Clarksville. It also serves Jefferson and Morgan townships. The district encompasses approximately 47 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves...
and Southeastern Greene School District
Southeastern Greene School District
Southeastern Greene School District is a public school district located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It serves the borough of Greensboro, Monongahela Township, Dunkard Township, and Greene Township. Upper level students attend the district's Mapletown Jr-Sr High School. The SGSD encompasses...
is being conducted.
A study was done in 2004, examining consolidating Carmichaels Area School District with neighboring Southeastern Greene School District. It was estimated that over $2 million dollars in savings would be achieved. The study noted that consolidation could significantly decrease administrative costs for both communities while improving offerings to students. Consolidation of school district administrations does not require the consolidation of schools.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater). Statewide, there are 187 districts that are projected to have an enrollment decline of 15 percent or greater. Geographically, these districts are clustered in western Pennsylvania and in the state’s northern tier.
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. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.
Real estate taxes
Property tax rates in 2010-11 were set by the school board at 21.5000 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.- 2009-10 - 21.5000 mills.
- 2008-09 - 21.5000 mills.
Act 1 Adjusted Index
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor StatisticsBureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...
in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Carmichaels Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.
2006-07 - 5.9%, Base 3.9%
2007-08 - 5.1%, Base 3.4%
2008-09 - 6.7%, Base 4.4%
2009-10 - 6.3%, Base 4.1%
2010-11 - 4.4%, Base 2.9%
2011-12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%
The Carmichaels Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2009-10 or 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 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Carmichaels Area School District was $231 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 1,864 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 acres (40,468.6 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Greene County, 37% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. In Greene County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2010, went to Central Greene School DistrictCentral Greene School District
The Central Greene School District covers the Borough of Waynesburg and Franklin Township, Perry Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township and Whiteley Township in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 168 square miles. According to the 2000 federal census data, it serves a...
at $296. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District
Chester Upland School District
The Chester Upland School District is a public school district serving the City of Chester, the Borough of Upland and Chester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...
of Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
who received $632 per approved homestead. This was the third year they were the top recipient.
- 2009 - $240 for 1,794 properties.
- 2008 - $273 for 1,576 properties.
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, individual with income much more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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%).
Wellness policy
Carmichaels Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch ActNational School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The policy requires that the Superintendent or designee shall report to the Board on the district’s compliance with law and policies related to student wellness.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.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.
High school sports
Carmichaels Area High School is a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). Carmichaels is in PIAA District 7.| Sport Name | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... |
Class A | N/A |
| Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
Class A | Class A |
| Baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... /Softball Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand... |
Class A | Class A |
| Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
Class AAAA | N/A |