Oil City Area School District
Encyclopedia
The Oil City Area School District is a midsized, rural public school district in Venango County, Pennsylvania
, centered on the city of Oil City
. Other communities that it serves include: the borough of Rouseville
, and townships of Oakland
, President, and Cornplanter. The district covers approximately 71.4 square miles (184.9 km²) in central Venango County. According to 2000 federal census data, the district serves a resident population of 16,270. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income
was $15,503, while the median family income was $38,401. Per school district officials, in school year 2007-08 the Oil City Area School Distirct provided basic educational services to 2,355 pupils through the employment of 167 teachers, 58 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators. In 2006, the 2,122 student population was 96% white, 3% black, < 0.5% asian, native american < 0.5% and 1% hispanic. Oil City Area School District received more than $17.3 million in state education funding for the school year 2007-08. It is one of eight public school districts in Venango County.
The district operates four elementary schools---Hasson Heights, Oakland, Seventh Street, and Smedley Street, plus one middle school and one high school.
Oil City Area School District was ranked 457th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance based on the PSSA
s for: reading, writing, math and three years of science.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Oil City Area School District, was in the bottom 8 percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
In 2010, Oil City School District declined to Warning AYP status due to the chronic, low student reading and mathematic achievement.
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Oil City Area School District's rate was 83% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology
, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
College remediation:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 17% of Oil City Area 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.
program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state 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.
In 2010 the district received a $11,912 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books.
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
The district's elementary schools are Title 1 school wide schools. The Title I Parent Coordinator and the Title I staff provide parent meetings that address topics of interest to schools: i.e. homework, tips, hands on learning, family bookmaking, reading nights, PSSA information, etc. Materials are provided for home use at these meetings. An annual meeting is held in the spring to fully explain the Title I program. Title 1 is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
, a federally funded program of school reading and math assistance and family outreach to children from low income homes.
services.
In accordance with state and federal law, the District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee 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.
Oil City Area School District received a $1,466,039 supplement for special education services in 2010. The state provided the same level of funding for 2011-12.
The School Board has not provided the district's antibully policy in the school district's web site. No school board policies are posted with the district web site. Incidents of bullying by the coaching staff have been reported in a national psychology journal. The district has implemented an antibullying program in the middle school. 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.
, health insurance
, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 sick days, 3 paid bereavement days, paid leave for teacher's religious holidays, and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra when they are required to work outside of the regular school day hours. Severance includes payment for unused sick days up to $12,375. The retirement incentive is up to $10,000 depending on length of service with the district. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the district employed 165 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,084 for 180 school days worked.
Oil City Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $823.06 per pupil. The district is ranked 168th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, Oil City Area School District reported spending $11,341 per pupil. This ranked 360th in the commonwealth.
Reserves
In 2009, the district reported $3,876,788 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $1,370,311.
In July 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Significant findings were reported to the administration and school board.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.
in Allegheny County which received an over 49% increase for 2011-12.
For 2010-11, Oil City Area School District received a 2% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $13,962,921 payment. Valley Grove School District received a 3.88% increase, which was the highest increase in BEF in Venango County. Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.33% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $13,689,139. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $13,121,530.74. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. Franklin Area School District
received highest increase in BEF awarded by the Commonwealth, in Venango County, for the 2009-10 school year, a 6.43% increase. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, 1,005 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
- 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 2010-11 school years.
federal grant which would have brought the district over one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
es were 16.6100 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. 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 (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.
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 Oil City Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
For the 2011-12 school year the Oil City Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For each annual school budget, the Oil City Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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. With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly eliminated most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of future large construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.
Oil City Area 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.
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Oil City Area School District was $274 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,878 property owners applied for the tax relief. This was the highest tax relief awarded in Venango County. The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's 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. The Pennsylvania Auditor General found that 73% of property owners applied for tax relief in Venango County. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County
at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year Chester Upland School District was 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 individuals who have income substantially 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%).
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 home schooled, 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.
Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,984. Its county seat is Franklin.-History:Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties...
, centered on the city of Oil City
Oil City, Pennsylvania
Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker...
. Other communities that it serves include: the borough of Rouseville
Rouseville, Pennsylvania
Rouseville is a borough in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 472 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rouseville is located at ....
, and townships of Oakland
Oakland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Oakland Township is a township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.2 square miles , of which, 29.0 square miles of it is land and...
, President, and Cornplanter. The district covers approximately 71.4 square miles (184.9 km²) in central Venango County. According to 2000 federal census data, the district serves a resident population of 16,270. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
was $15,503, while the median family income was $38,401. Per school district officials, in school year 2007-08 the Oil City Area School Distirct provided basic educational services to 2,355 pupils through the employment of 167 teachers, 58 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators. In 2006, the 2,122 student population was 96% white, 3% black, < 0.5% asian, native american < 0.5% and 1% hispanic. Oil City Area School District received more than $17.3 million in state education funding for the school year 2007-08. It is one of eight public school districts in Venango County.
The district operates four elementary schools---Hasson Heights, Oakland, Seventh Street, and Smedley Street, plus one middle school and one high school.
Academic achievement
Oil City Area School District academic achievement is in the lowest 10% of the 500 public school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Oil City Area School District was ranked 457th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance based on the PSSA
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s for: reading, writing, math and three years of science.
- 2010 - 458th
- 2009 - 459th
- 2008 - 446th
- 2007 - 411th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.
In 2009, the academic achievement, of the students in the Oil City Area School District, was in the bottom 8 percentile among all 500 Pennsylvania school districts Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
In 2010, Oil City School District declined to Warning AYP status due to the chronic, low student reading and mathematic achievement.
Graduation rate
In 2010, 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...
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Oil City Area School District's rate was 83% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 90%
- 2009 - 89%
- 2008 - 82%
- 2007 - 82%
Graduation Requirements
By law, all Pennsylvania high 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. At Oil City Area Senior HIgh School it is a four year process that includes community service and and career exploration through job shadowing.By Pennsylvania State School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.
High school
In 2010, the high school has declined to Warning AYP status. In 2009, the school achieved AYP status.11th Grade Reading
- 2010 - 54% on grade level (32% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 58% (23% below basic), State - 65%
- 2008 - 61% (19% below basic), State - 65%
- 2007 - 68% (14% below basic), State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 55%, on grade level (28% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2009 - 57% (23% below basic). State - 56%.
- 2008 - 59% (20% below basic), State - 56%
- 2007 - 49% (25% below basic), State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 34% on grade level (20% below basic). State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2009 - 29% (19% below basic). State - 40%
- 2008 - 30%, State - 39%
College remediation:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
study released in January 2009, 17% of Oil City Area 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 offers the Pennsylvania Dual EnrollmentDual 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. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state 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.
In 2010 the district received a $11,912 state grant to be used to assist students with tuition, fees and books.
Middle School
In 2010, the middle school has declined to Corrective Action I AYP status due to chronic low student achievement. In 2009, the school was in School Improvement II AYP status. The school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop an improvement plan. Students may transfer to a successful school in the district. The attendance was reported as 95%.8th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 71% on grade level. 43% advanced (15% below basic) State - 81%
- 2009 - 70%, 44% advanced (15% below basic), State - 80%
- 2008 - 76%, 40% advanced (14% below basic), State - 78%
- 2007 - 66%, 30% advanced (12% below basic), State - 75%
8th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 74% on grade level, 48% advanced (13% below basic). State - 75%
- 2009 - 73%, 41% advanced (13% below basic). State - 71%
- 2008 - 69%, 32% advanced (10% below basic). State - 70%
- 2007 - 69%, 31% advanced (17% below basic). State - 67%
8th Grade Science:
- 2010 - 51% on grade level (28% below basic). State - 57%.
- 2009 - 44% (23% below basic), State - 54%
- 2008 - 46%, State - 52%
7th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 63% on grade level. 29% advanced, (22% below basic). State - 73%
- 2009 - 62%, 23% advanced (17% below basic). State - 71.7%
- 2008 - 57%, 14% advanced (25% below basic). State - 70%
- 2007 - 62%, 25% advanced (19% below basic). State - 66%
7th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 76% on grade level. 44% advanced (14% below basic). State - 77%
- 2009 - 76%, 46% advanced (12% below basic). State - 75%
- 2008 - 66%, 32% advanced (21% below basic). State - 72%
- 2007 - 65%, 29% advanced (18% below basic). State - 67%
6th Grade Reading:
- 2010 - 59% on grade level. 27% advanced, (24% below basic). State - 68%
- 2009 - 47%, 23% advanced (27% below basic). State - 67%
- 2008 - 46%, 14% advanced (28% below basic), State - 67%
- 2007 - 50%, 14% advanced (22% below basic), State - 63%
6th Grade Math:
- 2010 - 65% on grade level. 42% advanced (18% below basic). State - 78%
- 2009 - 61%, 36% advanced (19% below basic). State - 75%
- 2008 - 51%, 26% advanced (25% below basic). State - 72%
- 2007 - 40%, 8% advanced (30% below basic). State - 69%
Elementary schools
- Hasson Heights Elementary School - Warning status AYP level Report Card 2010 http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S106616203000004115.PDF
- Oakland Elementary School - made AYP Report Card 2010 http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S106616203000004109.PDF
- Seventh Street Elementary School - Warning status AYP level Report Card 2010 http://paayp.emetric.net/Content/reportcards/RC10S106616203000004112.PDF
- Smedley Street Elementary School - serves grades below 3rd grade
The district's elementary schools are Title 1 school wide schools. The Title I Parent Coordinator and the Title I staff provide parent meetings that address topics of interest to schools: i.e. homework, tips, hands on learning, family bookmaking, reading nights, PSSA information, etc. Materials are provided for home use at these meetings. An annual meeting is held in the spring to fully explain the Title I program. Title 1 is part of 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...
, a federally funded program of school reading and math assistance and family outreach to children from low income homes.
Special Education
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 525 pupils or 23% of the district's pupils received Special EducationSpecial education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
services.
In accordance with state and federal law, the District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee 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.
Oil City Area School District received a $1,466,039 supplement for special education services in 2010. The state provided the same level of funding for 2011-12.
Gifted Education
The District Administration reported that 59 or 2.64% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.Cyber School
The district provides a cyber school program for pupils in grade 3rd to 12th. It is provided through Bridgewater Academy. Cyber school students are permitted to attend or participate in all district-sponsored activities, including athletics, clubs, special social events. Students may also choose from several state wide cyber schools. The district pays the full cost of tuition.Bullying and school safety
The Oil City Area School District administration reported there were 40 incidents of bullying in the district in 2009-10.The School Board has not provided the district's antibully policy in the school district's web site. No school board policies are posted with the district web site. Incidents of bullying by the coaching staff have been reported in a national psychology journal. The district has implemented an antibullying program in the middle school. 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 reports employing over 180 teachers with a starting salary of $38,863 for 180 days for pupil instruction. The average teacher salary was $50,946 while the maximum salary is $110,322. 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. The school day is limited by the union contract to 7.5 hours. Additionally, Oil City Area School District teachers receive a defined benefit pensionPension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 sick days, 3 paid bereavement days, paid leave for teacher's religious holidays, and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra when they are required to work outside of the regular school day hours. Severance includes payment for unused sick days up to $12,375. The retirement incentive is up to $10,000 depending on length of service with the district. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the district employed 165 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,084 for 180 school days worked.
Oil City Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $823.06 per pupil. The district is ranked 168th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, Oil City Area School District reported spending $11,341 per pupil. This ranked 360th in the commonwealth.
Reserves
In 2009, the district reported $3,876,788 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $1,370,311.
In July 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Significant findings were reported to the administration and school board.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.
State basic education funding
In 2011-12, the district will receive $13,117,187 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the Oil City School District district will receive $193,572 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 DistrictDuquesne City School District
The is a tiny, suburban public school district in the state of Pennsylvania. It is located in the east hills of Allegheny County, and serves the City of Duquesne , a former mill town on the banks of the Monongahela River. Duquesne City School District encompasses approximately 2 square miles...
in Allegheny County which received an over 49% increase for 2011-12.
For 2010-11, Oil City Area School District received a 2% increase in state Basic Education Funding resulting in a $13,962,921 payment. Valley Grove School District received a 3.88% increase, which was the highest increase in BEF in Venango County. Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
received the highest increase in the state at 23.65% increase in funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in 2010-11. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.33% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $13,689,139. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $13,121,530.74. The district also received supplemental funding for English language learners, Title 1 federal funding for low income students, for district size, a poverty supplement from the commonwealth and more. Franklin Area School District
Franklin Area School District
Franklin Area School District is a rural, public school system headquartered in Franklin, Venango County, located in western Pennsylvania. Franklin Area School District encompasses approximately 186 square miles...
received highest increase in BEF awarded by the Commonwealth, in Venango County, for the 2009-10 school year, a 6.43% increase. Among the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg School District
Muhlenberg School District
The Muhlenberg Area School District is a public school district serving parts of Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. It encompasses the borough of Laureldale and the Muhlenberg Township. The district encompasses approximately 13 square miles. Per the 2000 federal census data it serves a resident...
in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding.
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...
, 1,005 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.
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 Oil City Area School District applied for and received $525,404 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide all day kindergarten the 5th year and to change to research based instruction.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. Oil City Area School District did not apply for funding for 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $265,421 and in 2008-09 it received $48,388 for a total funding of $313,809. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future state grant awards.Education Assistance Grant
The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the Oil City Area School District did not apply for funding.Federal Stimulus Grant
The district received an extra $4,038,935 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 2010-11 school years.
Race to the Top grant
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the TopRace to the Top
Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education competition designed to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education...
federal grant which would have brought the district over one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
School Improvement Grant
In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal department of education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were dispersed via a competitive grant program. The Pennsylvania Department of Education had identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest achieving," making them eligible for this special funding. Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart - close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve firing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day. Oil City Middle School was listed as eligible for funding. Oil City Area School District did not apply for the grant.Common Cents state initiative
The Oil City Area School Board chose to not permit the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program access to the district records. 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
The Oil City Area School Board set the 2010-11 the property taxProperty tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es were 16.6100 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. 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 (Local Tax Enabling Act), which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.
- 2009-10 - 16.6100 mills
- 2008-09 - 16.6100 mills
- 2007-08 - 16.6100 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 authorized to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or the school board seeks one or more exceptions from the state's 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 Oil City Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
- 2006-07 - 5.9%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 5.2%, 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%
For the 2011-12 school year the Oil City Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For each annual school budget, the Oil City Area School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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. With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly eliminated most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of future large construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum.
Oil City Area 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, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the district's property tax relief from gambling would be $277 for each of the 3,836 approved properties.In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Oil City Area School District was $274 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,878 property owners applied for the tax relief. This was the highest tax relief awarded in Venango County. The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property on the individual's 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. The Pennsylvania Auditor General found that 73% of property owners applied for tax relief in Venango County. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in 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....
at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year Chester Upland School District was 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 individuals who have income substantially 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
Tax Foundation
The Tax Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank founded in 1937 that collects data and publishes research studies on tax policies at the federal and state levels. The organization is broken into three primary areas of research which are the Center for Federal Fiscal Policy, The and the...
, 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%).
Extracurriculars
The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. These program begin with elementary children and extend through high school athletics. Eligibility to participate in these activities 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 home schooled, 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.