Millersburg Area School District
Encyclopedia
The Millersburg School District is a small, rural, public school district located in the northwestern portion of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
. It encompasses the borough of Millersburg and the surrounding Township of Upper Paxton. The district features one elementary school and one junior/senior high school. Millersburg Area School District encompasses approximately 32 square miles (82.9 km²). According to 2007 local census data, it serves a resident population of 6,420. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income
was $18,447, while the median family income was $45,919. According to School District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Millersburg Area School District provided basic educational services to 927 pupils through the employment of 84 teachers, 33 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 8 administrators.
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 "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.
The district is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit
15 which offers a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.
results in: reading, writing, math and three years of science.
In 2009, Millersburg School District student academic achievement ranked in the 48th percentile among 500 PA school districts. (0-99; 100 is state best)
issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Millersburg Area High School's rate was 93% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading:
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 42% of Millersburg School District 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.
3 credits, Math 3 credits, Science 3 credits, ArtsHumanities 2 credits, Physical education 1 credits, Health 0.5 credit, Safety education .25 credit and 7.75 credits in 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. At Millersburg Area School District students are required to perform 20 hours of approved service to the school or community. The students must perform various tasks related to their project and submit them to the school.
By Pennsylvania 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 count for at least one-third of the final course grade.
program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities 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.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $558 for the program.
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
5th Grade Reading:
5th Grade Math:
4th Grade Reading:
4th Grade Math:
4th Grade Science:
3rd Grade Reading:
3rd Grade Math:
A state study was conducted in 2006, examining consolidating school administration of Halifax Area School District
with Millersburg Area School District administration. The projected savings was over $1.600,000. The study also examined a consolidation with Line Mountain School District
which also yielded significant savings for local taxpayers. The study noted that consolidation could significantly decrease school administrative costs for the communities while significantly improving offerings to students.
More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater). Pennsylvania Department of Education data shows that from 1999-2000 to 2008-09 there has been a 12 percent increase in public school staff even as there was a 1 percent decline in enrollment. Pennsylvania schools added 17,345 professional employees and 15,582 support workers over this time, while enrollment declined by 26,960. Total public school enrollment in 2009 was 1,787,351 pupils. Pennsylvania continues to experience a steady exodus of young people and a loss of population that has resulted in the loss of seats in the US Congress.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
services.
The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. 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 Supervisor.
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.
Millersburg Area School District received a $540,283 supplement for special education services in 2010.
For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $47,048 for 180 days worked.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $1140 per pupil. The district is ranked 29th among Pennsylvania's 500 districts for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In 2009, the district reported the superintendent's salary was $100,000.
In 2008, Millersburg Area School District per pupil spending was $12,427. This ranked 231st in 500 Pennsylvania public school districts.
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 income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the wealth of the individual.
In September 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Results were reported to the school board and administration.
which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.
For the 2010-11 school year, the Millersburg School District received a 3.22% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $4,105,973. Among school districts in Dauphin County, the highest increase went to Susquehanna Township School District
which received a 15.89% increase. In Pennsylvania 150 school districts received the base 2% increase. Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
received the largest, a 23.65% increase. 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 4.16% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $3,977,943 to the Millersburg Area School District. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $3,819,059.77. The district also received supplemental funding for: Title I (federal funding for low income students), for district size, a poverty supplement from the Commonwealth and more. Three school districts in Dauphin County received an increase in excess of 5%. In Dauphin County, the highest 2009 state funding increase was 10.66% for Susquehanna Township School District
. Muhlenberg School District
in Berks County received the highest increase in the commonwealth at 22.31%. Ninety school districts in Pennsylvania received a base 2% increase in state funding in 2009.
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding was for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.
federal grant which would bring the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic achievement. 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.
rates in 2011-2012 were set at 17.2210 mills. Tax rates are set as a part of the annual school budget process which must be passed by June 30 of each year. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax
is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.
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 Millersburg Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
For the 2011-12 school year, the Millersburg Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum
exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published 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.
The Millersburg School Board did not seek exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the 2010-11 school year. 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 2007, the Millersburg School Board adopted a resolution to not exceed the assigned Act 1 limit.
at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. According to a report released by the Pennsylvania Auditor General, in Dauphin County, 68.71% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals whose income is 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%).
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
The school board prohibits bullying by district students and employees. A policy approved in March defines bullying and cyberbullying - Policy 249. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. District administration are required to annually provide the following information with the district's Safe School Report: the board’s bullying policy, a report of bullying incidents in the school district, and information on the development and implementation of any bullying prevention, intervention or education programs. 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.
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.
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
. It encompasses the borough of Millersburg and the surrounding Township of Upper Paxton. The district features one elementary school and one junior/senior high school. Millersburg Area School District encompasses approximately 32 square miles (82.9 km²). According to 2007 local census data, it serves a resident population of 6,420. 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 $18,447, while the median family income was $45,919. According to School District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Millersburg Area School District provided basic educational services to 927 pupils through the employment of 84 teachers, 33 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 8 administrators.
Governance
Millersburg 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 "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.
The district is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit
Capital Area Intermediate Unit
The Capital Area Intermediate Unit is an Intermediate Unit based in Summerdale, a suburb of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It serves the central Pennsylvania counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, northern York, and Perry. It offers services to the regions 24 school districts and 2 area vocational technical...
15 which offers a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.
Academic achievement
In 2011, the school district ranked 314th out of 498 Pennsylvania districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on five years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAsPennsylvania 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...
results in: reading, writing, math and three years of science.
- 2010 - 268th
- 2009 - 311th
- 2008 - 323rd
- 2007 - 332nd out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts ranking,.
In 2009, Millersburg School District student academic achievement ranked in the 48th percentile among 500 PA school districts. (0-99; 100 is state best)
Graduation rate
In 2011, the graduation rate was 98%. 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. Millersburg Area High School's rate was 93% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
- 2010 - 98%
- 2009 - 92%
- 2008 - 93%
- 2007 - 93%
High school
In 2011, Millersburg Area Senior High School achieved "AYP" status. In 2010, the high school was in "Warning" status due to chronic, low student achievement.PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 67% on grade level, (16% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 64%, State - 66%
- 2009 - 74%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 77%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 78%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 45% on grade level (38% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 40%, State - 59%
- 2009 - 54%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 49%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 57%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 45% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 37%, State - 39%
- 2009 - 48%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 42%, State - 39%
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 42% of Millersburg School District 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.
Graduation requirements
The Millersburg Area School Board has determined that a student must earn 24.5 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, Social StudiesSocial studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
3 credits, Math 3 credits, Science 3 credits, ArtsHumanities 2 credits, Physical education 1 credits, Health 0.5 credit, Safety education .25 credit and 7.75 credits in 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. At Millersburg Area School District students are required to perform 20 hours of approved service to the school or community. The students must perform various tasks related to their project and submit them to the school.
By Pennsylvania 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
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores count for at least one-third of the final course grade.
Dual enrollment
The high school offers a 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. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities 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.
For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $558 for the program.
Online learning
The school administration has implemented an online learning program called Capital Area Online Learning Association. The intent is to extend offerings to students. It is provided through the area's intermediate unit. In 2011, twenty central Pennsyvlania region school districts and charter schools were participating in the virtual education program.Middle school
In 2009 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was declined to 94% in 2010. In 2009 the attendance rate was 95.6%.8th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 73% on grade level (7% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 79% on grade level. State - 81%
- 2009 - 80%, State - 80%
- 2008 - 78%, State - 78%
- 2007 - 69%, State - 75%
8th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 85% on grade level (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
- 2010 - 70%, State - 75%
- 2009 - 77%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 59%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 57%, State - 68%
8th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 60% on grade level (19% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 56%, State: -57%
- 2009 - 63%, State - 55%
- 2008 - 56%, State - 52%
7th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 85% on grade level (5% below basic). State – 76%
- 2010 - 67% on grade level. State - 73%
- 2009 - 71%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 70%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 73%, State - 67%
7th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 94% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 78.6%
- 2010 - 81% on grade level. State - 78%
- 2009 - 74%, State - 75%
- 2008 - 70%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 63%, State - 67%
6th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 60% on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 72% on grade level. State - 68%
- 2009 - 65%, State - 67%
- 2008 - 61%, State - 67%
- 2007 - 66%, State - 63%
6th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 75% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 78.8%
- 2010 - 90% on grade level. State - 78%
- 2009 - 85%, State - 75%
- 2008 - 74%, State - 72%
- 2007 - 61%, State - 69%
Lenkerville Elementary School
In 2009 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was 95% in both 2010 and 2009.5th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 65% on grade level (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 42%, State - 64%
- 2009 - 72%, State - 64%
- 2008 - 53%, State - 61%
- 2007 - 68%, State - 60%
5th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 67% on grade level (9% below basic). State - 74%
- 2010 - 58%, State - 74%
- 2009 - 85%, State - 73%
- 2008 - 80%, State - 73%
- 2007 - 75%, State - 71%
4th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 72% (9% below basic), State – 73.3%
- 2010 - 80%, State - 73%
- 2009 - 77%, State - 72%
- 2008 - 89%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 72%, State - 60%
4th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 81% (11% below basic), State – 85.3%
- 2010 - 88%, State - 81%
- 2009 - 79%, State - 81%
- 2008 - 95%, State - 79%
- 2007 - 88%, State - 78%
4th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 91%, 52% advanced. State – 82.9%
- 2010 - 91%, State - 81%
- 2009 - 91%, State - 83%
- 2008 - 89%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 88%, (0% below basic). State – 77.2%
- 2010 - 75%, (8% below basic), State - 75%
- 2009 - 80%, State - 77%
- 2008 - 76%, State - 77%
- 2007 - 68%, State - 72%
3rd Grade Math:
- 2011 - 94%, 54% advanced. State – 83.5%
- 2010 - 87%, (0% below basic), State - 84%
- 2009 - 91%, State - 81%
- 2008 - 82%, State - 80%
- 2007 - 75%, State - 78%
Enrollment and Consolidation
The enrollment at Millerburg Area School District is among the lowest 8% in Pennsylvania. Department of Education enrollment projections do not anticipate a growth in enrollment for the next decade. A Standard and Poors 2007 study found that an optimal school district size, to conserve administrative costs, was 3000 pupils. Consolidation of administrations with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in both communities. According to a 2009 proposal by Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improving high school student academic achievement, enriching the curriculum programs or to reducing local property taxes.A state study was conducted in 2006, examining consolidating school administration of Halifax Area School District
Halifax Area School District
The Halifax Area School District is a public school district located in Halifax, Pennsylvania in Dauphin County. The district serves about 1200 students in Kindergarten to grade 12. Halifax Area School District encompasses approximately 83 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it...
with Millersburg Area School District administration. The projected savings was over $1.600,000. The study also examined a consolidation with Line Mountain School District
Line Mountain School District
The Line Mountain School District is a small, rural public school district serving portions of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The district covers an area of...
which also yielded significant savings for local taxpayers. The study noted that consolidation could significantly decrease school administrative costs for the communities while significantly improving offerings to students.
More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater). Pennsylvania Department of Education data shows that from 1999-2000 to 2008-09 there has been a 12 percent increase in public school staff even as there was a 1 percent decline in enrollment. Pennsylvania schools added 17,345 professional employees and 15,582 support workers over this time, while enrollment declined by 26,960. Total public school enrollment in 2009 was 1,787,351 pupils. Pennsylvania continues to experience a steady exodus of young people and a loss of population that has resulted in the loss of seats in the US Congress.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
Special Education
In December 2009, the district administration reported that 120 pupils or 14% 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.
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 Supervisor.
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.
Millersburg Area School District received a $540,283 supplement for special education services in 2010.
For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.
Gifted Education
The District Administration reported that 22 or 2.57% 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. This approach permits such specialized instructional strategies as tiered assignments, curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, learning stations, independent projects and independent contracts. 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.Budget
In November 2008, the school board approved a five year contract with the teachers' union that includes 3% raises for 3 years followed by a 3.5% increase the final two years. The contract began July 2009. The contract calls for 190 working days with 9 as faculty inservice days. The contract calls for a benefits package which includes: health insurance, life insurance, personal days, sick days, reimbursement for college courses, and an early retirement bonus of $6,000 to $10,000 depending on length of employment.In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $47,048 for 180 days worked.
The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $1140 per pupil. The district is ranked 29th among Pennsylvania's 500 districts for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In 2009, the district reported the superintendent's salary was $100,000.
In 2008, Millersburg Area School District per pupil spending was $12,427. This ranked 231st in 500 Pennsylvania public school districts.
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 income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the wealth of the individual.
In September 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Results were reported to the school board and administration.
State basic education funding
In 2011-12, the district will receive $3,819,060 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $46,262 in Accountability Block Grant funding. In 2010, the district reported that 3,053 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level. 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...
which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12.
For the 2010-11 school year, the Millersburg School District received a 3.22% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $4,105,973. Among school districts in Dauphin County, the highest increase went to Susquehanna Township School District
Susquehanna Township School District
The Susquehanna Township School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district serving students from Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The school district is located in suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, a high...
which received a 15.89% increase. In Pennsylvania 150 school districts received the base 2% increase. 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 largest, a 23.65% increase. 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 4.16% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $3,977,943 to the Millersburg Area School District. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $3,819,059.77. The district also received supplemental funding for: Title I (federal funding for low income students), for district size, a poverty supplement from the Commonwealth and more. Three school districts in Dauphin County received an increase in excess of 5%. In Dauphin County, the highest 2009 state funding increase was 10.66% for Susquehanna Township School District
Susquehanna Township School District
The Susquehanna Township School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district serving students from Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The school district is located in suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, a high...
. 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 increase in the commonwealth at 22.31%. Ninety school districts in Pennsylvania received a base 2% increase in state funding in 2009.
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 $125,566 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The Millersburg Area School District uses the funding to reduce class size in K-3rd grade and to provide teacher training to improve instruction through the use of research based programs.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. Millersburg School District was one of 4 out of 500 PA school Districts that failed to apply for the grants.Federal Stimulus Grant
The district received an extra $721,236 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 was 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 bring the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic achievement. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.
Common Cents state initiative
The school board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.Real estate taxes
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...
rates in 2011-2012 were set at 17.2210 mills. Tax rates are set as a part of the annual school budget process which must be passed by June 30 of each year. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax
Property 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...
is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.
- 2010-11 - 17.2210 mills.
- 2009-10 - 16.5750 mills.
- 2008-09 - 16.5750 mills.
- 2007-08 - 15.9460 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 Millersburg Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
- 2006-07 - 5.1%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 4.5%, Base 3.4%
- 2008-09 - 5.8%, Base 4.4%
- 2009-10 - 5.5%, Base 4.1%
- 2010-11 - 3.9%, Base 2.9%
- 2011-12 - 1.9%, Base 1.4%
- 2012-13 - 2.3%, Base 1.7%
For the 2011-12 school year, the Millersburg Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the 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
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published each year by 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...
.
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.
The Millersburg School Board did not seek exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the 2010-11 school year. 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 2007, the Millersburg School Board adopted a resolution to not exceed the assigned Act 1 limit.
Property tax relief
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Millersburg Area School District was $150 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 1,669 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Dauphin County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2009, went to Harrisburg School District at $446. The tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Dauphin County, 68.71% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware CountyDelaware 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. According to a report released by the Pennsylvania Auditor General, in Dauphin County, 68.71% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently individuals whose income is 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%).
Wellness policy
Millersburg 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 National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
Bullying Policy
In 2009, the Millersburg School District reported zero incidents of bullying in the previous school year, although since then there have been several cases that students feel have not been properly addressed.The school board prohibits bullying by district students and employees. A policy approved in March defines bullying and cyberbullying - Policy 249. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. District administration are required to annually provide the following information with the district's Safe School Report: the board’s bullying policy, a report of bullying incidents in the school district, and information on the development and implementation of any bullying prevention, intervention or education programs. 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.
Extracurriculars
The school district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by the school board in 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.