Montour School District
Encyclopedia
The Montour School District serves Kennedy Township
, Robinson Township, Ingram
, Thornburg
and Pennsbury Village
, which are western suburbs of Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
in the United States
.
s for: math, reading, writing and 1 year of science. In 2008, the school district ranked 31st out of 105 Western Pennsylvania districts and was 111th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts. In 2007, the district ranked 120th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement.
Graduation Rate:
2009 - 98%
2008 - 98%
2007 - 91%
s on: reading, writing, math and one year of science.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 81% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 - 77%, State - 65%
2007 - 71%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 - 71%, State - 56%
2007 - 61%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
2009 - 48% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 42%, State - 40%
College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education
study released in January 2009, 36% of the Montour High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual Enrollment - The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program.
s for: math, reading, writing and 1 year of science.
8th Grade Reading: on grade level
2009 - 90%, State - 80%
2008 - 82%, State - 78%
8th Grade Math: on grade level
2009 - 79%, State: 71%
2008 - 68%, State -70%
8th Grade Science: on grade level
2009 - 70%, State - 55%
2008 - 51%, State: 52%.
7th Grade Reading:
2009 - 77%, State: 71%
2008 - 84%, State - 70%
7th Grade Math:
2009 - 81% on grade level. State: 75% of 7th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 90%, State - 70%
Montour School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $1,127 per pupil. The district ranked 33rd of 500 school districts for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
In April 2010, Montour School District reported a fund balance of $28.7 million. This far exceeds the Pennsylvania Department of Education cap of 8% of the budget. According to state regulations, the board will not be permitted to raise taxes until the fund balance is under the 8% cap. In 2008, the district reported an unreserved-designated fund balance of $20,294,864.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $3,800,000.00.
in Berks County received an increase of over 22%. Fifteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10% The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation made in the Governor's budget proposal released in February each year.
- Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 386 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year. This funding is for the 2009-2011 school years
federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands in 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 in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state Race To The Top grant application judging will occur in June 2010.
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Montour School District was $122 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 7,589 property owners applied for the tax relief. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Allegheny County, 60% 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 people who make 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%).
to be declining to 3600 by 2019. A proposal has been put forward by David Wassel, a prominent Allegheny County resident, to consolidate Allegheny County school districts to save tax dollars and improve student services. The plan calls for a proposed district that includes Carlynton School District
, Montour School District and Sto-Rox School District
.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
References:
Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania
Kennedy Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 7,672 at the 2010 census.-Institutions:...
, Robinson Township, Ingram
Ingram, Pennsylvania
Ingram is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,330 at the 2010 census.It is located in the Montour School District, which educates the children of Kennedy Township, Robinson Township, Pennsbury Village, Thornburg, and the borough of...
, Thornburg
Thornburg, Pennsylvania
Thornburg is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 455 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Thornburg is located at...
and Pennsbury Village
Pennsbury Village, Pennsylvania
Pennsbury Village is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 661 at the 2010 census.-History:Pennsbury is a unique borough in that it is entirely a municipality of condo-style houses, having been built in 1973. In 1976 there was a disagreement with Robinson...
, which are western suburbs of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
School Board Members
Ed Miller, George Dudash, Dean Caliguire, Tom Barclay, Scott Suess, Duane Faith, Ann Mazza, Cynthia Morrow, John Moismann, Ron Smith, Joyce SnellMember schools
- Montour High SchoolMontour High SchoolMontour High School is a public high school located at 223 Clever Road in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The only high school for the Montour School District, it serves the suburban towns of Kennedy and Robinson Townships, and the boroughs of Ingram, Pennsbury Village, and...
(Grades 9-12) - David E. Williams Middle SchoolDavid E. Williams Middle SchoolDavid E. Williams Middle School is located in Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania, and is part of the Montour School District. Because the administration is always exploring new ways to better the educational experience for Montour students, a 70-member committee was formed to make the middle school...
(Grades 5-8) - Burkett Elementary (Grades K-4)
- Forest Grove Elementary (Grades K-4)
- Ingram Elementary (Grades K-4) [Note: In 1988, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation designated the school, which was built in 1914, a historic landmark.]
Academic achievement
The Montour School District was ranked 34th out of 105 Western Pennsylvania school districts in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s for: math, reading, writing and 1 year of science. In 2008, the school district ranked 31st out of 105 Western Pennsylvania districts and was 111th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts. In 2007, the district ranked 120th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement.
Graduation Rate:
2009 - 98%
2008 - 98%
2007 - 91%
High school
In 2009, the high school was ranked 34th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times, for academic achievement based on three years of the PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s on: reading, writing, math and one year of science.
PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 81% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 - 77%, State - 65%
2007 - 71%, State - 65%
11th Grade Math:
2009 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
2008 - 71%, State - 56%
2007 - 61%, State - 53%
11th Grade Science:
2009 - 48% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 42%, State - 40%
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, 36% of the Montour High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a large public university system in the United States. It is the tenth-largest university system in the United States and 43rd largest in the world...
or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Dual Enrollment - The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment
In education, dual enrollment involved students being enrolled in two separate, academically related institutions. It may also refer to any individual who is participating in two related programs, but such a general form of usage is uncommon....
program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program.
David E Williams Middle School
The middle school was ranked 39 out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAPennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
s for: math, reading, writing and 1 year of science.
8th Grade Reading: on grade level
2009 - 90%, State - 80%
2008 - 82%, State - 78%
8th Grade Math: on grade level
2009 - 79%, State: 71%
2008 - 68%, State -70%
8th Grade Science: on grade level
2009 - 70%, State - 55%
2008 - 51%, State: 52%.
7th Grade Reading:
2009 - 77%, State: 71%
2008 - 84%, State - 70%
7th Grade Math:
2009 - 81% on grade level. State: 75% of 7th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 90%, State - 70%
Elementary School
- Forest Grove Elementary School was ranked 162nd out of 327 Western Pennsylvania 3rd grades for academic achievement in reading, math and writing.
- Ingram Elementary School ranked 301st out of 327.
- J. W. Burkett Elementary School ranked 30th.
Advanced Placement classes
- CalculusAP CalculusAdvanced Placement Calculus is used to indicate one of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC....
- English Language and CompositionAP English Language and CompositionAdvanced Placement English Language and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program....
- English Literature and CompositionAP English Literature and CompositionAdvanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program.-The Course:This course is designated for motivated students with a command of standard English, an...
- European HistoryAP European HistoryAdvanced Placement European History is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
Budget
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $62,648 for 181 days worked. The district ranked fourth in Allegheny County for average teacher salary in 2007. The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania was $54,977. In Pennsylvania the average salary of the 124,100 public school teachers was $54,977.Montour School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $1,127 per pupil. The district ranked 33rd of 500 school districts for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
In April 2010, Montour School District reported a fund balance of $28.7 million. This far exceeds the Pennsylvania Department of Education cap of 8% of the budget. According to state regulations, the board will not be permitted to raise taxes until the fund balance is under the 8% cap. In 2008, the district reported an unreserved-designated fund balance of $20,294,864.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $3,800,000.00.
State basic education funding
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $3,760,864. This was the base percentage increase, in Basic Education Funding, in the Commonwealth. Four school districts in Allegheny County received an increase of over 6 percent. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $3,687,122. In Pennsylvania, a 2% increase in funding was the lowest. Muhlenberg School DistrictMuhlenberg 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 an increase of over 22%. Fifteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10% The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation made in the Governor's budget proposal released in February each year.
Federal Stimulus Funding
The district received $1,276,615 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. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 386 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year. This funding is for the 2009-2011 school years
Race to the Top grant
Montour 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 hundreds of thousands in 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 in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state Race To The Top grant application judging will occur in June 2010.
Real estate taxes
The Montour School Board set the property tax rates in 2009-10 at 18.9000 mills. Property tax rates in 2008-2009 were set at 18.9000 mills. In 2007 the rate was 18.9000 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.Property tax relief
The property tax relief amount for the Montour School District was set at $119 for 7,752 approved applicants by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in May 2010.In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Montour School District was $122 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 7,589 property owners applied for the tax relief. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Allegheny County, 60% 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 people who make 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%).
Enrollment and Consolidation
Montour School District enrollment has been projected by 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...
to be declining to 3600 by 2019. A proposal has been put forward by David Wassel, a prominent Allegheny County resident, to consolidate Allegheny County school districts to save tax dollars and improve student services. The plan calls for a proposed district that includes Carlynton School District
Carlynton School District
The Carlynton School District is a small, suburban, public school district located approximately six miles west of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The district covers five square miles including: the Boroughs of Carnegie, Crafton and Rosslyn Farms. From these communities comes the name...
, Montour School District and Sto-Rox School District
Sto-Rox School District
The Sto-Rox School District is a diminutive, suburban, public school district in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The youth of the borough of McKees Rocks and Stowe Township are educated by the district. Sto-Rox School District encompasses approximately 3 square miles. According to 2000 federal...
.
Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.
Wellness policy
Montour School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 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 and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.
Athletics
Montour's athletic teams are called the Spartans, and the school colors are black and athletic gold. The school currently offers football, cross country, girls tennis, golf, girls volleyball and soccer in the fall; indoor track, swimming, wrestling, basketball, bowling, and ice hockey in the winter; and baseball, softball, boys volleyball, boys tennis, and track and field in the spring.References: