Shikellamy School District
Encyclopedia
Shikellamy School District is a suburban, public school district in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
. It serves Northumberland Borough
, Point Township
, Rockefeller Township
, Snydertown Borough
, the City of Sunbury
, and Upper Augusta Township
with 4 elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The administrative offices are located at Administration Center, 200 Island Blvd, Sunbury, Pennsylvania
. Shikellamy School District encompasses approximately 71 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 23,180. Per school district officials, in school year 2005-06, the Shikellamy School District provided basic educational services to 3,256 pupils through the employment of 229 teachers, 178 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 12 administrators. In 2006, the 3,104 student population was: 90% white, 4% black, < 1% asian, Native American < 0.1% and 5% Hispanic. In 2009-10 the student enrollment had declined to 2,850. The district's per capita Income
was $16,811, while the median family Income was $40,063.
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.
Middle Schools
In May 2011, the Shikellamy School Board voted to close both middle schools due to three factors: declining enrollment district wide; the need for costly, major renovations of the two middle school buildings and significant budget challenges for the foreseeable future. Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, sixth grade will be provided at each elementary school while seventh and eighth grades will be provided at the recently renovated and underutilized high school building. The superintendent reported that closing of the middle schools would save district taxpayers about $800,000.
In 2011, Shikellamy School District was ranked 334th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSA
results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science.
The Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Shikellamy ranked 352nd. In 2009 the district was 397th. The paper describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."
Dr. Alan Lonoconus, then Superintendent of the Shikellamy School District, in a December 2007 interview on WKOK's Leaders and Lawmakers radio show said, "Where I envision us going is a lot of new curriculum revisions. With the State standards and everything we have to do with the state and Federal No Child Left Behind regulations, we have to really ramp up what we are doing." In October 2009, Dr Lonoconus announced his resignation effective in November 2009.
The district's policy is that if a student does not achieve proficiency on the PSSAs, a retest will be administered during the senior year for deficient subject areas. Failure to achieve proficiency in the retest requires a passing grade on a final examination and a passing course grade for any and all deficient subject areas reported by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. The student must pass both the course and the final examination in order to graduate. If a student fails to show evidence of this proficiency, the student can achieve a Shikellamy diploma by passing a summer school course or by returning for an additional school year to achieve a passing grade.
The curriculum is currently under revision to align it with the 1999 Pennsylvania Academic Standards. These standards are assessed in the third through eighth and eleventh grades under the guise of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. These tests last several days and cover Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics and Science. Revision of the Shikellamy School District's mathematics curriculum, to bring it into compliance with Chapter 4 regulations of 2000, is to begin in fall 2007.
The poor academic performance of students in the district is evident beginning in 3rd grade with three of the four elementary schools far below the state average for reading. Oaklyn Elementary School achieved 81% of 3rd graders on grade level in reading in 2009. Mathematics scores, for 3rd graders, were similarly low with Grace S. Beck School having 55% on grade level in math, in 2009. It was the lowest performing school in the IU16 region. On the whole, 81% of Pennsylvania's third graders were on grade level in mathematics in 2009. In the local region's school 87% were on grade level.
In 2010, the high school was in Making Progress: in Corrective Action I AYP status due to chronically low student academic achievement. In 2009, the high school was in Corrective Action I.
In 2009, Shikellamy High School
ranked 464th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.
in 2008, Shikellamy High School
ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania. The 2008 11th grade math, reading and science scores remained low and were lower than other school districts in the Central Susquehanna Valley IU16 region. In 2009, 45% of Shikellamy High School 11th graders were on-grade level in mathematics. With the 2009 graduation rate decline to 78%, Shikellamy High School was placed on Corrective Action I with the Pennsylvania Department of Education
.
In 2005, Shikellamy High School was ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania. In 2006, SHS was ranked 384th out 607 Pennsylvania high schools.
In 2011, the school's attendance rate was 94%. In 2009-10, the attendance rate was rose to 95%. In 2009, it was 93%.
8th Grade Reading:
8th Grade Math:
8th Grade Science:
7th Grade Reading:
7th Grade Math:
6th Grade Reading:
6th Grade Math:
In 2011 the attendance rate was 93%. In 2009-10, the attendance rate was rose to 94%. In 2009, it was 93%.
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:
Low income 3rd graders achievement 2010:
5th Grade Reading:
5th Grade Math:
4th Grade Reading:
4th Grade Math:
4th Grade Science:
3rd Grade Reading:
3rd Grade Math:
Low income 3rd graders achievement 2010:
In 2008, the district reported a $3,322,311 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero.
The Shikellamy School Board set the budget at $34.62 million for 2007-2008. The board levies a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include 62.5 mills real estate tax in 2007. Per capita taxes are $5 per resident. An occupational tax, which charges a set amount based on job title, earns approximately $1.7 million. Many see this tax as particularly unfair, as people classified in the same job title often earn vastly different amounts, but pay the same amount of tax. An earned income tax of one-half of 1 percent of income yields a revenue of approximately $1.8 million. Additionally, the real estate transfer tax of one-half percent (Northumberland Borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township) and one percent (Snydertown borough) is levied on real estate transfers.
In 2007, the district employed 204 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,795 for 184 days worked. In March 2010, the school board and the Shikellamy teachers' union agreed to a new 5 year employment contract. The school year will be extended by one day to 185 days and the teachers will be receiving an average 3% annual pay raise on top of step raises for longevity and extra course credits earned. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.
The district administrative costs per pupil were $587.43 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, the district reported spending $11,130 per pupil. This ranked 387th in the commonwealth.
In 2009, the district reported having over $27 million in outstanding debt in General Obligation bonds.
Voters rejected a tax referendum in May 2007 which would have increased local earned income tax by 0.5 percent to reduce property taxes for homeowners and farmers by $176.
In December 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the board and administration.
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 individual's level of wealth.
In 2010, the district reported that 1,264 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level
.
The state provided the Shikellamy School District with a 3.17% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $12,601,663 for the 2010-11 school year. In Northumberland County, Milton Area School District
received the highest basic education funding increase at 6.46%. In the Commonwealth, the largest increase went to Kennett Consolidated School District
in Chester County
which received a 23.65% increase in state funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred and fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in funding. 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.
For the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.38% increase in Basic Education Funding, to the Shikellamy School District, for a total of $12,213,894. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $11,589,863.77. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gave 15 school districts an increase of Basic Education Funding of over 10% in the 2009-10 budget. Muhlenberg School District
of Berks County received the highest percentage increase in Pennsylvania for 2009 at 22.31%.
The Department of Education reported that 1,194 students in the Shikellamy School District received a free or reduced price lunch in 2007 due to low family income.
(Federal Stimulus) funding. This is in addition to all regular state and federal funding. This funding was for the 2009-10 through 2010-2011 school years.
. The grant would have meant hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars that would have been focused on improving student academic achievement. Participation required the written consent of the school board, the school administration and the teachers' union. 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.
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 Shikellamy School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
For the 2011-12 school year, the Shikellamy School Board sought 2 exceptions: special education costs and pension costs. For the district's 2010-11 budget year, the Shikellamy School Board sought 2 exceptions: special education costs and pension costs. The Shikellamy School Board can no longer seek an exception for health care benefits because there is a new teachers' union contract effective 2010. Each year, the school district has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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 Board sought exceptions for pension costs and special educations costs for the 2010-11. Shikellamy School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget, in 2009-10.
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.
of Delaware County
who received $632 per approved homestead.
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, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.
Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity hat 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 its approval.
The school board prohibits bullying by district students and employees. A policy approved in December 2008 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.
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
. It serves Northumberland Borough
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Northumberland is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,714 at the 2000 census.-History:Northumberland was founded in 1772. The land that became Northumberland was purchased from the Iroquois in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and the...
, Point Township
Point Township, Pennsylvania
Point Township is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,722 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 27.4 square miles , of which, 25.2 square miles of it is land and...
, Rockefeller Township
Rockefeller Township, Pennsylvania
Rockefeller Township is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,221 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Snydertown Borough
Snydertown, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
Snydertown is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 357.-Geography:Snydertown is located at ....
, the City of Sunbury
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
, and Upper Augusta Township
Upper Augusta Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Augusta Township is a township in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formed in 1846 by the division of Augusta Township into Upper and Lower sections...
with 4 elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The administrative offices are located at Administration Center, 200 Island Blvd, Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
. Shikellamy School District encompasses approximately 71 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 23,180. Per school district officials, in school year 2005-06, the Shikellamy School District provided basic educational services to 3,256 pupils through the employment of 229 teachers, 178 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 12 administrators. In 2006, the 3,104 student population was: 90% white, 4% black, < 1% asian, Native American < 0.1% and 5% Hispanic. In 2009-10 the student enrollment had declined to 2,850. The district's 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 $16,811, while the median family Income was $40,063.
Governance
The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of EducationPennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, Gerald L. Zahorchak...
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act , is a United States federal statute enacted April 11, 1965. It was passed as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "War on Poverty" and has been the most far-reaching federal legislation affecting education ever passed by Congress...
and the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.
The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "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.
Secondary schools
High School- Shikellamy High SchoolShikellamy High SchoolShikellamy High School is a public high school located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA. it is part of the Shikellamy School District. It is the senior high school for the communities of Northumberland, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown Borough, the City of Sunbury, and Upper Augusta...
enrollment 895 (2010)
Middle Schools
- C.W. Rice Middle School enrollment 314 (2010)
- Sunbury Middle School enrollment 355 (2010)
In May 2011, the Shikellamy School Board voted to close both middle schools due to three factors: declining enrollment district wide; the need for costly, major renovations of the two middle school buildings and significant budget challenges for the foreseeable future. Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, sixth grade will be provided at each elementary school while seventh and eighth grades will be provided at the recently renovated and underutilized high school building. The superintendent reported that closing of the middle schools would save district taxpayers about $800,000.
Primary schools
Elementary Schools- Grace Beck Elementary School
- Chief Shikellamy Elementary School
- Oaklyn Elementary School
- Priestley Elementary School
Academic achievement
Shikellamy student proficiency in reading, math and science has trailed other students both in the region and the state. The district is in the 17th percentile in the state, for academic achievement in 2009. In 11th grade, 49% of students were proficient in math. For reading, 62% of students were reading on grade level in 2009.In 2011, Shikellamy School District was ranked 334th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSA
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment is a standardized test administered to public schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in reading skills and mathematics. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are assessed in writing skills...
results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science.
- 2010 - 383rd
- 2009 - 380th
- 2008 - 425th
- 2007 - 434th out of 501 school districts.
The Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Shikellamy ranked 352nd. In 2009 the district was 397th. The paper describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."
Graduation Rate
In 2011, the district's graduation rate was 84%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Shikellamy High School's rate was 79.25% for 2010.Dr. Alan Lonoconus, then Superintendent of the Shikellamy School District, in a December 2007 interview on WKOK's Leaders and Lawmakers radio show said, "Where I envision us going is a lot of new curriculum revisions. With the State standards and everything we have to do with the state and Federal No Child Left Behind regulations, we have to really ramp up what we are doing." In October 2009, Dr Lonoconus announced his resignation effective in November 2009.
The district's policy is that if a student does not achieve proficiency on the PSSAs, a retest will be administered during the senior year for deficient subject areas. Failure to achieve proficiency in the retest requires a passing grade on a final examination and a passing course grade for any and all deficient subject areas reported by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. The student must pass both the course and the final examination in order to graduate. If a student fails to show evidence of this proficiency, the student can achieve a Shikellamy diploma by passing a summer school course or by returning for an additional school year to achieve a passing grade.
The curriculum is currently under revision to align it with the 1999 Pennsylvania Academic Standards. These standards are assessed in the third through eighth and eleventh grades under the guise of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. These tests last several days and cover Reading, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics and Science. Revision of the Shikellamy School District's mathematics curriculum, to bring it into compliance with Chapter 4 regulations of 2000, is to begin in fall 2007.
The poor academic performance of students in the district is evident beginning in 3rd grade with three of the four elementary schools far below the state average for reading. Oaklyn Elementary School achieved 81% of 3rd graders on grade level in reading in 2009. Mathematics scores, for 3rd graders, were similarly low with Grace S. Beck School having 55% on grade level in math, in 2009. It was the lowest performing school in the IU16 region. On the whole, 81% of Pennsylvania's third graders were on grade level in mathematics in 2009. In the local region's school 87% were on grade level.
High school
In 2011, the high school did not achieve AYP in 11th grade Reading (63.5% on grade level), nor in Mathematics (53% on grade level). In science, 32% of students were on grade level. These PSSA scores were below: the state level, AYP level and regional high school achievement. The high school remains in Corrective Action status. Under No Child Left Behind, students could transfer to an achieving school within the district, however the district operates just one high school.In 2010, the high school was in Making Progress: in Corrective Action I AYP status due to chronically low student academic achievement. In 2009, the high school was in Corrective Action I.
In 2009, Shikellamy High School
Shikellamy High School
Shikellamy High School is a public high school located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA. it is part of the Shikellamy School District. It is the senior high school for the communities of Northumberland, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown Borough, the City of Sunbury, and Upper Augusta...
ranked 464th out of 666 Pennsylvania high schools for the reading and mathematics achievement of its students.
in 2008, Shikellamy High School
Shikellamy High School
Shikellamy High School is a public high school located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA. it is part of the Shikellamy School District. It is the senior high school for the communities of Northumberland, Point Township, Rockefeller Township, Snydertown Borough, the City of Sunbury, and Upper Augusta...
ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania. The 2008 11th grade math, reading and science scores remained low and were lower than other school districts in the Central Susquehanna Valley IU16 region. In 2009, 45% of Shikellamy High School 11th graders were on-grade level in mathematics. With the 2009 graduation rate decline to 78%, Shikellamy High School was placed on Corrective Action I with 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...
.
In 2005, Shikellamy High School was ranked 384th out of 606 public high schools in Pennsylvania. In 2006, SHS was ranked 384th out 607 Pennsylvania high schools.
C. W. Rice Middle School
In May 2011, the school board voted to close the school due to district wide overstaffing and a large budget shortfall coupled with the building needing costly repairs. Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, sixth graders will remain at their elementary schools, while 7th and 8th grade will be provided at the high school.In 2011, the school's attendance rate was 94%. In 2009-10, the attendance rate was rose to 95%. In 2009, it was 93%.
8th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 90% on grade level (3% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 89%, State - 81%, Ranked 4th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2009 - 86%, State - 80%
- 2008 - 86%, State - 78%
- 2007 - 82%, (10% below basic), State - 75%
- 2006 - 70%, (14% below basic), State - 70%
8th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 85% on grade level (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
- 2010 - 83%, State - 75%, Ranked 8th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2009 - 72%, State - 71%. Ranked 12th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2008 - 76%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 79%, State - 68%
- 2006 - 55%, State - 62%
8th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 90% on grade level (4% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 84.9%, State - 57%. Ranked 1st among Central Pennsylvania CSIU16 region middle schools in Science. Ranked 18th in all of Pennsylvania School District 8th grades.
- 2009 - 78%, State - 55%
- 2008 - 73%, State - 52%.
7th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 74% on grade level (6% below basic). State – 76%
- 2010 - 78.9%, State - 73% on grade level. Ranks 6th in Central PA CSIU16 middle school 7th grades.
- 2009 - 77%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 75%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 66%, State - 66%
7th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 80% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 78.6%
- 2010 - 86%, State - 77%, Ranks 6th in Central PA CSIU16 middle school 7th grades.
- 2009 - 77%, State - 75%.
- 2008 - 75%, State - 70%.
- 2007 - 69%, State - 67%
6th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 64% on grade level (14% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 59%, State - 68%
- 2009 - 58%, State - 67%
- 2008 - 62%, State - 67%
- 2007 - 61%, State - 63%
6th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 74% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 78.8%
- 2010 - 78%, State - 78%
- 2009 - 78%, State - 72%
- 2008 - 73%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 67%, State - 67%
Sunbury Middle School
In May 2011, the school board voted to close the school due to overstaffing in the district coupled with the building needing costly repairs. Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, sixth graders will remain at their elementary schools, while 7th and 8th grade will be provided at the high school.In 2011 the attendance rate was 93%. In 2009-10, the attendance rate was rose to 94%. In 2009, it was 93%.
8th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 81% on grade level (7% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 83%, State - 81%. Ranked 14th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2009 - 73%, State - 80%.
- 2008 - 69%, State - 78%
- 2007 - 72%, State - 75%
- 2006 - 61%, State - 70%
8th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 86% on grade level (4% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
- 2010 - 75%, State - 75%. Ranked 15th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2009 - 65%, State - 71%. Ranked 17th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2008 - 58%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 72%, State - 68%
- 2006 - 54%, State - 62%
8th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 69% on grade level (14% below basic). State – 58.3%
- 2010 - 49%, State - 57%. Ranked 18th in Central Pennsylvania IU16 region middle schools.
- 2009 - 44%, State - 55%
- 2008 - 50%, State - 52%
7th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 73% on grade level (3% below basic). State – 76%
- 2010 - 67%, State - 73%. Ranks 15th in Central PA CSIU16 middle school 7th grades.
- 2009 - 77%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 67%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 52%, State - 66%
7th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 79% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 78.6%
- 2010 - 78.7%, State - 77%. Ranks 14th in Central PA CSIU16 middle school 7th grades.
- 2009 - 77%, State - 75%
- 2008 - 66%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 54%, State - 67%
6th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 56% on grade level (17% below basic). State - 69.9%
- 2010 - 58%, State - 68%
- 2009 - 64%, State - 67%
- 2008 - 66%, State - 67%
- 2007 - 45%, State - 63%
6th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 60% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 78.8%
- 2010 - 72%, State - 78%
- 2009 - 66%, State - 72%
- 2008 - 67%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 53%, State - 69%
Grace S. Beck School
In 2011, the school achieved AYP status due to improving scores over 2010 results. In 2010, the school was in Warning status due to the lagging student achievement. In 2009, the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was 94% in 2011 and 96% in 20105th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 46.7%, (35% below basic). State - 67.3%.
- 2010 - 39%, (39% below basic) State - 64%
- 2009 - 77%, State - 64%.
- 2008 - 68%, State - 61%. Ranked 10th out of 34 5th grades in the CSIU16 region.
- 2007 - 54%, State - 60%.
- 2006 - 38%, State - 60%.
5th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 51%, (20% below basic). State - 76.3%
- 2010 - 65%, (24% below basic). State - 74%. Ranks 25th in 5th grade in CSIU16 region.
- 2009 - 73%, State - 73%. Ranked 20th in 5th grades in CSIU16 region.
- 2008 - 68%, State - 73%
- 2007 - 55.9%, State - 71%
- 2006 - 32%, State - 66%
4th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 47.7%, (24% below basic). State - 73.3%
- 2010 - 57%, (28% below basic). State - 72%. Ranks 31 out of 32 CSIU16 region 4th grades for reading.
- 2009 - 49%, State - 72% Ranks 34 out of 35 CSIU16 region 4th grades for reading.
- 2008 - 61%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 54%, State - 70%
4th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 71%, (9% below basic). State - 85.3%
- 2010 - 64%, (14 below basic). State - 84%. Ranks last in 4th grades in CSIU16 region
- 2009 - 73%, State - 81%
- 2008 - 70%, State - 79%
- 2007 - 67%, State - 78%
4th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 65%, State - 82.9%
- 2010 - 69%, State - 81.4%
- 2009 - 61%, State - 83% Ranks last in 4th grades in CSIU16 Region.
- 2008 - 79%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 58%, (26% below basic). State - 77.2%
- 2010 - 53%, (26% below basic). State - 75%
- 2009 - 61%, State - 77%. Ranks last in CSIU16 region 3rd grades in reading.
- 2008 - 57%, State - 77%
- 2007 - 53%, State - 72%
- 2006 - 42%, State - 69%
3rd Grade Math:
- 2011 - 66%, (14% below basic). State - 83.5%
- 2010 - 75%, (8% below basic). State - 84.5%
- 2009 - 58%, State - 81%
- 2008 - 73%, State - 80%
- 2007 - 66%, State - 78.5%
- 2006 - 58%, State - 82%
Low income 3rd graders achievement 2010:
- Reading - 50% on grade level, Advanced - 16.7%, Proficient - 33%. State - 61%
- Math - 73.4% on grade level, Advanced - 16.7%, Proficient - 56.7%. State - 74%
Chief Shikellamy Elementary School
In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. In 2011 the attendance rate was 94%, while in 2010 the rate was 93%.5th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 56% on grade level (34% below basic). State - 67.3% of 5th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 38.6%, (38% below basic). State - 64%. Ranked last in 5th grade reading in CSIU16 region schools.
- 2009 - 58.2%, State - 64%
- 2008 - 42.6%, State - 61%. Ranked last in reading for 5th grades in CSIU16 region.
- 2007 - 36%, State - 60%
- 2006 - 39%, State - 60%
- 2005 - 38%, State - 64%
5th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 64% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 74% Ranks 25th out of 29 5th grades for students, on grade level math, in CSIU16 region.
- 2010 - 43%, (22% below basic). State - 74%. Ranks last in 5th grade math in CSIU16 region
- 2009 - 55.8%, State - 73%
- 2008 - 55.6%, State - 73%
- 2007 - 53%, State - 71%
- 2006 - 37%, State - 66%
4th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 52% (19% below basic), State – 73.3%. Ranks 31st out of 32 CSIU16 region 4th grades.
- 2010 - 63.3%, (19% below basic). State - 72%. Ranks 30th out of 32 CSIU16 region 4th grades
- 2009 - 63.8%, State - 72%
- 2008 - 61%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 35%, State - 70%
4th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 78% (11% below basic), State – 85.3%. Ranks 31st out of 32 CSIU16 region 4th grades.
- 2010 - 78.5%, (11% below basic). State - 84%.
- 2009 - 77.6%, State - 81%
- 2008 - 82%, State - 79%
- 2007 - 75%, State - 78%
4th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 78%, (2% below basic), State – 82.9%
- 2010 - 76.7%, State - 81.4%
- 2009 - 81%, State - 83%
- 2008 - 82.5%, State - 81%
3rd Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 67%, (14% below basic), State – 77.2%
- 2010 - 61.5%, (23% below basic). State - 75%
- 2009 - 71.5%, State - 77%
- 2008 - 74%, State - 77%
- 2007 - 70%, State - 72%
- 2006 - 57%, State - 69%
3rd Grade Math:
- 2011 - 72%, (4% below basic), State – 83.5%
- 2010 - 71%, (10% below basic). State - 84.5%
- 2009 - 65%, State - 81%
- 2008 - 84%, State - 80%
- 2007 - 66%, State - 78.5%
- 2006 - 78%, State - 82%
Low income 3rd graders achievement 2010:
- Reading - 63.3% on grade level, Advanced - 20%, Proficient - 43.3%, State - 61%
- Math - 76.7% on grade level, Advanced - 30%, Proficient - 46.7%, State - 74%
Budget
In May and June 2011, the school board approved a $36.2 million budget for 2011-12 that closes the two antiquated middle schools effective July 2011, that froze administration pay and that reduced staffing by 24 positions. Beginning in 2011-12, the sixth grades will remain at the elementary schools, while seventh and eighth grades will be provided at the high school. The high school has been overstaffed, according to Superintendent Robin Musto, with 24 teachers not working a full teaching schedule and having 2 or more planning periods each day. Additionally, class size at the high school has been as low as 9 pupils for 15% of the classes, while many classes have 10-15 students. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, enrollment in the Shikellamy School District has declined 12.5% over the past five years, to a low of 2800 pupils. In 2006, the enrollment was reported by the administration as 3200 pupils.In 2008, the district reported a $3,322,311 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero.
The Shikellamy School Board set the budget at $34.62 million for 2007-2008. The board levies a variety of taxes to support its programs. Taxes include 62.5 mills real estate tax in 2007. Per capita taxes are $5 per resident. An occupational tax, which charges a set amount based on job title, earns approximately $1.7 million. Many see this tax as particularly unfair, as people classified in the same job title often earn vastly different amounts, but pay the same amount of tax. An earned income tax of one-half of 1 percent of income yields a revenue of approximately $1.8 million. Additionally, the real estate transfer tax of one-half percent (Northumberland Borough, Point Township, Rockefeller Township) and one percent (Snydertown borough) is levied on real estate transfers.
In 2007, the district employed 204 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,795 for 184 days worked. In March 2010, the school board and the Shikellamy teachers' union agreed to a new 5 year employment contract. The school year will be extended by one day to 185 days and the teachers will be receiving an average 3% annual pay raise on top of step raises for longevity and extra course credits earned. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation.
The district administrative costs per pupil were $587.43 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.
In 2008, the district reported spending $11,130 per pupil. This ranked 387th in the commonwealth.
In 2009, the district reported having over $27 million in outstanding debt in General Obligation bonds.
Voters rejected a tax referendum in May 2007 which would have increased local earned income tax by 0.5 percent to reduce property taxes for homeowners and farmers by $176.
In December 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the board and administration.
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 individual's level of wealth.
State basic education funding
In 2011-12, the Shikellamy School District will receive $11,589,864 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $208,219 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to uquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in june 2011.In 2010, the district reported that 1,264 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level
Poverty in the United States
Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday September 13th, 2011, the nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010, up from 14.3% in 2009 and to its highest level...
.
The state provided the Shikellamy School District with a 3.17% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $12,601,663 for the 2010-11 school year. In Northumberland County, Milton Area School District
Milton Area School District
The Milton Area School District is a small, rural public school district headquartered in Milton, Pennsylvania. The district is located in Northumberland and Union counties. Milton Area School District encompasses approximately 85 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a...
received the highest basic education funding increase at 6.46%. In the Commonwealth, the largest increase went to Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Consolidated School District
The Kennett Consolidated School District,or KCSD for short, is a public school district serving portions of Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is centered on the borough of Kennett Square and also incorporates Kennett Township, New Garden Township, and the southern portion of East Marlborough Twp....
in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
which received a 23.65% increase in state funding for the 2010-11 school year. One hundred and fifty school districts received the base 2% increase in funding. 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.
For the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.38% increase in Basic Education Funding, to the Shikellamy School District, for a total of $12,213,894. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $11,589,863.77. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gave 15 school districts an increase of Basic Education Funding of over 10% in the 2009-10 budget. 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...
of Berks County received the highest percentage increase in Pennsylvania for 2009 at 22.31%.
The Department of Education reported that 1,194 students in the Shikellamy School District received a free or reduced price lunch in 2007 due to low family income.
High school reform grant
In 2007, Shikellamy School District was awarded two state grants to improve the education of their high school students. The administration announced the receipt of a three year Project 720 grant of $270,000. Some of these dollars will be used to revise the graduation project to include a career component.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, Shikellamy School District applied for and received $565,158, in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district used the funding to provide Full Day Kindergarten and to increase instructional time for struggling pupils.Education Assistance Grant
The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the Shikellamy School District received $113,404.Classrooms for the Future grant
The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The state grant requires the district hire a part time technology coach, whose role is to assist the teachers in using the equipment and software effectively to improve their instruction. The salary is covered by the grant. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Shikellamy School District was denied funding in 2006-07. In 2007-08 the district received $316,667. The district received $57,023 in 2008-09 for a total of $373,690.Federal Stimulus Funding
The district received over $2.3 million dollars 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) funding. This is in addition to all regular state and federal funding. This funding was for the 2009-10 through 2010-2011 school years.
Race to the Top Grant
The school district board, administration and teachers' union chose to not participate in the federal government grant program called 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...
. The grant would have meant hundreds of thousands in additional federal dollars that would have been focused on improving student academic achievement. Participation required the written consent of the school board, the school administration and the teachers' union. 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 Shikellamy School Board decided 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
Shikellamy School District property tax rate in 2010-11 was set at 78.0000 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. On the local level, Pennsylvania 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 - 72.5000 mills.
- 2009-10 - 69.0000 mills.
- 2008-09 - 67.0000 mills.
- 2007-08 - 62.5000 mills.
Act 1 Adjusted index
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but it 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, increasing rising health care 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 Shikellamy School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.
- 2006-07 - 5.4%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%
- 2008-09 - 6.1%, Base 4.4%
- 2009-10 - 5.7%, Base 4.1%
- 2010-11 - 4.0%, Base 2.9%
- 2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
- 2012-13 - 2.3%, Base - 1.7%
For the 2011-12 school year, the Shikellamy School Board sought 2 exceptions: special education costs and pension costs. For the district's 2010-11 budget year, the Shikellamy School Board sought 2 exceptions: special education costs and pension costs. The Shikellamy School Board can no longer seek an exception for health care benefits because there is a new teachers' union contract effective 2010. Each year, the school district has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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 Board sought exceptions for pension costs and special educations costs for the 2010-11. Shikellamy School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget, in 2009-10.
In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.
Property tax relief
In 2010, the Shikellamy School District property tax relief was set at $174 for 5,135 approved homesteads. In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Shikellamy School District was $201 per approved permanent primary homestead. In the district, 4,451 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 Northumberland County the highest amount of relief in 2009 went to Shikellamy School District. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School DistrictChester Upland School District
The Chester Upland School District is a public school district serving the City of Chester, the Borough of Upland and Chester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...
of Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
who received $632 per approved homestead.
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, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate.
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
Shikellamy School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch ActNational School Lunch Act
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is a United States federal law signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. The act created the National School Lunch Program , a program to provide low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools...
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity hat 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 its approval.
Bullying Policy
In 2009 Shikellamy School District reported zero incidents of bullying in the previous school year.The school board prohibits bullying by district students and employees. A policy approved in December 2008 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.