Keystone Oaks School District is a small, public school district in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The district consists of 3 non-contiguous communities and encompasses approximately 5 square miles (13 km2). It was formed in 1965 after the merger of three smaller districts serving Dormont, Castle Shannon, and Green Tree. The name 'Keystone Oaks' is a play on the names of the three communities: 'key' for the 'door' in Dormont; 'stone' from the 'castle' in Castle Shannon; and 'oak' as a tree in Green Tree. According to 2000 federal census data, Keystone Oaks School District serves a resident population of 22,580 people. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the KOSD provided basic educational services to 2,295 pupils. It employed 188 teachers, 98 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators. Keystone Oaks School District received more than $8.3 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.
The district operates five schools: Aiken Elementary (K-5 in Green Tree), Dormont Elementary (K-5 in Dormont), Myrtle Elementary (K-5 in Castle Shannon), Keystone Oaks Middle School, and Keystone Oaks High School.
Video Keystone Oaks School District
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 Education 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 its 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 "B-" 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.
Maps Keystone Oaks School District
Academic achievement
In 2012, the academic achievement of the students of the Keystone Oaks School District was in the 62nd percentile of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)
Keystone Oaks School District was ranked 176th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2012 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs on: math, reading, writing and science.
- 2011 - 214th
- 2010 - 210th
- 2009 - 228th
- 2008 - 194th
- 2007 - 251st of 500 Pennsylvania school districts for student achievement.
In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Keystone Oaks School District ranked 223rd. In 2011, the district was 233rd. The editor 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-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."
Western Pennsylvania local ranking Keystone Oaks School District was ranked 46th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts, in 2012, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs on: math, reading, writing and science. (includes 105 districts in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County and Westmoreland County excludes Duquesne City SD & Midland Borough SD due to no high schools)
- 2011 - 55th
- 2010 - 54th
In 2010 and 2011, Keystone Oaks School District achieved AYP status as a district. In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania Public School Districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.
Graduation rate
In 2011, the graduation rate at Keystone Oaks School District was 93%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. High School's rate was 91% for 2010.
- According to traditional graduation rate calculations
- 2010 - 92%
- 2009 - 94%
- 2008 - 86%
- 2007 - 88%
In 2007, the district reported that 25 pupils in the middle school and high school dropped out.
High school
Keystone Oaks High School is located at 1000 Kelton Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 756 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 203 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 51 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of :151. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2 teachers were rated "Non-Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
In 2011, Keystone High School is in Making Progress: in School Improvement II due to persisting low student achievement in reading by low-income students. In 2010, the high school was in School Improvement II status due to the chronic, low achievement of its students.
The high school ranked 59th out of 105 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012, for academic achievement as reflected by the last three years of 11th grade results on: math, reading, writing and science PSSAs.
- 2011 - 82nd
- 2010 - 64th
- 2009 - 83rd
- PSSA Results
- 11th Grade Reading
- 2011 - 77% on grade level, (15% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2010 - 62% (20% below basic). State - 67%
- 2009 - 67%, State - 65%
- 2008 - 60%, State - 65%
- 2007 - 72%, State - 65%
- 11th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 80% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 60.3%
- 2010 - 51% (26% below basics). State - 59%
- 2009 - 59%, State - 56%
- 2008 - 56%, State - 56%
- 2007 - 58%, State - 53%
- 11th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 39% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2010 - 32% (15% below basic). State - 39%
- 2009 - 33%, State - 40%
- 2008 - 32%, State - 39%
SAT scores
From January to June 2011, 124 Keystone Oaks students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 498. The Math average score was 500. The Writing average score was 484. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.
College remediation
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 41% of Keystone Oaks School District graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.
Graduation requirements
The Keystone Oaks School Board has determined that students must perform 120 Hours of Community Service and earn the following credits to graduate: English 6 credits, Social Studies 4 credits, Math 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Technology 1 credit, Physical Education 2 credits, Health 0.5 credit and five elective credits.
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students' Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade. In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level. Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Cyber high school
The administration established a cyber high school in 2010. Twelve students enrolled saving the district $100,000. The program is open to students in grades 8-12.
Dual enrollment
The high school offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $9,415 for the program.
Middle school
Keystone Oaks Middle School is located at 1002 Kelton Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 524 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 188 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 36 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 14.48:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 7 teachers were rated "Non-Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
Keystone Oaks Middle School eighth grade ranked 73rd out of 141 western Pennsylvania eighth grades, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2009, for academic achievement as reflected by the last three years of results on: math, reading, writing and science PSSAs.
- 2010 - 69th
- 2009 - 71st
In 2011 Keystone Oaks Middle School achieved AYP status. In 2010 the school was in Making Progress: in School Improvement I due to chronic low achievement of its students.
- 8th Grade Reading:
- 2011 - 87% on grade level (4% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
- 2010 - 85% (6% below basic). State - 81% (157 pupils enrolled)
- 2009 - 84%, State - 80.9%.
- 2008 - 83%, State - 78%
- 2007 - 83%, State - 75%
- 8th Grade Math:
- 2011 - 83% on grade level (6% below basic). State - 76.9%
- 2010 - 83% (8% below basic). State - 75%
- 2009 - 70%, State - 71%
- 2008 - 69%, State - 70%
- 2007 - 59%, State - 67%
- 8th Grade Science:
- 2011 - 51% on grade level (25% below basic). State - 58.3%
- 2010 - 55% (28% below basic). State - 57%
- 2009 - 64%, State - 55%
- 2008 - 58%, State - 52%
Elementary schools
Dormont Elementary School is located at 3200 Annapolis Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 354 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 123 pupils received a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 26 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Non-Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. In 2010 and 2011, Dormont Elementary School achieved AYP status. In 2011, 85% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In math, 95% of the students in 3rd through 5th grades were on grade level and 66% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 98% of the pupils were on grade level.
Fred L. Aiken Elementary School is located at 881 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 191 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 26 pupils received a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 17 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 11:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the school's teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. In 2010 and 2011, Fred L. Aiken Elementary School achieved AYP status. In 2011, 93% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In math, 98% of the students in 3rd through 5th grades were on grade level and 76% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 97% of the pupils were on grade level.
Myrtle Avenue School is located at 3724 Myrtle Avenue, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 348 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 115 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 26 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 13:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. In 2010 and 2011, Elementary School achieved AYP status. In 2011, only 80% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In math, 89% of the students in 3rd through 6th grades were on grade level and 60% scored advanced. In 4th grade science, 91% of the pupils were on grade level.
Bullying policy
In 2009 the administrative reported there were 10 incidents of bullying in the district.
The Keystone Oaks School Board prohibits bullying by district students and faculty. A policy defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.
Special education
In December 2010, the district administration reported that 280 pupils or 13% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. Among the identified student, 48% had specific learning disabilities. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 308 pupils or 13% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.
The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team or Student Assistance Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Supervisor of Special Education.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district's students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student's needs accrue the same level of costs. The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. Overidentification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.
The Keystone Oaks School District received a $1,409,645 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.
Gifted education
The District Administration reported that 138 or 5.83% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.
Budget
In 2009, Keystone Oaks School District reported employing over 250 teachers with a median salary of $61,793 and a top salary of $134,535. In addition to salary the teachers and administrators receive an extensive benefits package including health insurance, life insurance, personal and 12 paid sick days which accumulate, reimbursement for college courses, additional payment for extra time worked and a defined benefit pension. In 2011, the average teacher salary in Keystone Oaks SD was $69,880 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $21,375 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $81,255. According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers' total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation, including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.
In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $59,200 for 180 days worked. The district ranked fourteenth in Allegheny County for average teacher salary in 2007. The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania was $54,977. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
Keystone Oaks School District administrative costs per pupil were $824 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The salary of the superintendent was reported as $129,360 in 2009. Superintendent William F. Urbanek, Ed.D. earned $134,535 in 2010.
In 2008, the administration reported spending $14,701 per pupil which ranked 71st among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $18,239.23. Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.
Reserves' - In 2008, the Keystone Oaks School Board reported a $4,275,983 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $300,000.
In August 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned 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 the individual's level of wealth.
State basic education funding
In 2011-12, the district received a $4,541,018 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the School District received $96,577 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. In 2010, the district reported that 698 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.
For the 2010-2011 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.68% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,848,389. South Fayette Township School District received an 11.32% increase, which was the highest increase in Allegheny County. . The state Basic Education funding to the Keystone Oaks School District in 2008-09 was $4,541,058. Twenty three Allegheny County school district received the base 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, one hundred fifty school district received the 2% minimum increase in funding in 2010-11. Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County received an increase of over 23.65%. Sixteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10%. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell's policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,631,838. 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. Chartiers Valley School District received an 8.19% increase, which was the highest in Allegheny County in 2009-10. The state Basic Education funding to the Keystone Oaks School District in 2008-09 was $4, 541,058. In Pennsylvania, ninety school district received the 2% minimum increase in funding in 2009-10. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received an increase of over 22.31%. Fifteen school districts received Basic Education increases in excess of 10%. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal.
Accountability Block Grants
Beginning in 2004-2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010-11 the district applied for and received $262,133 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to increase instructional time, to provide health and safety services and to provide teacher training through placing teacher coaches in the classroom.
- 2009-10 - $262,000 for increased instructional time and teacher training coaches.
- 2008-09 - $256,000.
- 2007-08 - $256,760
- 2006-07 - $234,316
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 Fairfield Area School District received $49,130.
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), along with other specialized equipment and provided funding for teacher training to optimize the use of the computers. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Keystone Oaks School District did not apply in 2007. In 2008, the district was denied funding by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. KOSD received $164,329 in 2009. It purchased seven Promethean boards for the high school and laptops.
Common Cents state initiative
The Keystone Oaks School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.
Federal Stimulus grant
The district received an extra $1,187,806 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.
Race to the Top Grant
School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. School district officials DID apply for the Race to the Top grant. However, the KOEA (Keystone Oaks Education Association) would not sign the application. Therefore, the district was not considered for these funds.
Real estate taxes
The school board levied a real estate tax of 22.0300 mills in 2011-12. 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. The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.
- 2010-11 - 22.03 mills
- 2009-10 - 21.31 mills
- 2008-09 - 21.3100 mills.
- 2007-08 - 21.3100 mills.
- 2006-07 - 21.3100 mills.
Act 1 Adjusted index
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 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. In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index. Several exceptions were maintained: 1) costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school's share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Keystone Oaks School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.
- 2006-07 - 3.9%, Base 3.9%
- 2007-08 - 4.0%, Base 3.4%
- 2008-09 - 5.2%, Base 4.4%
- 2009-10 - 4.8%, Base 4.1%
- 2010-11 - 3.4%, Base 2.9%
- 2011-12 - 1.7%, Base 1.4%
- 2012-13 - 2.0%, Base 1.7%
For the 2012-13 budget year, School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.
For the 2011-12 school year, Keystone Oaks School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, Keystone Oaks School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A public school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 public 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.
For the 2010-2011 school year, the school board did not apply for an exception to exceed the district's Act 1 index limit. 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
The property tax relief amount for the Keystone Oaks School District was set at $151 for 5,644 approved applicants by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in May 2010. The highest property tax relief, in Allegheny County, was awarded to Duquesne City School District at $348 per approved homestead. In Pennsylvania, the highest relief was awarded to Chester Upland School District located in Delaware County at $632. CUSD received the top relief every year since the inception of the program
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Keystone Oaks School District was $153 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 5,570 approved 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 (40,000 m2) 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. In highest property tax relief in 2009 and 2008 went to Chester Upland School District in Delaware County which got $632 per approved homestead and farmstead.
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%).
Consolidation and enrollment
In March 2010, the school board held a public meeting regarding a plan to consolidate schools, closing several due to declining enrollment. In October 2010, the board approved the plan to close several elementary schools. The district reports that enrollment fell by nearly 700 students during the past 10 years. The board took action due to a $3.6 million budget deficit projected for the 2012-13 school year.
A proposal was made by David Wassell, a prominent resident and leader in Allegheny County, to consolidate Allegheny County school districts to save tax dollars, focus dollars on student achievement, and improve student services. The plan calls for a proposed district that includes: Brentwood Borough School District, Baldwin-Whitehall School District, Keystone Oaks School District and Mount Lebanon School District. The proposed district would serve the communities of: Baldwin, Baldwin Township, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Green Tree, and Mt. Lebanon.
Governor Edward Rendell proposed that consolidation with adjacent school districts, in each county, would achieve substantial cost savings. The savings could be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater). Statewide, there are 187 districts that are projected to have an enrollment decline of 15 percent or greater. Geographically, these districts are clustered in western Pennsylvania and in the state's northern tier.
In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a report finding that the state would save hundreds of millions of tax dollars, by cutting the number of school administrations in half through consolidation of administrations, with no adverse impact on programs offered to students.
The Commonwealth of 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. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of public school superintendents of small Pennsylvania districts, 42% stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Keystone Oaks High School fields sixteen varsity interscholastic teams and is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) and the Pennsylvania Athletic Association (PIAA). Eligibility for participation is set through 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.
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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