The Baldwin-Whitehall School District is a large, suburban, public school district which serves the Boroughs of Baldwin and Whitehall and Baldwin Township. Baldwin-Whitehall School District encompasses approximately 10 square miles (26 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 36,687 people. By 2010, the district's population declined to 35,731 people. Per school district officials, in school year 2007â€"08 the Baldwin-Whitehall School District provided basic educational services to 4,217 pupils. In 2009, Baldwin-Whitehall School District residents' per capita income was $21,872 a year, while the median family income was $53,196. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District employed 346 teachers, 67 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators in 2008. Baldwin-Whitehall School District received more than $16.5 million in state funding in school year 2007â€"08.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District operates Baldwin High School, Harrison Middle School (6thâ€"8th), McAnnulty Elementary School (K-1st), Paynter Elementary School (K-5th) and Whitehall Elementary School (2ndâ€"5th).
Governance
Baldwin-Whitehall 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 resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills. The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board. The School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the Superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract. The Baldwin-Whitehall Board of School Directors and Administration work in partnership to provide a sound system of education in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.
The Board of School Directors is made up of nine citizens elected to serve four-year terms. Pennsylvania law requires that board members be 18 years of age, live in the district at least one year, and not hold another public office. State law does not limit the number of terms a member may serve. School board members are not paid for their services to the community. The local board sets policies within the framework of the state school code. In effect, the Board of School Directors is the legislative branch of the school district. It defines the policies, which are carried out by the school staff. All decisions must meet state standards.
The board meets on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss agenda items being considered for action. Regular board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. The meetings begin at 7:30 pm at the Administration office. The dates of any special meetings are posted at the administration office and published in local papers. District Solicitor is appointed by the board on an annual basis - Weiss, Burkardt, Kramer, LLC.
The Board of School Directors:
- Karen L. Brown, President
- David J. Solenday, First Vice President
- Anthony DiCesaro, Second Vice President
- Dan Knezevich, Director
- Tracy L. Macek, Director
- Louis J. Rainaldi, Jr., Director
- Elliot J. Rambo, Director
- Martin Michael Schmotzer, Director
- Janice Tarson, Director
District Act 93 Administrators:
- Dr. Randal A. Lutz, Superintendent
- Denise L. Sedlacek, Assistant Superintendent
- Director of Business Mark R. Cherpak
- Director of Curriculum Andrea Huffman
- Director of Facilities Randy Huddart
- Director of Food Service Joyce E. Weber
- Director of Human Resources Jennifer Seitzinger
- Director of Pupil Services Marissa A. Gallagher
- Director of Information and Instructional Technology Dr. Janeen Peretin
- Director of Transportation David Tompkins
- Director of Athletics Vincent M. Sortino
Student Representatives:
- Nick Pantelis, Grade 12
- Carl Carlson, Grade 12
- Michael Kawash, Grade 11
- Corina Pittman, Grade 11
- Nathan Hobson, Grade 10
- Avery Greenaway, Grade 10
Board Secretary:
- Thea Hampsay
Academic achievement
In 2015, Baldwin-Whitehall School District ranked 184th out of 496 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school. Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.
- Local academic ranking
Baldwin-Whitehall School District ranked 53rd out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts in 2008 in the Pittsburgh Business Times rating. 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 School District & Midland Borough School District due to no high schools)
- 2012 - 56th
- 2008 - 34th
- Overachiever statewide ranking
In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Baldwin-Whitehall School District ranked 340th. In 2011, the district was ranked 300th. 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."
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District was in the 49th percentile of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Scale (0â€"99; 100 is state best)
District AYP status history
In 2012, Baldwin-Whitehall School District declined to Warning AYP status, due to an inadequate graduation rate coupled with lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Baldwin-Whitehall School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). 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 Pennsylvania public 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. Baldwin-Whitehall School District achieved AYP status each year from 2006 to 2010.
- 2005 - Making Progress School Improvement 1
- 2004 - School Improvement 1 due to low student academic achievement
- 2003 the District was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.
Graduation rate
In 2012, the graduation rate at Baldwin-Whitehall School District was 93%. In 2011, the graduation rate was 94.5%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Baldwin-Whitehall School District's rate was 94% for 2010.
- 2010 â€" 95%
- 2009 â€" 99%
- 2008 â€" 97%
- 2007 â€" 99%
High school
Baldwin High School is located at 4653 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 1,496 pupils in grades 9th through 12th, with 387 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. The school employed 92 teachers, yielding a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 16:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.
- Western Pennsylvania region ranking
In 2013, Baldwin High School was ranked 38th out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools for student academic achievement on the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and science by the Pittsburgh Business Times.
- 2012 - 33rd
- 2010 - 19th
- 2009 - 19th
Adequate Yearly Progress status
In 2012, Baldwin High School declined to Warning AYP status. In 2011, Baldwin High School achieved AYP status.
- PSSA results
- 11th-grade Reading
- 2012 - 76% on grade level, (14% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2011 - 77% (12% below basic). State - 69.1%
- 2010 â€" 76%, State - 67%
- 2009 â€" 76%, State â€" 65%
- 2008 â€" 81%, State â€" 65%
- 2007 â€" 77%, State â€" 65%
- 11th-grade Math
- 2012 - 70% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.
- 2011 - 68% (20% below basic). State - 60.3%
- 2010 â€" 71%, State - 59%
- 2009 â€" 73%, State âˆ'56%
- 2008 â€" 68%, State â€" 56%
- 2007 â€" 67%, State â€" 53%
- 11th-grade Science
- 2012 - 38% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.
- 2011 - 43% (16% below basic). State - 40%
- 2010 â€" 39%, State â€" 39%
- 2009 â€" 40%, State â€" 40%
- 2008 â€" 31%, State â€" 39%
Science in Motion Baldwin High School does not participate in a state program called Science in Motion which brings college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and costs the schools nothing to participate. In Allegheny County, Westminster College provides the service.
College remediation rate
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 19% of Baldwin-Whitehall 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.
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 2009â€"10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $12,575 for the program. In 2010, Governor Edward Rendell eliminated the grants to students, from the Commonwealth, due to a state budget crisis.
Graduation requirements
The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board requires the student earn 23 credits to graduate: English â€" 4, Social Science â€" 4, Science â€" 3, Mathematics â€" 4, Physical Education â€" 1, Health â€" 0.5, Arts and/or Humanities â€" 2, Electives â€" 5.50 credits.
By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students were required to 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. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. For the class of 2019, a composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements. 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. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.
SAT scores
In 2012, 271 Baldwin School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 493. The Math average score was 519. The Writing average score was 477. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.
In 2011, 231 Baldwin School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 495. The Math average score was 513. The Writing average score was 475. 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.
Harrison Middle School
Harrison Middle School is located at 129 Windvale Drive, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 909 pupils in grades 6th through 8th, with 313 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 60 teachers, yielding a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 15:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Harrison Middle School, September 21, 2012.
In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 68th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on the last three years of results in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science. (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County
In 2009 through 2012, Harrison Middle School achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was 94% in both 2009 and 2010.
- 8th-grade science:
- 2012 - 58% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 59%
- 2011 - 55% (21% below basic). State â€" 58.3%
- 2010 â€" 58% on grade level. State â€" 57%
- 2009 â€" 55%, State â€" 55%
- 2008 â€" 54%, State â€" 50%
Whitehall Elementary School
Whitehall Elementary School is located at 4900 Curry Road, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 735 pupils in grades second through 5th, with 232 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 44 teachers, yielding a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 16:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind Act.
In 2012, Whitehall Elementary School declined to School Improvement II due to lagging student achievement in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Whitehall Elementary School was in Making Progress in School Improvement I AYP status. In 2010, the school declined to School Improvement level I AYP status due to chronic low student achievement of several student subgroups. In 2009, the school was in Warning status for low student achievement. In 2010 and 2011, the school was eligible for a federal School Improvement Grants which would provide over $1Â million in extra dollars for improving achievement.
- 4th Grade Science
- 2012 - 85% (4% below basic). State - 82%
- 2011 - 89% (2% below basic). State - 82.9%
- 2010 â€" 76% (11% below basic), State â€" 81%
- 2009 â€" 93%, (1% below basic), State â€" 83%
Paynter Elementary School
W. Robert Paynter Elementary School is located at 3454 Pleasantvue Drive, Pittsburgh. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 716 pupils in grades kindergarten through 5th, with 293 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 43 teachers, yielding a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 16:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind. The school's attendance rate was 96% in 2013. The school provides full day kindergarten.
- 2013 School Performance Profile
Paynter Elementary School achieved a score of 83.2 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 75% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 5th. In 3rd grade, 77% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 86% were on grade level (3rd-5th grades). In 4th grade science, just 83% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing 86% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.
- AYP history
In 2009 through 2012, Paynter Elementary School achieved AYP status. In 2010 and 2009 the attendance rate was 95%.
- 4th Grade Science
- 2012 - 91% (0% below basic). State - 82%
- 2011 - 87% (3% below basic). State - 82.9%
- 2010 â€" 76% (12% below basic). State â€" 81%
- 2009 â€" 78% (10% below basic). State â€" 83%
MCAnnulty Elementary School
MCAnnulty Elementary School is located at. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 371 pupils in grades kindergarten and 1st, with 107 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school is not a federally designated Title I school. The school employed 21 teachers, yielding a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 17:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind Act.
MCAnnulty Elementary School achieved AYP for attendance in 2010.
Special education
In December 2012, the district administration reported that 391 pupils or 9% of the district's pupils received Special Education services with 29% of identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2009, the district administration reported that 467 pupils or 11% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.
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 Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. 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. Over identification 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 state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive that schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District received a $2,458,688 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, 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. Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The District must apply for this added funding.
Gifted education
Baldwin-Whitehall School District Administration reported that 197 or 4.71% 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.
Wellness policy
The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board established a district student wellness policy in 2006 â€" 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 â€" 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." The Superintendent annually reports to the Board on the district's compliance with law and policies related to student wellness.
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
The District offers a free school breakfast and free or reduced-price lunch to low-income children. The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.
Paynter Elementary School was the recipient of a grant from the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation to support its Fuel Up to Play 60 program. The program encourages healthy eating.
Highmark Healthy High 5 grant
In 2009, Baldwin-Whitehall School District received funding through a Highmark Healthy High 5 grant. Harrison Middle School received $9,427 which was used to purchase equipment for the "Fitness Zone" that is intended to promote lifelong fitness. Beginning in 2006, Highmark Foundation engaged in a 5-year, $100 million program to promote lifelong healthy behaviors in children and adolescents through local nonprofits and schools.
Budget
Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1.
Under Pennsylvania’s Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.
In 2011, the average teacher salary in Baldwin-Whitehall School District was $57,686 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $16,652 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $73,738.
In 2009, the district reported employing over 360 teachers with a salary range of $40,000 to $144,200 for 184 days. Teachers receive a benefits package that includes: health insurance, life insurance, reimbursement for college courses, paid personal days, sick days, paid bereavement leave, and a defined benefits pension. The teachers union has been granted 25 paid days to conduct national, state or local union business. An additional 10 paid days is available to a union member who serves as a state or national officer. The union must pay for a substitute teacher. Added compensation is paid for after school activities, training time, and required meetings. A paid class preparation time is provided daily. The contract stipulates maximum class sizes.
In 2007, Baldwin-Whitehill School District employed 266 teachers. The average teacher salary in the District was $52,597 for 180 days worked.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District administrative costs per pupil were $676.83 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union. According to PSBA, the median Superintendent salary rose to over $130,000 in 2011.
In 2008, Baldwin-Whitehiall School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $13,153 which ranked 159th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $13,934.45 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. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.
Reserves In 2008, Baldwin-Whitehall School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $3,953,626.00 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $4,801,698.00. In 2010, the reserves had increased to an unreserved designated fund balance of $4,788,400 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $7,274,208. In 2012, the District's reserves was $12,405,050. In 2013 the administration reported a general fund balance had grown to $14,486,736. Pennsylvania public school district reserve funds are divided into two categories â€" designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. By law the state limits the total unreserved-undesignated fund balance at 8% of the annual budget for school districts that have budgets over $19 million a year. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.
Audit In July 2011, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District underwent a performance audit by the Pennsylvania Auditor General. Serious findings were reported to the school board and administration, including that a district business office employee had made $298,556 in unauthorized disbursements. In 2009, a payroll clerk was linked to $300,000 missing payroll, athletic and construction funds.
Tuition Students who live in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Baldwin-Whitehall School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $8,128.29, High School - $9,638.93.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1.4%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.50%, 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. Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the District. 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 level of the individual’s personal wealth. The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds local public schools.
State basic education funding
For the 2013-14 school year, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District received a 3.1% increase or $9,071,041 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $273,013 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Baldwin-Whitehall School District received $228,877 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Allegheny County, South Fayette Township School District received the highest percentage increase in BEF at 5.5%. The District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth’s budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding. The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.
For the 2012-13 school year, the Baldwin-Whiltehall School District received $9,026,905. The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Baldwin-Whitehall School District received $228,877 in ABG Funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS. This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett’s first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
In 2011â€"12, Baldwin-Whitehall School District received $8,796,585 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $228,878 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011â€"2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010â€"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 1,118 pupils received a free or reduced-price lunch due to their family meeting the federal poverty level.
For the 2010â€"11 budget year, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District received a 4.57% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $9,228,632.92. South Fayette Township School District received an 11.32% increase, which was the highest increase in state funding among Allegheny County school districts. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received the 2% base increase for budget year 2010â€"11. Thirty of them were Allegheny County school districts. The highest increase in the state was awarded to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which was given a 23.65% increase in state basic education funding. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. 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 public school districts at a far greater rate than others.
In the 2009â€"2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6.67% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $9,228,633. Four county school districts received increases of over 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2008â€"10. Chartiers Valley School District received an 8.17% increase. The majority of Allegheny County districts received a 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. 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. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.
The state's Basic Education Funding to the Baldwin-Whitehall School District in 2008â€"09 was $8,651,339.27 According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,132 students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007â€"2008 school year.
Accountability Block Grant
The state provides additional education funding to schools in the form of Accountability Block Grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses designed to improve student academic achievement. Baldwin-Whitehall School District uses its $621,231 to fund all day kindergarten for the seventh year and to provide assistance to struggling students. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding and all federal funding. Schools Districts apply each year for Accountability Block Grants. In 2009â€"10, the state provided $271.4 million in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all-day kindergartens.
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, Mathematics) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. Baldwin-Whitehall School District did not apply for funding in 2006â€"07. In 2007â€"08, the District received $475,997 funding. For the 2008â€"09, school year the district received a $99,971 for a total funding of $575,968. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards. In Allegheny County, the highest award was given to Highlands School District at $835,286. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.
School Improvement Grant
For the 2010â€"11 school year, Baldwin-Whitehall School District administration did not apply for a School Improvement Grant. It was eligible for funding due to the chronic, low achievement of subgroups of students, at the Whitehall Elementary School.
In the summer of 2011, the district administration again, did not apply for School Improvement Grant funding, from the federal government (over $9.9Â million available). Whitehall Elemenetary School was eligible for funding due to chronic low achievement. The grant stipulates the funds be used for improving student achievement using one of four federally dictated strategies. The strategies are: transformation, turnaround, restart with new faculty and administration or closure of failing schools. The Pennsylvania Education Secretary awarded $66Â Million to reform Pennsylvania's lowest-achieving schools in August 2011. The funding is for three years.
In 2010, Pennsylvania received $141 million from the federal department of education, to turn around its worst-performing schools. The funds were disbursed via a competitive grant program. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified 200 Pennsylvania schools as "persistently lowest-achieving," making them eligible for this special funding. Pennsylvania required low performing schools to apply or provide documentation about why they had not applied. The funds must be used, by the district, to turn around schools in one of four ways: school closure, restart â€" close the school and reopen it as a charter school. The other two options involve removing the principal. One would require at least half the faculty in a chronically poor performing school be dismissed. The second involves intensive teacher training coupled with strong curriculum revision or a longer school day.
Science It’s Elementary grant
Paynter Elementary School successfully applied to participate and received a Science It’s Elementary grant in 2007-08. For the 2008-09 school year, the program was offered in 143 schools reaching 2,847 teachers and 66,973 students across Pennsylvania. In 2007, the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiated an effort to improve science instruction in the Commonwealth’s public elementary schools. Called Science: It’s Elementary, the program is a hands on instruction approach for elementary science classes that develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills. To encourage schools to adopt the program’s standards aligned curriculum, the state provided a grant to cover the costs of materials and extensive mandatory teacher training. The district was required to develop a three-year implementation plan for the participating school. They had to appoint a district liaison who was paid $3000 by PDE to serve as the conduit of all information between the district and the Department and its agents along with submitting orders and distributing supplies to implementing teachers. For the 2006-07 state education budget, $10 million was allocated. The 2006-07 State Education Budget provided $635 million in new spending for pre-K through 12th grades for the 2006-07 school year. This marks an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 public school funding. The grant program was expanded to $14.5 million in the 2008-09 budget. The grant was discontinued in 2010 by Governor Rendell due to a massive state budget crisis.
Other grants
The District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, Education Assistance Grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.
Federal Stimulus funding
The district received an extra $2,015,610 in ARRA â€" Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. This funding will be for two years. The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years. Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised to use the funds for one-time expenditures like: acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.
Race to the Top grant
Baldwin-Whitehall 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 in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state Race To The Top application judging occurred in June 2010.
Consolidation
A proposal was made, by David Wassel, a prominent citizen, 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.
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 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.
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, with no impact on programs offered to students.
Common Cents state initiative
The Baldwin-Whitehall School District School Board participated in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program in 2008. 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. Multiple suggestions for substantial savings were proposed. One example cited was that Baldwin-Whitehall spends almost twice as much as the majority of Allegheny school districts for transportation.
Real estate taxes
In 2013-14, the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board set the real estate tax rate at 19.61 mills.mills. Each mill generates about $1.5 million in revenue. 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.
According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011. 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%).
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 2010â€"2011 school year is 2.9 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 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 Baldwin-Whitehall School District 2006â€"2007 through 2010â€"2011.
For the 2013-14 budget year, Baldwin-Whitehall School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2013-2014, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.
For the 2012-13 budget year, Baldwin-Whitehall School Board applied for two (2) for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: teacher pension costs and special education costs. 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 2011-12 school year, Baldwin-Whitehall School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board has the option of adopting either: 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions: 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.
In 2010-11, Baldwin-Whitehall School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for its budget. 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 Baldwin-Whitehall School District was set at $145 for 11,424 approved applicants by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in May 2010.
In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Baldwin-Whitehall School District was $147 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 11,277 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. Among Allegheny County school districts, Duquesne City School District received the highest tax relief at $346 in 2009. In Pennsylvania the highest tax relief was given to Chester Upland School District of Delaware County at $632 in 2009. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Allegheny County, 60% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so 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%).
Extracurriculars
The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is determined by the policies of the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board. For the 2013-14 school year the School Board budgeted $1,318,814 for activities.
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.
Sports
The District funds:
- Harrison Middle School Sports
According to PIAA directory July 2012
Notes
