Central Greene School District

Central Greene School District
Address
250 South Cumberland Street Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, Greene, 15370 United States
Information
Superintendent	Dr. Jerome F. Bartley
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	2224
Kindergarten	156
Grade 1	189
Grade 2	149
Grade 3	158
Grade 4	144
Grade 5	138
Grade 6	169
Grade 7	153
Grade 8	168
Grade 9	177
Grade 10	169
Grade 11	166
Grade 12	169
Other	Enrollment declining to 2027 in 2020
Mascot	Raiders
Website	http://www.cgsd.org/

The Central Greene School District covers the Borough of Waynesburg and Franklin Township, Perry Township, Washington Township, Wayne Township and Whiteley Township in Greene County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 168 square miles. According to the 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 16,681. In 2009 the district residents' per capita income was $14,354, while the median family income was $39,358. The district was formed in 1962 from consolidation of the aforementioned municipal school districts. The district operates two Elementary Schools (K-5th), one Middle School (6th-8th) and one High School (9th-12th). The district is located about sixty miles south of Pittsburgh and twenty miles north of Morgantown, West Virginia. The facilities include a pool, a football stadium, an auditorium, a soccer field and indoor basketball courts that are used as a community center for the Waynesburg area. According to district officials, in school year 2007-08, the Central Greene School District provided basic educational services to 2,180 pupils It employed 180 teachers, 98 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 13 administrators.

Demographics

The school district has 2161 students. Whites make up 98% of the student body, blacks make up 1%. The teacher-student ratio is 14:1. Forty percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch prices.

Schools

Waynesburg Central High School
Address: 30 Zimmerman Dr., Waynesburg, PA 15370
Principal: Al Veverka | Asst. Principals: David A. Mason, Dianne Kayla
711 students

Margaret Bell Miller Middle School
Address: 126 E. Lincoln St., Waynesburg, PA 15370
Principal: John Lipscomb | Asst. Principal: Jackie Young
565 students

Central Elementary School
Address: 30 Zimmerman Dr., Waynesburg, PA 15370
Principal: Catherine Butcher | Asst. Principals: Debby Iams, Dianne Kayla
844 students

Perry Elementary School
Address: 145 School Rd., Mt. Morris, PA 15349
Principal: Catherine Butcher | Asst. Principals: Debby Iams, Dianne Kayla
104 students

Academic achievement

Central Greene School District was ranked 349th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts in 2010 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and two years of science PSSAs.

• 2010 - 341st
• 2009 - 350th
• 2008 - 397th
• 2007 - 394th out of 501 school districts.

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Central Greene School DIstrict was in the 16th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania School Districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)

Graduation Rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 87%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Central Greene School District's rate was 70% for 2010.

Former calculation graduation rate

• 2010 - 88%
• 2009 - 90%
• 2008 - 91%
• 2007 - 85%

Waynesburg Central High School

In 2011, the high school declined to School Improvement II due to chronic low mathematics achievement. In 2010, the school is in School Improvement I due to the chronic low academic performance of its students.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 56% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level. (144 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 63%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 68%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 63%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2010 - 53% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 52%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 60%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 48%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:
2010 - 37% on grade level. State - 39% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2009 - 44%, State - 40%
2008 - 48%, State - 39%

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 28% of the Waynesburg Central High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual Enrollment The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts with the assistance of a state grant.

Graduation requirements

The Central Greene School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 28 credits to graduate including: English 4 credits, social studies 3.5 credits, science 3.5 credits, math 3.5 credits, Physical Education, health, drivers Education 3 credits and 10.5 electives.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.

Beginning with the class of 2015, students must take the Keystone Exams in reading and math.

Margaret Bell Miller MIddle School

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. In 2011 and 2010 the school reported a 93% attendance rate.

Eight Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 75% on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2010 - 83%, State - 81% (158 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 73%, State - 80%
• 2008 - 76%, State - 78%

Eight Grade Math:

• 2011 - 76% on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
• 2010 - 82%, State - 75%
• 2009 - 65%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 72%, State - 70%

Eight Grade Science:

• 2011 - 58% on grade level (23% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 63%, State - 57%
• 2009 - 44%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 47%, State - 52%

Seventh Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 68% on grade level (14% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 - 59%, State - 73% (147 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 67%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 63%, State - 70%

• Seventh Grade Math:
• 2011 - 82% on grade level (11% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 71%, State - 77%
• 2009 - 78%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 62%, State - 70%

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 66% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 69.9%
• 2010 - 52%, (29% below basic). State - 68% (166 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 48%, State - 67%
• 2008 - 50%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 72% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 - 67%, (18% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 - 68%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 74%, State -72%

Perry Elementary School

In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate for 2011 was 93% while the rate for 2010 was 94%.

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 77% on grade level (8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 80%, State - 64% (15 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 75%, State - 64%
• 2008 - 50%, State - 61%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 92% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 80%, State - 74%
• 2009 - 94%, State - 73%
• 2008 - 72%, State - 73%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 79% (0% below basic). State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 73% (8% below basic). State - 72% (15 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 80%, State - 72%
• 2008 - 83%, State - 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 92% (4% below basic). State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 93%, (6% below basic). State - 84%
• 2009 - 87%, State - 81%
• 2008 - 100%, State - 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 96%, (0% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 93%, State - 81%
• 2009 - 80%, State - 83%
• 2008 - 100%, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 79%, (8% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 - 90%, (0% below basic). State - 75% (22 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 82%, State - 77%
• 2008 - 76%, State - 77%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 92%, (8% below basic). State – 83.5%
• 2010 - 96% (0% below basic). State - 84%
• 2009 - 88%, State - 81%
• 2008 - 76%, State - 80%

Waynesburg Central Elementary School

In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate for 2011 was 93% while the rate for 2010 was 93%.

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 64% on grade level (21% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 68%, State - 64% (116 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 53%, State - 64%
• 2008 - 48%, State - 61%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 80% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 85%, State - 74%
• 2009 - 70%, State - 73%
• 2008 - 71%, State - 73%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 78% (10% below basic). State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 72% (19% below basic). State - 72% (117 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 78%, State - 72%
• 2008 - 58%, State - 70%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 83% (10% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 85%, State - 84%
• 2009 - 87%, State - 81%
• 2008 - 77%, State - 79%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 85%, (2% below basic). State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 71% (14% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 87%, State - 83%
• 2008 - 71%, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 77%, (12% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 - 71% (15% below basic). State - 75% (125 pupils enrolled)
• 2009 - 69%, State - 77%
• 2008 - 73%, State - 77%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 82%, (2% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 - 71%, State - 84%
• 2009 - 74%, State - 81%
• 2008 - 79%, State - 80%

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 424 pupils or 19.5% 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. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. 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.

Central Greene School District received a $1,659,153 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 37 or 1.72% 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.

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 resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing 176 teachers, 90 support personnel and 12 administrators with a salary range of $31,000 to $107,078.

In 2007, the district employed 167 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $45,186 for 180 days worked. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.

Central Greene School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $798.10 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association'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.

Reserves In 2008, the district reported $4,000,544 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was repoted as zero.

In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $12,510 which ranked 220th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts.

In October 2009, 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, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. 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 of personal wealth.

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $7,821,757 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the Central Greene School District will receive $147,710 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. In 2010, the district reported that 882 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For the 2010-11 budget year, the highest increase in Greene County was given to the Central Greene School District a 4.97% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,657,885. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,247,230. Among the districts in Greene County, the highest increase went to Southeastern Greene School District which got a 6.92%. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $4,787,151.79. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.

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 $437,324 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide Full Day kindergarten and reduced class size K-3rd grade.

• 2009-10 - $320,064 for Full Day Kindergarten and $117,260 for Class size reduction K-3rd
• 2008-09 - $437,324 for Full Day Kindergarten and class size reduction.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $1,364,310 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

District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars in additional federal funding to improve 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.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Central Greene School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07 or in 2007-08. The district received $136,749 in 2008-09.

Common Cents state initiative

The Central Greene School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2010-11 were set by the school board at 24.7500 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts.

• 2010-11 - 24.2700 mills
• 2009-10 - 24.2700 mills.
• 2008-09 - 24.2700 mills.
• 2007-08 - 23.2700 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.

The School District Adjusted Index for the Central Greene School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.

• 2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.8%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 6.2%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.7%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 4.1%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.3%, Base 1.7%

For the 2011-12 school year, Central Greene School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, Central Greene 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.

The Central Greene School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011. For 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Central Greene School District was $296 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,113 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 Greene County, 37% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. In Greene County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2010, went to property owners in Central Greene School District. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead. This was the third year they were the top recipient.

• 2009 - $310 for 2,976 properties.
• 2008 - $362 for 2,542 properties.

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, individual with income much 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 for participation is determined by school board policy.

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.

External links

• Central Greene School District