Littlestown Area School District

Littlestown Area School District
Location
Littlestown, Pennsylvania Adams County South Central Pennsylvania United States
Information
Type	Public
Superintendent	Donald Wills
Grades	K - 12th
Enrollment	2054 (2009-10)
Kindergarten	156
Grade 1	134
Grade 2	137
Grade 3	152
Grade 4	151
Grade 5	170
Grade 6	146
Grade 7	183
Grade 8	141
Grade 9	177
Grade 10	171
Grade 11	170
Grade 12	167
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Athletics conference	YAIAA Division 2/3
Mascot	Thunderbolts
Website	Littlestown Area School District website

Littlestown Area School District is a midsized, rural, public school district. It serves Littlestown and neighboring areas in Adams County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately 50 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 18,235. In 2009, the districts residents' per capita income was $16,811, while the median family income was $40,063. According to District officials, in school year 2007-08 the Littlestown Area School District provided basic educational services to 2,281 pupils through the employment of 181 teachers, 149 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 16 administrators.

This district has one elementary school, an intermediate school, a middle school and a high school.

Governance

The Littlestown Area 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.

The district is served by the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 which offers a variety of services including: curriculum development assistance, shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

Schools

Name	Level	Information
Rolling Acres Elementary School	K-3	Built in 1952, School Population - 579
Alloway Creek Intermediate School	4-5	Finished in 2006, Alloway Creek Intermediate School houses the 4th and 5th grade. The school also houses the District Office, and Business Office. The purpose of the school was to alleviate the over crowding in Rolling Acres Elementary School. School Population - 321
Maple Avenue Middle School	6-8	The idea of a new school arose on January 7, 1932. The building was opened in time for the class of 1933. The school was formally named The Maple Avenue Junior-Senior High School. School Population - 470
Littlestown Senior High School	9-12	Built in 1962, recently added Gymnasium. Sports Mascot: Thunderbolts. School Population - 685

Academic achievement

The Littlestown Area School District was ranked 331st out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts, in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance on five years of PSSA results in: reading, writing, mathematics and three years of science.

• 2010 - 309th
• 2009 - 306th
• 2008 - 325th
• 2007 - 280th of 501 school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 93%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Littlestown Area School District's rate was 89% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 90%
• 2009 - 90%
• 2008 - 89%
• 2007 - 89%

High school

The high school achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2011.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 70.2% on grade level, (12% below basic). 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 62%, State - 66%
• 2009 - 67%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 65%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 72%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 65%, on grade level (11% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 59%, State - 59%
• 2009 - 58%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 62%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 48%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 37% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 39%, State - 39%
• 2009 - 49%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 35%, State - 39%

College Remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 36% of Littlestown Area 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 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. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system.

For the 2009-10 funding year, the Littlestown Area School District received a state grant of $3,405 for the program.

Graduation project

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 classes of 2015 and 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.

Maple Avenue Middle School

In 2011 and 2010 the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate was 94% in both 2010 and 2011.

8th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 88% on grade level (4% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2010 - 79%, State: 81%
• 2009 - 84%, State - 80.9%
• 2008 - 82%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 83% on grade level (5.6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level
• 2010 - 74%, State: 75%
• 2009 - 75%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 78%, State -70%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 71% on grade level (10% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 64%, State - 57%
• 2009 - 64%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 58%, State - 50%

7th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 70% on grade level (10% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 - 73%, State - 73%
• 2009 - 67%, State -71%
• 2008 - 72%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 81% on grade level (7% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 82%, State - 77%
• 2009 - 79%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 79%, State -70%

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 70% on grade level (10% below basic). State - 69.9%
• 2010 - 74%, State - 68%
• 2009 - 62%, State - 67%
• 2008 - 63%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 83% on grade level (4% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 - 71%, State - 83%
• 2009 - 71%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 72%, State - 72%

Alloway Creek Intermediate School

In 2010 and 2011, the school achieved AYP status.

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 74% on grade level (9% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 54%, State - 64%
• 2009 - 54%, State - 64%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 81% on grade level (4.3% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 81%, State - 74%
• 2009 - 73%, State - 73%

4th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 80% (5% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 79%, State - 72%
• 2009 - 64%, State - 72%

4th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 93% (1% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 92%, State - 84%
• 2009 - 81%, State - 81.8%

4th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 85%, (2% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 89%, State - 81%
• 2009 - 86%, State - 86%

Rolling Acres Elementary School

In 2011 and 2010, the school achieved AYP status. The attendance rate in 2011 declined to 94% while in 2010 the rate was 95%.

3rd Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 77.3%, (15% below basic), State – 77.2%
• 2010 - 75%, State - 75%
• 2009 - 74%, State - 77%

3rd Grade Math:

• 2011 - 85%, (4% below basic), State – 83.5%
• 2010 - 85%, State - 84%
• 2009 - 83%, State - 81.7%

Special Education

In December 2009, the district administration reported that 285 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. 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.

Littlestown Area School District received a $1,252,459 supplement for special education services in 2010.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 74 or 3.39% 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, the district reported employing 175 teachers. The average salary was $54,954 for 186 days with 181 pupil instruction days. The highest salary was $131,500 and the beginning salary was over $41,000. The teacher union president is given one paid day per week to conduct union business and the union is also provided with 5 paid days per year, for other members to engage in union business. The work day is 7 hours 30 minutes including a 30 minute period for duty free lunch. Teachers receive planning periods each week. Benefits for teachers include 3 paid bereavement days, 10 paid sick days, 3 personal days and reimbursement for professional development. After ten years of service, teachers are eligible for a sabbatical leave (up to one year) at 50% to 70% of their salary plus continued health insurance benefits. In 2007-08 through 2010-11 the teachers received a 4.% raise in salary plus step increases. 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.

In 2007, the district employed 144 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $44,732 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.

The district's administrative costs per pupil was $716.36 in 2008. The district is ranked 298th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008, Littlestown Area School District reported spending $10,556 per pupil. This ranked 434th in the commonwealth.

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported a $2,366,881 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero.

In August 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the administration and school board.

The school board established a $25.26 million budget for fiscal year 2011-12. It included programming changes to eliminate teaching and staff positions coupled with cuts in spending including extracurriculars and outdoor camp. It also preserved 2.7% raise for teachers. The district has a contract with the teachers' union that includes annual raises through 2016-16.

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. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district will receive $5,959,162 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the Littlestown Area School District district will receive $134,604 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 to districts in Adams County, was awarded to Gettysburg Area School District which received an over 8.40% increase. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District which received an over 49% increase.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 577 students in the Littlestown Area School District received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2009-2010 school year.

For the 2010-11 school year, the state provided a 2.84% increase in basic education funding to the district for a total of $6,490,101. Among Allegheny County public school districts, the highest increase was allotted to South Fayette Township School District which received an 11.32% increase in 2010. In Pennsylvania, 150 school districts received a 2% base increase. The highest increase in state basic education funding to districts in Adams County, was awarded to Conewago Valley School District which received an over 9.66% increase. The highest increase in Pennsylvania was given to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which was given a 23.65% increase. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation made in the budget proposal made in February each year.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.9% increase in Basic Education funding for Littlestown Area School District a total of $6,310,953. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $5,959,162.38. The highest increase in Adams County went to Conewago Valley School District which received 9.48% increase in 2009-10. Muhlenberg School District of Berks County received an increase of 22.31 percent. Sixteen school districts received an increase in funding of over 10 percent in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the budget proposal made in February each year.

In 2009, the district reported that 473 students received a federal free or reduced lunch due to low family income.

Accountability Block Grant

The state provides supplemental funding in the form of accountability block grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific, state approved, student academic achievement focused programs and processes. Littlestown Area School District uses its $365,350 to fund various interventions to improve student achievement including: teacher training to improve instruction, to pay teachers to develop new courses, and to provide extensive intervention for struggling students through tutoring. These annual grant funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding. School districts must apply each year for Accountability Block Grants. The 2009-10 school year, the state provided $271.4 million dollars in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all day kindergartens.

Classrooms for the Future Grant

Littlestown Area School Board received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to purchase equipment to help reform the high school's core subjects instruction and to prepare students for future employment by using cutting-edge equipment and software. The district used the funds to purchase laptops for students, laptops for teachers, laptop carts and other digital equipment. The grant provided additional funding for a technology coach to instruct teachers in using the equipment to improve instruction. In 2006-07 and 2007-08 the district did not apply for funding. In 2008-09, the district received $138,210 in funding. Beginning in 2006, Pennsylvania's Classrooms for the Future program distributed more than $150 million for laptops, interactive boards and other high-tech tools to 543 Pennsylvania high schools. In 2009, the Classrooms For the Future funding program was terminated due to a deep state revenue shortfall.

Federal Stimulus Grant

Littlestown Area School District received an extra $1,294,337 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used only in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding was for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 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.

Other grants

In 2010, Maple Avenue Middle School received a grant of $9,807, from Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge, which was used to purchase purchase a climbing wall and implement a climbing program to reach all middle schol students.

Real estate taxes

In 2011-12 the school board set the property tax rate at 9.8210 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2010 Adams County engaged in a property value reassessment that resulted in a reduced millage rate.

• 2010-11 - 41.1150 mills.
• 2009-10 - 39.6100 mills.
• 2008-09 - 38.8600 mills.
• 2007-08 - 36.8700 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 2010-2011 school year is 2.9 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increases in pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increased 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 Littlestown Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.

• 2006-07 - 5.3%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.6%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 5.8%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.4%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 3.8%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 1.8%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.2%, Base 1.7%

For the 2011-12 school year the Littlestown Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Littlestown Area 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 publisher each year 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.

For 2009 and 2010, the Littlestown Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the 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

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Littlestown Area School District was $227 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3941 property owners applied for the tax relief. Among Adams County school districts, in 2009, Upper Adams School District received the highest relief allocation at $279. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $632 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. This was the second year Chester Upland School District was the top recipient. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Adams County, 74% 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%).

Wellness policy

Littlestown Area School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." The Superintendent is required to report to the school board annually regarding the effectiveness of the policy.

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. The Littlestown Area School Board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs.

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.

History of Education

The history of education in Littlestown dates back to 1747 when a Reformed minister, Rev. Michael Schlatter, sent here by the Synod of Amsterdam, established the first known school in Adams County. Two days after his arrival, on May 4, he baptized the child of the schoolmaster, John Henry Kreutz. The main subject taught was German. During the pastorate of Rev. Jacob Wiestling, which began in 1813, the school was housed in a building on church property and the school remained in existence for approximately one hundred years.

The Free School Act of 1834 caused much debate and opposition in this area. Many people sincerely believed that free schools would engender indolence, increase crime, oppress the taxpayers and destroy individual liberty. As a result of such thinking, a joint convention was held at Gettysburg College November 4, 1834, by the County Commissioners. A. LeFevre, delegate from here, voted thumbs down, along with others, on the proposal. Finally, at the third and final convention on May 2, 1836, the townships acquiesced. A County Convention was held in Littlestown, November 21 to 23, 1866, by the office of the County Superintendent of Schools, created by State law in 1854.

In 1836, public school machinery was set up in Littlestown. There were two schools established, one a log structure on East King Street, taught by John McSherry and Francis X. Deneckere established the first Catholic parochial school with Miss Mary Wilson as first teacher. Public education so progressed in Littlestown that in 1871 a two story brick building consisting of three classrooms and one recreation room was built. The first principal was Hanson Harner. One year later, in 1872, a famous Littlestown School teacher, Miss Lizzie Nicks, was elected as teacher of the primary grades and remained in this capacity for 31 years. It is a know fact that as soon as pupils could recite the A, B, C's Miss Nicks rewarded them with a penny. Teachers salaries were $18.00 a month and the average school term was 4 months and 5 days.

There was not much improvement in 1898, when the salary was $24.00 a month. Summer schools were also held in the public school building around this time.One such school was conducted by Amos Parr. As many as a hundred students from all over the county came to Littlestown for the summer or 'trade' schools. Principal Harner was succeeded by Ezra E. Taylor. (Pictured below - 2 pictures down)

In 1880 Dr. E. Krebs founded the Edge Hill Academy, a Preparatory school which lasted for approximately 20 years. Dr. Krebs' son, Stanley Krebs, was the husband of Marjorie Main. The Academy property is now the Benjamin and Anna Ulrich LeFevre property at 356 East King Street.

The building constructed in 1871 was razed thirty years later to give way to the grade school building on East King Street, converted into Community Center in 1963. The new building was constructed by John Eline, who was The Builder in those days, at a cost of $10,000 and boasted a hot water furnace and spacious rooms and halls. It was first occupied December 1, 1901. The first class was graduated from Littlestown High School, May 1, 1902. W.A. Burgoon was the first high school principal. Three years later L.H.S. was recognized as a second class school with a three year course by the state. In 1915 the school had grown so that it necessitated an addition to the building and in 1916 it was recognized as a first class school.

To trace the growth - in 1901 there was a faculty of one and a student body of 17; in 1912 there was a faculty of six and a student body of 134.

On January 7, 1932, it was decided to construct a new building as a result of the congestion being experienced on East King Street, and this was to be located on a site north of the playground on Maple Avenue, at that time Long Alley.

Bids were received April 14 and contracts awarded amounting to approximately $50,000 on May 13. The architect was Bernard Starr, an alumnus of the school, class of 1911, and the building was completed in time for the class of 1933 to hold their Commence exercises. William Eline was the contractor, son of the man who built the East King Street School; Stanley B. Stover did the electrical work and B.F. Redding the Plumbing.

The Board of Education consisted of Dr. Harry S. Crouse, Samuel E. Renneer, John A. Mayers, Emory H. Snyder, and Henry S. Stover. The High School Faculty included Paul E. King, Principal; Lloyd L. Stavely, Harold R. Shriver, Golda O. Hook, Josephine Stetser and Kathryn Snyder.

In 1938, the school added two new departments to its curriculum, Industrial Arts and Home Economics. In 1944, Littlestown High School had medical service for the first time with Mrs. Brenda Badders Walker as school Nurse.

Jointure....

Mt. Pleasant township, Littlestown Borough, Mt. Joy Mount Joy Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, Union Union Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania and Germany Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania townships formed the Littlestown Joint School System on July 1, 1948. As a result the schools were changed from the 8-4 to the 6-6 plan. This caused an influx of Junior high pupils from the rural schools which in turn brought about a new $54,000 addition to the Maple Avenue School, to include 4 classrooms, a cafeteria, and an office and storage room. Work began on Sept. 16, 1948 and was completed by the end of the school year. Also, about this time the new athletic field was put to use. All first grade pupils of the Jointure were invited to come to Littlestown where two first grades were established.

In the summer of 1950 extensive renovations were made in the Maple Avenue structure to accommodate an enlarged Industrial Arts program and to provide space for a music room and laboratory. There were 972 pupils in the entire school system,; 433 enrolled in the Junior-Senior High School. The East King Street building accommodated grades one through six with a total of 547 pupils.

On February 11, 1952, the Joint Board of Education was advised of the increase in enrollments of the elementary schools and the lack of physical facilities. On April 8 it was agreed to take an option on the proposal of Lloyd and Alma Crouse for twelve lots on East Myrtle Street and consider the gift of lands adjoining thereto as owned by I.H. Crouse & Sons. Bids were opened for a new school on December 9, 1952, and contracts awarded. Allen F. Feeser, Taneytown, Md. was general contractor. The name "Rolling Acres Elementary School" was selected by the Board; dedication of the new school, built at a cost of approximately $500,000 was held on Friday, January 29, 1954.

The present Littlestown High School was dedicated on September 3, 1961. It was built at an approximate cost of $1,500,000. The School bell that was preserved in a special niche here is the same bell used on the first private school established on East King Street and later at the public school which is now the community center. This bell now is on display in the foyer of the new gymnasium at the high school.

External links

• Littlestown Area School District