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*2008 - 92% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/2008-graduation-rates-1.85916?appSession=348261913401460 |title=County School Districts Graduation Rates 2008 |author=The Times-Tribune |date=June 25, 2009}}</ref>
*2008 - 92% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/data-center/grading-our-schools/2008-graduation-rates-1.85916?appSession=348261913401460 |title=County School Districts Graduation Rates 2008 |author=The Times-Tribune |date=June 25, 2009}}</ref>
*2007 - 93% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.papartnerships.org/reports/droppingbackin/tables/Grad_Info_By_District.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children |title=High School Graduation rate 2007 |year=2008}}</ref>
*2007 - 93% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.papartnerships.org/reports/droppingbackin/tables/Grad_Info_By_District.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children |title=High School Graduation rate 2007 |year=2008}}</ref>

====Graduation requirements====
The School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 23.2 credits to graduate including: math 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 1 course per year, Health 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and 2 electives. <ref>Saltsburg Middle-High School Guidance Office, Graduation Requirements, 2011</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.24.html |title=Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education}}</ref> TAt Blairsville-Satsburg School District the project is a portfolio that consists of a compilation of student work accumulated during grades 9-12. There are six (6) areas or dimensions of the high school experience that the students will include when constructing the graduation portfolio:
Teamwork, Communication Skills (Including at least one entry of oral expression; Research Skills, Career Exploration, Use of Technology, and Analytical Thinking.

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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Keystone_Exam_Program_Overview.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Keystone Exam Overview |year=2010}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pdesas.org/module/assessment/Keystone.aspx |title=Pennsylvania Keystone Exams Overview |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=September 2011}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol40/40-2/56.html |title=Rules and Regulation Title 22 PA School Code CH. 4 |author=Pennsylvania State Board of Education |year=2010}}</ref>



===SAT Scores===
===SAT Scores===
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*2010 - 83% (6% below basic). State - 59%
*2010 - 83% (6% below basic). State - 59%
*2009 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 56%.
*2009 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 56%.
*2008 - 72% (12% below basic). State - 56% <ref>{{cite web |url=http://b-ssd.org/pdfs/reportcards/reportcard_200708_SMHS.pdf |title=Saltsburg Middle High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2008}}</ref>
*2008 - 72% (12% below basic). State - 56%
*2007 - 71% (9% below basic). State - 53%
*2007 - 71% (9% below basic). State - 53%


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===Gifted Education===
===Gifted Education===
The District Administration reported that 87 or 4.21% of its students were gifted in 2009. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf |title=Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date= Revised December 1, 2009 Child Count (Collected July 2010)}}</ref> By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The District's program is called Gifted-Challenge Program. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter16/chap16toc.html |title=CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board |accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_123405_52894_7393_509493_43/http;/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/pde_community_content/dsf_migration/k12/gifted_education/content/general_information/parents__guide/odr_notice_and_forms_latest2.pdf |title= Special Education for Gifted Students Notice of Parental rights |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=March 26, 2010}}</ref>
The District Administration reported that 87 or 4.21% of its students were gifted in 2009. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://penndata.hbg.psu.edu/BSEReports/docs/Ad_Hoc_Gifted_0910_from_Revised_Count.pdf |title=Gifted Students as Percentage of Total Enrollment by School District/Charter School |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date= Revised December 1, 2009 Child Count (Collected July 2010)}}</ref> By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The District's program is called Gifted-Challenge Program. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter16/chap16toc.html |title=CHAPTER 16. Special Education For Gifted Students |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania School Board |accessdate=February 4, 2011}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_123405_52894_7393_509493_43/http;/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/pde/pde_community_content/dsf_migration/k12/gifted_education/content/general_information/parents__guide/odr_notice_and_forms_latest2.pdf |title= Special Education for Gifted Students Notice of Parental rights |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=March 26, 2010}}</ref>



==Enrollment and consolidation==
==Enrollment and consolidation==
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In 2009, the district reported employing 180 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $$60,737, while the highest salary was to $88,945.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://php.app.com/PAteachers09/search.php |title=PA. Public School Salaries |author=Asbury Park Press |year=2009}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Blairsville-Salstburg School District Payroll report |author=Openpagov.org |year=2009}}</ref>
In 2009, the district reported employing 180 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $$60,737, while the highest salary was to $88,945.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://php.app.com/PAteachers09/search.php |title=PA. Public School Salaries |author=Asbury Park Press |year=2009}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Blairsville-Salstburg School District Payroll report |author=Openpagov.org |year=2009}}</ref>


In 2007, the district employed 137 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $56,311 for 180 student days and a total of 184 days worked.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/teacher_pay/county/INDIANA/ave_salary/1/ |author=Fenton, Jacob, |title=Average classroom teacher salary in Indiana County, 2006-07 |work=The Morning Call |date=March 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref> PA Delaware County Times, Teachers need to know enough is enough, April 20, 2010.</ref> The working day is limited to 7.5 hours. Teachers receive additional pay for extra time worked. They receive a daily prep period and a 30 minute duty free lunch. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Blairsville-Saltsburg School District Teacher Union Employment Contract 2010 |author=Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board}}</ref>
In 2007, the district employed 137 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $56,311 for 180 student days and a total of 184 days worked.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/teacher_pay/county/INDIANA/ave_salary/1/ |author=Fenton, Jacob, |title=Average classroom teacher salary in Indiana County, 2006-07 |work=The Morning Call |date=March 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref> PA Delaware County Times, Teachers need to know enough is enough, April 20, 2010.</ref> The working day is limited to 7.5 hours. Teachers receive additional pay for extra time worked. They receive a daily prep period and a 30 minute duty free lunch. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openpagov.org/k12_payroll.asp |title=Blairsville-Saltsburg School District Teacher Union Employment Contract 2010 |author=Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board}}</ref> In September 2011, the School Board approved a new six year contract with the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District Teachers' Union. It had taken 2 years to negotiate this contract. In the process a state arbitration process fact finding was rejected by the teachers' union. <ref>Jeff Himler, Blairsville-Saltsburg School District, teachers OK 6-year pact, Blairsville Dispatch, September 2, 2011</ref><ref>Jeff Himler, Blairsville-Saltsburg teachers reject fact-finder's report, Blairsville Dispatch, October 7, 2010</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=645674&mode=2 |title=Fact Finding Reports |author=Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board |date=October 7, 2010}}</ref>


Blairsville-Saltsburg School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $705.71 per pupil. This was in the top 20% of state districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/school_consolidation/state/county/0/13/ |author=Fenton, Jacob. |title=Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, |work=The Morning Call |date=February 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/school-salaries/ |title=Public School Salaries 11th Annual |author=Pennsylvania School Board Association |date=October 2009}}</ref> In 2011, the School Board voted to approve 3% salary increases for administrators, in accordance with the Act 93 agreement, raising salaries to: Eric Kostic $94,363; Joseph Baker $85,487; Tracy Richards $80,077 and Debra Shirley $85,487. Three other administrators received pay hikes under individual contracts: James Brida, director of food services, 2.5 percent increase to $57,471; H. Patrick Rosborough, director of buildings and grounds, 3 percent increase to $60,253; Leigh Free, transportation coordinator/child accounting, 8 percent increase to $58,800. Those three administrators pay 5 percent toward the cost of their hospitalization benefits. Salary hikes of 4 percent each were approved for Superintendent Whitfield to $124,800; Assistant Superintendent Ian Magness to $98,800 and Business Manager Eric Kocsis to $95,380. <ref>Jeff Himler, Blairsville-Saltsburg board moves ahead with stadium projects, Blairsville Dispatch, September 23, 2011</ref>
Blairsville-Saltsburg School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $705.71 per pupil. This spending was in the top 20% of state districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.mcall.com/school_consolidation/state/county/0/13/ |author=Fenton, Jacob. |title=Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, |work=The Morning Call |date=February 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/issues-research/school-salaries/ |title=Public School Salaries 11th Annual |author=Pennsylvania School Board Association |date=October 2009}}</ref> In 2011, the School Board voted to approve 3% salary increases for administrators, in accordance with the Act 93 agreement, raising salaries to: Eric Kostic $94,363; Joseph Baker $85,487; Tracy Richards $80,077 and Debra Shirley $85,487. Three other administrators received pay hikes under individual contracts: James Brida, director of food services, 2.5 percent increase to $57,471; H. Patrick Rosborough, director of buildings and grounds, 3 percent increase to $60,253; Leigh Free, transportation coordinator/child accounting, 8 percent increase to $58,800. Those three administrators pay 5 percent toward the cost of their hospitalization benefits. Salary hikes of 4 percent each were approved for Superintendent Whitfield to $124,800; Assistant Superintendent Ian Magness to $98,800 and Business Manager Eric Kocsis to $95,380. <ref>Jeff Himler, Blairsville-Saltsburg board moves ahead with stadium projects, Blairsville Dispatch, September 23, 2011</ref>


'''Reserves''' In 2008, the district reported $725,000 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $2,198,149.
'''Reserves''' In 2008, the district reported $725,000 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $2,198,149.
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The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. 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 personal wealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/personal_income_tax/11409 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Revenue |title=Personal Income Taxation Guidelines |date=April 2010}}</ref>
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. 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 personal wealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/personal_income_tax/11409 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Revenue |title=Personal Income Taxation Guidelines |date=April 2010}}</ref>

===State basic education funding===
In 2011-12, the district received a $8,986,660 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://jakecorman.com/appropriations.htm |author=PA Senate Appropriations Committee |title=School District 2011-12 Funding Report |date=June 28, 2011}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=509059&mode=2 |title=Basic Education Funding |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=July 2011}}</ref> Additionally, the School District received $138,671 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |title=Basic Education Funding |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=June 30, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |title=Basic Education Funding 2011-2012 Fiscal Year |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=June 30, 2011}}</ref> In 2010, the district reported that 850 students or 46.9% of BSSD students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the [[Poverty in the United States|federal poverty level]].<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education, District Allocations Report 2009, 2009-10</ref>

For the 2010-11 budget year, Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was awarded a 2% increase for a total of $9,316,471.17 in Basic Education funding. All the school districts in Indiana County were awarded the 2% base increase in Basic Education Funding. 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, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/pdf/201006/20100701pabudget_education.pdf |title=PA Basic Education Funding-Printout2 2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee Education Budget information |date=June 30, 2010}}</ref>

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.67% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $9,316,471. This was the highest increase given to Indiana County school districts. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $8,776,480.87. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Funding Allocations by district |date=October 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.budget.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=4566&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2 |title=Governor's Budget Proposal 2009 Pennsylvania Department of Education Budget Proposal 2009, |author=Pennsylvania Office of Budget |date=February 2009}}</ref>

====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 $376,389, in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide Full Day Kindergarten.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/pa_accountability_grants/604468 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title= Accountability Block Grant report Grantee list 2010 |year=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grants_and_subsidies/7207/pa-pact_information/507147 |title=Accountability Block Grant Mid Year report |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=2008}}</ref>

====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. Blairsville-Saltsburg School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $272,239. The district received $90,826 in 2008-09.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/reports/performance/special/specff122208.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General |title=Classrooms for the Future grants audit |date=December 22, 2008}}</ref>

===Federal Stimulus Grant===
The district received an extra $2,180,973 in [[ARRA]] - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recovery.pa.gov/ |title=County ARRA FUNDING Report |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |year=2009}}</ref> The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09071/954967-298.stm School stimulus money, ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', March 12, 2009.]</ref>

====Race to the Top grant====
District officials did not apply 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/directory/stimulus/93015?DirMode=1 |title=RTTT_Webinar_for_districts_December_2009.pdf |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=December 9, 2009}}</ref> 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pennsylvanias-race-to-the-top-fueled-by-effective-reforms-strong-local-support-82086397.html |title=Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support, |author=Governor's Press Office release |date=January 20, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>Race to the Top Fund, U.S. Department of Education, March 29, 2010.</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.edweek.org/media/parace.pdf |title=Pennsylvania Race to the Top Letter to Superintendents |author=Dr. Gerald Zahorchak |date=December 2008}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/directory/stimulus/93015?DirMode=1 |title=Pennsylvania Race to the Top -School Districts Title I Allocations 2009-10 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=January 2009}}</ref>

===Common Cents state initiative===
The 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/common_cents/8781 |title=Common Cents program - Making Every Dollar Count |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |year=2007}}</ref> 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 2011-12 were set, by the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board, at 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 109.8600 mills for Westmoreland County. 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Rates by School District 2011-12 Real Estate Mills |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=2011}}</ref> 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/summaries_of_annual_financial_report_data/7673/afr_excel_data_files/509047 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Act 511 Tax Report |date=2004}}</ref> Blairsville-Saltsburg School District includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.steb.state.pa.us/aboutusmain.asp |title=State Tax Equalization Board About US |author=State Tax Equalization Board |year=2011}}</ref>

*2010-11 - 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 109.8600 mills for Westmoreland County <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=2010}}</ref>
*2009-10 - 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 119.7600 mills for Westmoreland County <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Financial Elements Reports |year=2010}}</ref>
*2008-09 - 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 119.7600 mills for Westmoreland County <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=Financial Elements Reports 2008-09 Real Estate Mills |year=2009}}</ref>
*2007-08 - 120.7400 mills for Indiana County and 115.9400 mills for Westmoreland County <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/financial_data_elements/7672 |title=Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=2008}}</ref>

====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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |title=2010-11 Act 1 of 2006 Referendum Exception Guidelines |year=2010}}</ref> In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11216/1164959-57-0.stm |title=Law could restrict school construction projects |author=Kaitlynn Riely |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=August 4, 2011}}</ref> The following 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0330&pn=1459 |author=Pennsylvania General Assembly, |title=SB330 of 2011 |date=June 2011}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://paindependent.com/2011/07/property-tax-reform-final-piece-of-state-budget/ |title=Property tax reform final piece of state budget |author=Eric Boehm |work=PA Independnet |date=July 1, 2011}}</ref>

The School District Adjusted Index for the School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012. <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/act_1_index/510332 |title=Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2010}}</ref>

*2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
*2007-08 - 4.9%, Base 3.4%
*2008-09 - 6.3%, Base 4.4%
*2009-10 - 5.9%, Base 4.1%
*2010-11 - 4.2%, Base 2.9%
*2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
*2012-13 - 2.4%, Base 1.7% <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/act_1_index/510332 |title=2012-2013 School District Adjusted Index Listing |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2011}}</ref>

For the 2011-12 school year, the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Blairsville-Saltsburg 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452 |title=Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=2011}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |title=Report on Exceptions |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=April 2011}}</ref>

The Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2010-2011 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2010}}</ref> For 2009-10 school budget, the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/referendum_exceptions/7456/report_on_referendum_exceptions/510336 |title=Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2009-2010 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x1174308659/Local-school-tax-assessments-exceed-state-averages |author=Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia, |title=Local school tax assessments exceed state averages |publisher=''The Daily Item'' |date=May 25, 2010}}</ref>

====Property tax relief====
In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was $302 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,759 property owners applied for the tax relief.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_relief/7452/property_tax_reduction_allocations/510335 |title=SSAct1_Property Tax Relief Per HomeStead 2010 |author=Pennsylvania Department of Education |date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> 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 {{convert|10|acre|m2|adj=pre|contiguous}} and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Indiana County, 65.17% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/department/press/wagnerpennsylvaniansmissingoutonprop.html |title=Special Report Pennsylvania Property Tax Relief, |author=Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, |date=February 23, 2010}}</ref> In Indiana County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2010, went to property owners in Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. In Westmoreland County, the highest relief went to [[New Kensington-Arnold School District]] property owners. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of [[Chester Upland School District]] of [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]] who received $632 per approved homestead.<ref>Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report May 1, 2010</ref> This was the third year they were the top recipient.

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_rent_rebate/11410 |title=Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program |author=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education}}</ref>

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%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/26742.html |title=New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners ||author=Tax Foundation |date=September 22, 2009}}</ref>


==Extracurriculars==
==Extracurriculars==

Revision as of 09:33, 17 January 2012

Blairsville-Saltsburg School District
Address
102 School Lane

Blairsville
,
Indiana, Westmoreland
,
Pennsylvania
15717

United States
Information
TypePublic
SuperintendentTammy J. Whitfield
GradesK-12
Enrolment1,876 pupils in 2010, declined to 1776 pupils in 2011. [1]
 • Kindergarten110
 • Grade 1107
 • Grade 2129
 • Grade 3109
 • Grade 4124
 • Grade 5121
 • Grade 6132
 • Grade 7160
 • Grade 8152
 • Grade 9165
 • Grade 10167
 • Grade 11165
 • Grade 12136
 • OtherEnrollment projected to be 1599 students in 2019
Athletics conferencePIAA District 6
Websitehttp://www.b-ssd.org/

The Blairsville-Saltsburg School District is a small, rural school district that spans portions of two counties. In Indiana County it covers the Boroughs of Blairsville and Saltsburg and Black Lick Township, Burrell Township and Conemaugh Township. In Westmoreland County it covers Loyalhanna Township. The district encompasses approximately 142 square miles (370 km2) making it the second largest school district in Indiana County. As of the 2000 Census, the district has approximately 16,000 residents and served approximately 2000 students. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 14,363. . In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $15,663, while the median family income was $37,257. [2] In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 [3] and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. [4] Per Blairsville-Saltsburg School District officials, in school year 2007-08, the District provided basic educational services to 1,947 pupils. It employed: 155 teachers, 98 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 11 administrators. Blairsville-Saltsburg School District' received more than $13.9 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

Alignment

Students residing in Burrell and Black Lick Townships and Blairsville in Indiana County attend the thirty-six acre Blairsville campus in Burrell Township, containing the Blairsville Elementary School (K-5), Blairsville Middle/High School (6-12), as well as the district administrative offices. Students residing in Conemaugh Township, a portion of Young Township and Saltsburg in Indiana County and Loyalhanna Township in Westmoreland County attend the Saltsburg Elementary School (K-6) in Loyalhanna Township, and Saltsburg Middle/High School (7-12) in Conemaugh Township.

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.[5] 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 " C-" 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.[6]

Academic achievement

Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was ranked 223rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on four years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and two years of science PSSAs.[7]

  • 2010 - 184th [8]
  • 2009 - 146th
  • 2008 - 149th
  • 2007 - 178th out of 501 school districts.[9]

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Blairville-Saltsburg School District ranked 70th. In 2009, Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was 18th. The paper describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."[10]

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was in the 55th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania School Districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best) [11]

District graduation rate

In 2011, the Blarisville-Saltsburg School District graduation rate was 93%. [12] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Blairsville-Saltsburg School District's rate was 92% for 2010.[13]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

Graduation requirements

The School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 23.2 credits to graduate including: math 3 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 1 course per year, Health 0.5 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits and 2 electives. [18]

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.[19] TAt Blairsville-Satsburg School District the project is a portfolio that consists of a compilation of student work accumulated during grades 9-12. There are six (6) areas or dimensions of the high school experience that the students will include when constructing the graduation portfolio: Teamwork, Communication Skills (Including at least one entry of oral expression; Research Skills, Career Exploration, Use of Technology, and Analytical Thinking.

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. [20] [21] [22]


SAT Scores

In the school year 2010-2011, 50 Blarisville-Saltsburg School District students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 475. The Math average score was 504. The Writing average score was 456. [23] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. [24] 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. [25]

Blairsville Elementary School

Blairsville Elementary School is located in Burrell Township, Indiana County at the junction of Routes 22 and 119. Approximately 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Pittsburgh, it is one of two rural elementary schools in the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. BES shares a thirty-six acre campus with Blairsville Middle School, Blairsville High School and the Central Administration Office. Blairsville Elementary School serves students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. It features a library, computer lab, spacious classrooms and specially designed areas for music and physical education. Each instructional area has a telephone, four computers and a TV/VCR enabling classes to have access to Cable in the Classroom and a local area network with Internet access. Teachers are encouraged to utilize all areas of technology in instruction.

The Blairsville Elementary curriculum focuses on instruction in a Comprehensive Balanced Literacy Reading Program and Everyday Math, and includes computer technology instruction, library skills, social studies, health, science, art and music through an integrated and thematic approach. A variety of enrichment, remedial and extra-curricular activities extend the basic curriculum. Some of these include, Chorus, Band, Gifted-Challenge Program, Title I Reading, Tutoring Program, field trips and assembly programs. Parents are involved in many aspects of Blairsville Elementary School. The BES School Community Council provides ongoing collaborative initiatives focusing on School-Home Communication, Reading, Study Skills and Student Responsibility. The Blairsville PTO also sponsors many diverse annual events and encourages parents to become involved in all areas of our school community. There is a community based athletic Booster Program that supports our Cheerleading, Basketball, Football and Wrestling programs.

Blairsville Elementary School

Blairsville Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2011. [26] In 2011, the attendance rate was 93%, while in 2010 the rate was 94%. [27]

4th Grade Science
  • 2011 - 80%, (7% below basic), State – 82.9%
  • 2010 - 83%, (7% below basic), State - 81%
  • 2009 - 86%, (1% below basic), State - 83%
  • 2008 - 76%, (3% below basic), State - 81%

Blairsville Middle-High School

Blairsville Middle-High School is a 6-12 school located at 104/102 School Lane at the Blairsville campus. The middle school is located in the east wing of the Middle/High School building and shares the building with the High School and district administrative offices. The gym in the middle school is the main venue for Blairsville High School sports, as it holds more fans than its high school counterpart.

A diverse selection of core academic classes range from general to advanced placement and include college in the classroom and dual enrollment opportunities. A total of six Advanced Placement courses are offered: AP Chemistry, AP World History, AP United States History, AP Calculus AB, AP Physics C: Mechanics, and AP English Literature. Typically, approximately eighty percent of graduates {{citation}}: Empty citation (help) complete courses that prepare them for entry to a university or technical school. Eight percent graduate with credits from the Indiana County Technology Center, which prepare them for immediate employment(out of the county), continuing education at Westmoreland County Community College or military service. Blairsville High School

in201 and 2011, Blairsville High School achieved AYP status. [32] In 2010 and 2011, the graduation rate was 92%. [33]

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

  • 2011 - 82% on grade level, (12% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level. [34]
  • 2010 - 69%, (18% below basic). State - 66% [35]
  • 2009 - 66% (19% below basic). State - 65% [36]
  • 2008 - 77% (8% below basic). State - 65% [37]
  • 2007 - 71% (14% below basic). State - 65% [38]

11th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 73%, on grade level (12% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level. [39]
  • 2010 - 64%, (24% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2009 - 60% (26% below basic). State - 56%.
  • 2008 - 76% (10% below basic). State - 56%
  • 2007 - 69% (18% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

  • 2011 - 53% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. [40]
  • 2010 - 43% (17% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 31% (23% below basic). State - 40% [41]
  • 2008 - 41% (11% below basic). State - 39%

Blairsville Middle-High School is a technologically advanced school with three computer labs, a portable wireless lab, a computer assisted drafting and design lab, a computer assisted mathematics lab, and a local area network with independent servers and Internet access on all computers.Blairsville Middle School

Blairsville Middle School

In 2011, the Blairsville Middle School declined to Warning status due to lagging reading achievement. In 2010, the school achieved AYP. [42]

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Science:

  • 2011 - 65% on grade level (12% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
  • 2010 - 69% (12% below basic). State – 57% [46]
  • 2009 - 65% (9% below basic). State - 55% [47]
  • 2008 - 66% (16% below basic), State - 52% [48]

Saltsburg Elementary School

Saltsburg Elementary School is a neighborhood school located near the town of Saltsburg in Loyalhanna Township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1955, Saltsburg Elementary was originally known as the Willard School. Following a renovation in 1983, it was renamed Saltsburg Elementary. The school services students in kindergarten through grade six. The elementary curriculum includes a strong emphasis on reading and math with integrated instruction in science, social studies and health. In addition, the curriculum includes instruction in computer skills, library skills, instrumental and vocal music, art and physical education. Saltsburg Elementary School has access to the services of ARIN Intermediate Unit instructional and school psychological staff that includes a school psychologist, hearing clinician, speech/language clinician, vision consultant and gifted support teacher. Saltsburg Elementary School

In 2010 and 2011, Saltsburg Elementary School achieved AYP status. [50] The attendance rate was 95% in 2010 and 94% in 2011. [51]

PSSA results
4th Grade Science
  • 2011 - 85%, (7% below basic), State – 82.9%
  • 2010 - 87%, (4% below basic), State - 81%
  • 2009 - 82%, (3% below basic), State - 83%
  • 2008 - 90%, (4% below basic), State - 81%

Saltsburg Middle-High School

Saltsburg Middle/High School, established in 1984, offers both a middle school (7-8) program and comprehensive public high school (9-12) program to its students from Saltsburg Borough, Conemaugh Township and Young Township in Indiana County and from Loyalhanna Township in Westmoreland County. The school is located on Route 286 in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County.

Middle school students transition from the elementary to the secondary through the 7th-8th grade program which offers four core subjects, “block” classes, and “rotation” classes. Trends in recent graduating classes show 50% of graduates going to four-year schools, 40% going to two-year or technical schools, and 10% seeking employment or military options. Approximately 10% of Saltsburg High School students attend the Indiana County Technical Center in nearby Indiana for half of their school day. Saltsburg Junior/Senior High School

Saltsburg Middle HIgh School achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2011. [54] The graduation rate was 94% in 2011, while in 2010, 98% of the 12th graders graduated. [55]

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

  • 2011 - 60% on grade level, (20% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level. [56]
  • 2010 - 74% (6% below basic). State - 66% [57]
  • 2009 - 70% (13% below basic). State - 65% [58]
  • 2008 - 68% (16% below basic). State - 65% [59]
  • 2007 - 83% (9% below basic). State - 65% [60]

11th Grade Math:

  • 2011 - 60%, on grade level (24% below basic). State - 60.3% [61]
  • 2010 - 83% (6% below basic). State - 59%
  • 2009 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 56%.
  • 2008 - 72% (12% below basic). State - 56% [62]
  • 2007 - 71% (9% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

  • 2011 - 32% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level. [63]
  • 2010 - 23% (11% below basic). State - 39%
  • 2009 - 41% (14% below basic). State - 40% [64]
  • 2008 - 36%, (10% below basic). State - 39%

8th Grade Science:

  • 2011 - 67% on grade level (7% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
  • 2010 - 69% (5% below basic). State – 57% [68]
  • 2009 - 53% (14% below basic). State - 55% [69]
  • 2008 - 60% (17% below basic), State - 52% [70]

Dual enrollment

The Blairsville-Saltsburg School District 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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books[71] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[72] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $556 for the program. [73]

Post-Secondary Education

Most graduated students go on to some sort of post-secondary institution. The most popular colleges include Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which is located nearby, other state-system universities such as Clarion and Slippery Rock, the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Saint Vincent College, Saint Francis University, Washington & Jefferson College, and Duquesne University. Other students in recent years have attended Juniata College, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham College, Dickinson College, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, Colgate University, Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Tech, the US Naval Academy, Kent State University, West Virginia University, New York University, Arizona State University and the University of Colorado. Most students who do not go on to attend a four year institution will attend a technical or other specialty school or serve in a branch of the military. {{citation}}: Empty citation (help)

Special Education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 356 pupils or 18.6% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. [74]

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school 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 expected to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress .[75] To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These mandated 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 a review by the Special Education administration. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible for services, the District is required by State and Federal laws, to seek 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 district's Special Education Department. [76] [77] [78]

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. [79] 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. [80] The state requires each district to have a three year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. [81] Overidentification of students in order to increase state funding has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education. [82]

Blairsville-Saltsburg School District received a $1,220,037 supplement for special education services in 2010.[83] 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.[84]

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 87 or 4.21% of its students were gifted in 2009. [85] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The District's program is called Gifted-Challenge Program. 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.[86] [87]

Enrollment and consolidation

In March 2011, district officials reported that enrollment has declined 20% since 2000, to a low of 1,766 pupils. In June 2006, enrollment had been 2,335. District enrollment declined to 1,841 by June 2010. The steady decline in enrollment has been attributed to several causes including the district's property tax rate. [88] In May 2011, More than 18 teachers, aides and support staff were furloughed due to declining enrollment.

At a meeting on August 21, 2006, the nine members of the school board, including three from Saltsburg, voted 9-0 on a plan to consolidate the entire school district. The consolidation plan would bus students in grades 7 through 12 to the Blairsville campus. The current Blairsville Middle-High School building would be renovated in order to hold the students from Saltsburg. Blairsville students grades K-6 would still attend Blairsville Elementary, which would see some minor renovations. Students of the same age in Saltsburg would still attend school in Saltsburg, in the building that is currently Saltsburg Middle-High School, which would be converted and renovated to serve the younger students. In all, an estimated 9.5 teaching jobs district-wide would be eliminated, many through early retirement plans. The plan was set to go into effect at the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

During the 2007 elections, the first to see new voting regions decided in the Indiana County courts, a Saltsburg majority was elected, with 4 new members taking office, bringing the total members representing what is considered the Saltsburg end of the school district to 5, while 4 members remained representating the Blairsville region. Immediately upon taking office the new school board voted 5-4 to halt any consolidation measures in effect, as well as quickly hiring a new solicitor. The newly-elected board members, after deciding to keep the bond despite canceling consolidation plans rather than selling it back, must determine how to spend a portion of the 23.7 million dollars. By law, at least a portion of the bonds must be used for a construction project.

Staffing

The district provides nearly 250 jobs to Indiana County. For the 2007-2008 year the district employs:

  • Teachers: 138
  • Aides: 25
  • Cafeteria Staff: 25
  • Custodial Staff: 19
  • Secretarial Staff: 15
  • Administrative Staff: 7
  • Counselors: 6
  • Librarians: 4
  • Nurses: 4
  • Supervisory Staff: 2
  • Other Service Coordinators: 1
  • Other: 1
  • Total: 247

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing 180 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $$60,737, while the highest salary was to $88,945.[89] [90]

In 2007, the district employed 137 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $56,311 for 180 student days and a total of 184 days worked.[91] 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.[92] The working day is limited to 7.5 hours. Teachers receive additional pay for extra time worked. They receive a daily prep period and a 30 minute duty free lunch. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits.[93] In September 2011, the School Board approved a new six year contract with the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District Teachers' Union. It had taken 2 years to negotiate this contract. In the process a state arbitration process fact finding was rejected by the teachers' union. [94][95] [96]

Blairsville-Saltsburg School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $705.71 per pupil. This spending was in the top 20% of state districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[97] 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.[98] In 2011, the School Board voted to approve 3% salary increases for administrators, in accordance with the Act 93 agreement, raising salaries to: Eric Kostic $94,363; Joseph Baker $85,487; Tracy Richards $80,077 and Debra Shirley $85,487. Three other administrators received pay hikes under individual contracts: James Brida, director of food services, 2.5 percent increase to $57,471; H. Patrick Rosborough, director of buildings and grounds, 3 percent increase to $60,253; Leigh Free, transportation coordinator/child accounting, 8 percent increase to $58,800. Those three administrators pay 5 percent toward the cost of their hospitalization benefits. Salary hikes of 4 percent each were approved for Superintendent Whitfield to $124,800; Assistant Superintendent Ian Magness to $98,800 and Business Manager Eric Kocsis to $95,380. [99]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported $725,000 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $2,198,149. [100] In 2010, the unreserved designated fund had risen to $3,020,000.00, while the unreserved-undesignated fund was $2,293,802.00.

In 2008, the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $13,927 which ranked 110th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $14,298.73 which was in the top 20% among school districts in Pennsylvania. [101]

In December of 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Multiple significant findings were reported to the school board and administration. These included: errors in over reporting Pupil Membership and teacher certification deficiencies. The lack of certification was submitted to the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality (BSLTQ), DE, for its review. On July 1, 2010, BSLTQ determined that the employees were assigned outside their areas of certification; the District is therefore subject to a subsidy forfeiture. [102]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. 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 personal wealth.[103]

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $8,986,660 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. [104] [105] Additionally, the School District received $138,671 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. [106] 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.[107] In 2010, the district reported that 850 students or 46.9% of BSSD students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.[108]

For the 2010-11 budget year, Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was awarded a 2% increase for a total of $9,316,471.17 in Basic Education funding. All the school districts in Indiana County were awarded the 2% base increase in Basic Education Funding. 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.[109]

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 3.67% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $9,316,471. This was the highest increase given to Indiana County school districts. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $8,776,480.87. 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.[110] 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.[111]

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 $376,389, in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide Full Day Kindergarten.[112][113]

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. Blairsville-Saltsburg School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $272,239. The district received $90,826 in 2008-09.[114]

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $2,180,973 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[115] The funding is for the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.[116]

Race to the Top grant

District officials did not apply 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. [117] 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. [118] 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.[119] [120] [121]

Common Cents state initiative

The 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.[122] 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 2011-12 were set, by the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board, at 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 109.8600 mills for Westmoreland County. 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. [123] 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. [124] Blairsville-Saltsburg School District includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. [125]

  • 2010-11 - 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 109.8600 mills for Westmoreland County [126]
  • 2009-10 - 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 119.7600 mills for Westmoreland County [127]
  • 2008-09 - 126.3400 mills for Indiana County and 119.7600 mills for Westmoreland County [128]
  • 2007-08 - 120.7400 mills for Indiana County and 115.9400 mills for Westmoreland County [129]

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. [130] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index. [131] The following 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. [132] [133]

The School District Adjusted Index for the School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012. [134]

  • 2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
  • 2007-08 - 4.9%, Base 3.4%
  • 2008-09 - 6.3%, Base 4.4%
  • 2009-10 - 5.9%, Base 4.1%
  • 2010-11 - 4.2%, Base 2.9%
  • 2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
  • 2012-13 - 2.4%, Base 1.7% [135]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Blairsville-Saltsburg 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.[136]

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.[137]

The Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011. [138] For 2009-10 school budget, the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index. [139] 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.[140]

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District was $302 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 3,759 property owners applied for the tax relief.[141] 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 Indiana County, 65.17% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.[142] In Indiana County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2010, went to property owners in Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. In Westmoreland County, the highest relief went to New Kensington-Arnold School District property owners. 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.[143] This was the third year they were the top recipient.

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.[144]

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%).[145]

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. [146]

Athletics

The district offers a variety of sports at the varsity level. Many of the districts teams are combined, with their home location at either Blairsville or Saltsburg. A student wishing to participate in a sport not offered at their school can participate in the program at the other school. All teams compete in the Heritage Conference of the PIAA-District 6. The following sports teams are offered (with PIAA classifications for 2008-2010)[147]

Blairsville Saltsburg Location
Baseball AA Blairsville
Boy's Basketball AA A
Girl's Basketball AA A
Cross Country AA Blairsville
Football A A
Golf Open competition Blairsville
Softball AA Saltsburg
Track & Field AA Saltsburg
Volleyball A Blairsville
Wrestling AA Blairsville

District 6 championships

Football (since 1985)
Saltsburg: 1991
Boy's basketball (since 1948)
Blairsville: 1993 (AA), 1994 (AA), 2005 (A), 2006 (A)
Saltsburg: 2000, 2002, 2003

Memorial Field

The district owns and maintains a football stadium in the town of Blairsville which hosts all Blairsville Middle and High School home football games. The stadium seats about 2000-2500 spectators. The site has held upwards of 3000 people in standing-room-only crowds during several Homecoming games, games versus Saltsburg, and recent playoff games. In September 2011, the School Board chose to do extensive renovations on both football stadiums. [148]

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  134. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 School District Adjusted Index for 2006-2007 through 2010-2011".
  135. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2011). "2012-2013 School District Adjusted Index Listing".
  136. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 the Taxpayer Relief Act information".
  137. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (April 2011). "Report on Exceptions".
  138. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2010). "Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2010-2011".
  139. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 2009). "Report on Referendum Exceptions for 2009-2010".
  140. ^ Scarcella, Frank and Pursell, Tricia, (May 25, 2010). "Local school tax assessments exceed state averages". The Daily Item. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  141. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education (May 1, 2010). "SSAct1_Property Tax Relief Per HomeStead 2010".
  142. ^ Pennsylvania Auditor General Office, (February 23, 2010). "Special Report Pennsylvania Property Tax Relief,".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  143. ^ Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report May 1, 2010
  144. ^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program".
  145. ^ Tax Foundation (September 22, 2009). "New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  146. ^ Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, (November 10, 2005). "Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  147. ^ http://www.piaa.org/schools/classifications/default.aspx
  148. ^ Jeff Himler (September 23, 2011). "Blairsville-Saltsburg board moves ahead with stadium projects". Blairsville Dispatch.
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