West Branch Area School District

West Branch Area School District
Address
516 Allport Cutoff Morrisdale , Clearfield County , Pennsylvania 16858-9312 United States
Information
Type	Public
Superintendent	Mr. Michael Panek
Faculty	82
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	1,245 students (2009-10)
• Kindergarten	72
• Grade 1	89
• Grade 2	63
• Grade 3	65
• Grade 4	104
• Grade 5	97
• Grade 6	99
• Grade 7	103
• Grade 8	100
• Grade 9	106
• Grade 10	103
• Grade 11	114
• Grade 12	91
• Other	Enrollment projected to be 1,100 in 2019
Color(s)	Red, White, and Blue
Mascot	Warrior
Website	http://www.westbranch.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

portion of West Branch Area School District region in Clinton County

West Branch Area School District is located in Morrisdale, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It was created in 1958 by the joining of Cooper Township High School and Morris Township High School. The district also includes Karthaus Township and Graham Township. The district extends across the county's eastern border to include West Keating Township in Clinton County. West Branch Area School District encompasses approximately 165 square miles (430 km²). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 7,833. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $15,055, while the median family income was $37,054 a year. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. Per District officials, in school year 2009-10, the West Branch Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,192 pupils through the employment of 93 teachers, 54 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 9 administrators. West Branch Area School District received more than $9.3 million in state funding in school year 2009-10.

There are 2 schools in the district: West Branch Area Elementary School and West Branch Area Junior/Senior High School. Both of the schools reside in a conjoined building. The current school building was completed in 1964, with an addition to the high school recently finished in 2005.

Governance

The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve four year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration an "F" 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.

School Board Members

• President - Joe Kovalcin
• Vice President - Larry Allen
• School Board Director - John Clark
• Timothy Kephart
• Robert Ceprish
• Melvin Smeal
• Don Yontosh
• Gerald Coble
• Gary Miller
• Jennifer Kerlin

Academic achievement

West Branch Area School District was ranked 443rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and three years of science PSSAs.

• 2010 - 438th
• 2009 - 420th
• 2008 - 454th
• 2007 - 428th out of 501 school districts.

In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. West Branch Area School District ranked 384th. In 2010, the district was 382nd. The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."

In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of West Branch Area School DIstrict was in the bottom 6th percentile among 500 Pennsylvania School Districts. Scale - (0-99; 100 is state best)

Graduation Rate

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

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 88%
• 2009 - 88%
• 2008 - 81%
• 2007 - 81%

High School

West Branch Area Junior Senior HIgh School is located at 444 Allport Cutoff, Morrisdale. In 2010, there were 630 students grades 7th through12th with: 103 in 12th grade, 92 in 11th, 119 in 10th grade and 101 in ninth grade. The school had 47 teachers. In 2011, West Branch Area Junior Senior High School Making Progress: in Corrective Action I status due to low student academic achievement. In 2010 the school was in Corrective Action I due to chronic, low academic achievement. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the school administration to develop a School Improvement Plan focused on raising student academic achievement. They were required to submit the plan to the PDE for approval.

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 76% on grade level, (9% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 56% on grade level (20% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 54% (24% below basic). State - 65%
• 2008 - 67% (18% below basic). State - 65%
• 2007 - 67% (15% below basic). State - 65%

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 59% on grade level (15% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 49%, (35% below basic). State - 59%
• 2009 - 39%, (35% below basic). State - 56%.
• 2008 - 38%, (36% below basic). State - 56%
• 2007 - 36%, (35% below basic). State - 53%

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 50% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 37% (21% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 37% (17% below basic). State - 40%
• 2008 - 46% (9% below basic)s. State - 39%

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 11% of West Branch 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.

SAT Scores

From January to June 2011, 45 West Branch students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 463. The Math average score was 474. The Writing average score was 416. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.

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 offered a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $4,515 for the program.

Graduation requirements

The School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 25 credits to graduate including: mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 3.5 credits, science 4 credits, Physical Education 2 credits, Humanities and Arts - 2 credits, Health 0.5 credits, Safety Ed 0.5 credits, Family and Consumer Science 0.5 credits, Computer Technology 0.5 credits and electives 3.5 credits.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district. Students must complete 21 hours of community service to be eligible for graduation.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.

Junior high school

PSSA Results:

8th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 68% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level.
• 2010 - 81% (13% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 76% (16% below basic), State - 80%
• 2008 - 74% (15% below basic), State - 78%
• 2007 - 61% (20% below basic), State - 75%

8th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 68% on grade level (18% below basic). State - 76.9%
• 2010 - 73% (15% below basic). State - 75%
• 2009 - 72% (14% below basic). State - 71%
• 2008 - 61% (16% below basic). State - 70%
• 2007 - 51% (26% below basic). State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 51% on grade level (28% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 57% (25% below basic). State – 57%
• 2009 - 55% (21% below basic). State - 55%
• 2008 - 55%, (20% below basic). State - 52%

7th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 68% on grade level (14% below basic). State – 76%
• 2010 - 65% (21% below basic). State - 73%
• 2009 - 67% (15% below basic). State - 71%
• 2008 - 65% (21% below basic). State - 70%
• 2007 - 61% (22% below basic). State - 67%

7th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 72% on grade level (14% below basic). State - 78.6%
• 2010 - 55% (29% below basic). State - 77%
• 2009 - 63% (12% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 56% (23% below basic), State - 71%
• 2007 - 49% (28% below basic), State - 67%

Elementary school

The school provides kindergarten through sixth grades. In 2011, West Branch Area Elementary School dec;ined to Warning AYP status. In 2010 the school achieved AYP status. In 2011 the attendance rate was 96%, while in 2010 it was 95%. The school has Title I School-Wide Program. In 2010, the school reported 615 students with 291 qualifying for a free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school had 35 teachers.

6th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 65% on grade level (18% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 70% (14% below basic). State - 68%
• 2009 - 51% (26% below basic), State - 67%
• 2008 - 67% (16% below basic), State - 67%
• 2007 - 54% (28% below basic), State - 63%

6th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 72% on grade level (13% below basic). State - 78.8%
• 2010 - 72% (10% below basic). State - 78%
• 2009 - 63% (25% below basic), State - 75%
• 2008 - 70% (16% below basic), State - 72%
• 2007 - 52% (28% below basic), State - 69%

5th Grade Reading:

• 2011 - 48% on grade level (27% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% of 5th graders are on grade level.
• 2010 - 56% (23% below basic). State – 64%
• 2009 - 58% (18% below basic), State - 64%
• 2008 - 53% (24% below basic), State - 62%
• 2007 - 58% (19% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 49% on grade level (22% below basic). State - 74%
• 2010 - 64% (16% below basic). State - 76.3%
• 2009 - 65% (11% below basic), State - 73%
• 2008 - 69% (11% below basic), State - 73%
• 2007 - 68% (7% below basic), State - 71%

4th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 51% (28% below basic), State – 73.3%
• 2010 - 64% (23% below basic), State - 73%
• 2009 - 66% (16% below basic), State - 72%
• 2008 - 72% (13% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 65% (18% below basic), State - 60%

4th Grade Math

• 2011 - 53% (28% below basic), State – 85.3%
• 2010 - 71% (14% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 - 67% (19% below basic), State - 81%
• 2008 - 72% (15% below basic), State - 80%
• 2007 - 71% (18% below basic), State - 78%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 78%, (7% below basic), State – 82.9%
• 2010 - 80%, (9% below basic), State - 81%
• 2009 - 90%, (3% below basic), State - 83%
• 2008 - 84%, (3% below basic), State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading

• 2011 - 61%, (23% below basic), State – 77%
• 2010 - 64%, (21% below basic), State - 75%
• 2009 - 64%, (23% below basic), State - 77%
• 2008 - 72%, (10% below basic), State - 70%
• 2007 - 72%, (12% below basic), State - 72%

3rd Grade Math

• 2011 - 81%, (11% below basic), State – 83%
• 2010 - 87%, (3% below basic), State - 84%
• 2009 - 75%, (8% below basic), State - 81%
• 2008 - 82%, (3% below basic), State - 80%
• 2007 - 81%, (5% below basic), State - 78%

Special Education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 262 pupils or 21% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. Of these students, 51% had a specific learning disability.

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 reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress . To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, 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 Special Education administration. 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 district's Special Education Department.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for Special Education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district’s students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student’s needs accrue the same level of costs. The state requires each district to have a three year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. Overidentification of students, in order to increase state funding, has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.

The West Branch Area School District received a $707,881 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011-12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.

Gifted Education

The District Administration reported that 17 or 1.30% 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 over 92 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $39,000 to $100,000. The median salary was $50,129. In 2009 the beginning salary was set at $40,000 in the teachers' contract.

In 2007, the district employed 84 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $46,444 for 180 days worked. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance (single teacher pays $25 per month), $40,000 life insurance, dental insurance, long term disability program, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, 5 paid bereavement days, and other benefits including payment for unused sick days up to 150 days. Teachers are paid an additional $200 for each 5 years of continuous service. If a teacher is asked to work beyond the regular day they receive an additional hourly rate of $23, per hour.

West Branch Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $659.09 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.

Reserves In 2008, the district reported no funds in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,383,053.00. In 2010, the district reported $5,080,418.00 in an Unreserved - Undesignated Fund. PA school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.

In 2008, West Branch Area School District Administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,867 which ranked 289th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending declined to $10,894.77 Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.

In January of 2012, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration. The report found that the district had dealt with recommendations given in a prior audit of child accounting data which found that not all source documentation was retained for audit purposes, resulting in an inability to verify the West Branch Area School District’s entitlement to subsidies and reimbursements totaling $14,646,740.

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 the of individual’s personal wealth.

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district received a $6,984,019 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the School District received $102,285 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to [[Duquesne City School District which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. In 2010, the district reported that 550 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.54% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,346,518 . Among the districts in Clearfield County, the highest increase went to Dubois Area School District which got a 7.76% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.23% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $7,346,519. Among the districts in Clearfield County, this was the highest increase awarded. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $6,759,597.84. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 560 district students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.

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 $277,626 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide Full Day Kindergarten for the second year.

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. The School District did not apply to participate in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $144,596. The district received $45,413 in 2008-09 for a total funding of $190,009.

Education Assistance Grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers (CTC) in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010-11 the West Branch Area School District did not apply for funding.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $2,369,309 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students. The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years. Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly warned to use the funds for one time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software.

Race to the Top grant

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. 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.

Common Cents state initiative

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

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011-12 were set by the school board at 91.4000 mills for district residents in Clearfield County and 8.0000 mills for district residents in Clinton 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. Clinton County conducted a reassessment in 2008. 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. The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties. In 2010, miscalculations by the board were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts.

• 2010-11 - 91.4000 mills for Clearfield County and 5.7700 mills for Clinton County.
• 2009-10 - 90.4000 mills for Clearfield County and 8.7000 mills for Clinton County.
• 2008-09 - 90.4000 mills for Clearfield County and 71.8000 mills for Clinton County.
• 2007-08 - 88.4000 mills for Clearfield County and 67.4500 mills for Clinton County.

Act 1 Adjusted Index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011-2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year. In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten the exceptions to the Act 1 Index. 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.

The School District Adjusted Index for the West Branch Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.

• 2006-07 - 5.8%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 5.1%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 6.6%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 6.2%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 4.4%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 2.1%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.6%, Base 1.7%

For the 2011-12 school year, the West Branch Area School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

According to a state report, for the 2011-2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district’s index. Of the districts who sought exceptions: 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.

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

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the West Branch Area School District was not reported to the Commonwealth. The gaming fund provided the district with $282,652.85 for property tax relief. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres (40,000 m²) and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. 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. Chester Upland has been the top recipient every year of the program.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, consequently, individual with income much more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.

Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%).

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy. A new baseball field was built but leased to a local little league team for 25 years which expires in 2036.

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.

Athletics

West Branch's mascot is the Warrior. Their team motos are "Warrior Power" and "Warrior Pride". They participate in the PIAA District 6 with Single-A classification in all but wrestling and baseball, where they compete in Double-A. Noteworthy athletic achievements include four PIAA individual state champions in wrestling (Jerry White, Robert English, Justin Owens, & Jared Ricotta) , winning a district championship in football in 1988, a district championship in baseball, a team district duals championship in wrestling, and other various conference championships. Former Warrior baseball players Ed Veres and John Prestash were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft straight out of high school. Larry Beightol, a former football player at West Branch, is an offensive line coach in the NFL, most recently working with the Detroit Lions. Wrestling State Champion Jared Ricotta, after starting four years for the Duquesne Dukes Division I Wrestling Team and capturing three Northeast Regional Titles was recruited by NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports as a professional tire changer. Starting in Fall 2010, West Branch and local school Philipsburg-Osceola School District agreed to a co-op boys soccer deal. Any 9-12th grade boy wishing to play soccer now plays with the Philipsburg Soccer team.

Marching band

The West Branch band also has a shining history, as they've played in such cities as Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Harrisburg. Most recently, the band goes to Disney World bi-yearly to play in the Fourth of July parade. The band wins many awards and helps to uphold the proud traditions and history of West Branch High School. Two years ago, the former band director and creator of many of the school's traditions, Mr. William Gabel, retired. He was replaced by former elementary music teacher and West Branch alumna, Mrs. Jennifer Ennis Sproull.

External links

• http://www.westbranch.org