Carlisle Area School District

Carlisle Area School District
Address
623 West Penn Street Carlisle , Cumberland , Pennsylvania 17013 United States
Information
Type	Public
Superintendent	Mr. John W. Friend
Grades	K-12
Enrollment	4650 (2010)
• Kindergarten	375
• Grade 1	378
• Grade 2	341
• Grade 3	361
• Grade 4	392
• Grade 5	341
• Grade 6	327
• Grade 7	362
• Grade 8	349
• Grade 9	370
• Grade 10	351
• Grade 11	350
• Grade 12	353
Mascot	Thundering Herd
Website	http://www.carlisleschools.org/

The Carlisle Area School District covers the Boroughs of Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs and Dickinson Township and North Middleton Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The district operates Carlisle High School, Lamberton Middle School, Wilson Middle School, Bellaire Elementary School, Crestview Elementary School, Hamilton Elementary School, LeTort Elementary School, Mooreland Elementary School, Mount Holly Springs Elementary School and North Dickinson Elementary School.

Governance

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

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

The district is served by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 which offers a variety of services including: a completely developed K-12 curriculum that is mapped and aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (available online), shared services, a group purchasing program and a wide variety of special education and special needs services.

Academic achievement

The Carlisle Area School District was ranked 178th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2010 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and three years of science.

• 2010 - 212th
• 2009 - 257th
• 2008 - 221st
• 2007 - 197th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts.

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Carlisle ranked 296th. In 2009 the district was 332nd. 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."

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Carlisle Area School District's rate was 88% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

• 2010 - 87%
• 2009 - 87%
• 2008 - 92%
• 2007 - 92%

High school

In 2010, the high school made AYP.

In 2009, the High School was in Making Progress: in School Improvement I for lagging student achievement.

In 2008, the High School was in School Improvement I for chronically lagging student achievement.

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 73% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 67% of 11th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 66%, State - 65%
• 2008 - 59%, State - 64%
• 2007 - 64%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math

• 2010 - 67% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.
• 2009 - 60%, State - 56%
• 2008 - 47%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 47%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2010 - 46% on grade level. State: 39% on grade level.
• 2009 - 42%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 38%, State - 39%

College Remediation Rate

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of the Carlisle High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education or community colleges. Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual Enrollment

The high school does not offer the Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. Over 400 school districts in Pennsylvania offer this state funded program.

Graduation project

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

Lamberton Middle School

8th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 88% on grade level. State: 81% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 83%, State - 80.9%
• 2008 - 80%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math

• 2010 - 83% on grade level. State - 75% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 79%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 68%, State - 70%

8th Grade Science

• 2010 - 67% on grade level. State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 63%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 57%, State - 50%

7th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 78% on grade level. State - 73% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 81%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 75%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math

• 2009 - 81% on grade level. State - 77% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 75%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 76%, State - 70%

6th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 88% on grade level. State - 68% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 79%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math

• 2009 - 90% on grade level. State - 78% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 80%, State - 75%

Wilson Middle School

8th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 89% on grade level. State: 81% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 85%, State - 80.9%
• 2008 - 80%, State - 78%

8th Grade Math

• 2010 - 90% on grade level. State - 75% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 73%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 68%, State - 70%

8th Grade Science

• 2010 - 62% on grade level. State - 57% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 52%, State - 55%
• 2008 - 48%, State - 50%

7th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 78% on grade level. State - 73% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 72%, State - 71%
• 2008 - 54%, State - 70%

7th Grade Math

• 2009 - 86% on grade level. State - 77% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 86%, State - 75%
• 2008 - 62%, State - 70%

6th Grade Reading

• 2010 - 76% on grade level. State - 68% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 68%, State - 67%

6th Grade Math

• 2009 - 73% on grade level. State - 78% of 7th graders were on grade level.
• 2009 - 77%, State - 75%

Budget

In 2007, the Carlisle Area School District employed 323 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,548 for 181 days worked. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, a retirement bonus and other benefits.

In June 2011, the union agreed to a 2% pay raise in 2011-12 rather than the 4% pledged in the contract, while the school board approved a $66.1 million budget with a 3.5% real estate tax increase (the maximum allowed in the district by law) - generating another $1.2 million in revenue for the schools.

The Carlisle Area school board extended the teachers contract through August 2014 - providing Carlisle Area School District teachers with a 3 percent raise in 2012-13, and a 3.1 percent pay increase in 2013-14. This in comparison to a pay freeze (no raise) for Federal Civilian employees for 2012-2013. Carlisle Area School District teachers will contribute 16 2/3 percent of their health care plan premiums for 2012-2014. This compares to Federal Civilian employees being required to pay 25 percent or more of their health care plan premiums. The District provides up to 50% of assessment fees ($2,500.00) for National Board Certification, and pay when the candidate attains certification.

Carlisle Area School District teacher retirement benefits are equal to at least 2.00% x Final Average Salary x Total Credited Service. (Some teachers benefits utilize a 2.50% benefit factor.)

Carlisle Area School District administrative costs in 2008 were $668.30 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398, in 2008. The district provides an extensive benefit package to all administrators (no specifics provided). On July 1, 2010, John Friend will assume superintendent duties with a five-year contract. His initial one-year salary for 2010-11 was set at $143,000. Christina Spielbauer will assume Assistant Superintendent position in July 2009 at a salary of $96,000. Gary Worley, Assistant Superintendent's salary effective July 1, 2009 will be paid $120,000 annually. His role will be to supervise the High School and Middle School principals.

In 2002 the district considered closing LeTort Elementary school due to a low enrollment of 160 pupils. Estimates reported the district would save $9 million over five years. It is still open in 2011 with a declining enrollment of 125 pupils. In June 2011, the district closed Plainfield Elementary School.

Reserves

In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $11,615,997.00.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax - 1.6%, a local real property tax, a real estate transfer tax, and a per capita tax, coupled with substantial (the section's author does not list specifics) funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the income level.

State basic education funding

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 5.12% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $12,158,246. Seven county school districts received increases of less than 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2009-10. Shippensburg Area School District received an 8.43% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Carlisle Area School District in 2008-09 was $11,565,596.80. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.

Federal Stimulus Funding

The district received an extra $2,618,458 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1,136 students qualified for free or reduced lunch due to low family income in 2008. The funding is for 2009-2011 school years.

Race to the Top grant

Carlisle School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district up to one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state Race to the Top application judging will occur in June 2010.

Environmental Education Grant

The Environmental Education Grant Program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates that 5 percent of all pollution fines and penalties collected annually by the Department of Environmental Protection be set aside for environmental education. In 2010, Carlisle Area School District was awarded $3000 for students to participate in educational programs and activities on solar and wind energy, alternative transportation fuels and green building practices.

Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

Carlisle Area School District was a recipient of the award in 2010. It cited the installation of a 1000-kW photovoltaic array system which represents about 15 percent of the annual power used by the school district. This will save about $105,000 per year considering the sale of renewable energy credits of $0.25 kWh. The school district received a $1 million Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority award and a $950,000 Commonwealth Financing Authority Solar Energy Program award.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2009-10 are 14.3300 mills. In 2008-2009 the rate was set by the school board at 13.80000 mills. A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region.

Act 1 Adjusted index

The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2010-2011 school year is 2.9 percent, but it can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, rising health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling local tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.

The School District Adjusted Index for the Carlisle Area School District 2006-2007 through 2010-2011.

• 2006-07 - 4.8%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.2%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 5.4%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.0%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 3.5%, Base 2.9%

In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Carlisle Area School District was $131 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 8,425 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Cumberland County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2009, went to Mechanicsburg Area School District at $140. The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead. The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Cumberland County, 75.93% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.

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

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

Wellness policy

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

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

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

Extracurriculars

Varsity and junior varsity athletic activities are under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policies.

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.