Bellwood-Antis School District

Bellwood-Antis School District
Address
400 Martin Street Bellwood, Pennsylvania, Blair County 16617 United States
Information
Type	Public
School board	9 locally elected members
Superintendent	Dr. G. Brian Toth (salary $116,887 in 2009)
Administrator	Michael Lingenfelter - Technology Coordinator
Faculty	68 teachers
Grades	K-12
Age	5 years old to 21 years old for special education students
Number of students	1,315 students in 2010
• Kindergarten	94
• Grade 1	81
• Grade 2	85
• Grade 3	97
• Grade 4	101
• Grade 5	90
• Grade 6	92
• Grade 7	97
• Grade 8	86
• Grade 9	125
• Grade 10	93
• Grade 11	110
• Grade 12	106
• Other	Enrollment projected to decline to 1200 by 2019[1]
Language	English
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Fight song	"On for BA"
Mascot	Blue Devils
Rival	Tyrone
Yearbook	Tuckahoe
Budget	$16,799,778 (2011) [2]
Tuition	for nonresident and charter school students ES - 8,069.94, HS - $8,867.27 [3]
$11,306 (2008)	Per pupil spending
Website	http://moss.blwd.k12.pa.us/

The Bellwood-Antis School District is a small, rural public school district located in Blair County, Pennsylvania. It serves the Borough of Bellwood and Antis Township. Bellwood-Antis School District encompasses approximately 63 square miles (160 km²). According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 8,435. In school year 2007-08 the Bellwood-Antis School District provided basic educational services to 1,358 pupils. It employed: 97 teachers, 61 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 9 administrators. Bellwood-Antis School District received more than $9.6 million in state funding in school year 2007-08.

Schools

• Myers Elementary School (Grades K-4)
  220 Martin Street
  Bellwood, Pennsylvania 16617
• Bellwood-Antis Middle School (Grades 5-8)
  400 Martin Street
  Bellwood, Pennsylvania 16617
• Bellwood-Antis High School (Grades 9-12)
  300 Martin Street
  Bellwood, Pennsylvania 16617

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.^[4] The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.^[5]

Academic achievement

Bellwood-Antis School District was ranked 90th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012.^[6] The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing math and science.^[7] The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

• 2011 - 86th ^[8]
• 2010 - 70th ^[9]
• 2009 - 67th
• 2008 - 73rd
• 2007 - 107th out of 501 school districts.^[10]

Overachiever statewide ranking

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Bellwood-Antis School District ranked 48th. In 2011, the district was 62nd. ^[11] 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-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."^[12]

District AYP status history

In 2011, Bellwood-Antis School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).^[13] In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance.^[14] Bellwood-Antis School District achieved AYP status each year from 2004 to 2010, while in 2003 the District was in Warning status due to lagging student achievement.^[15]

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 95%.^[16] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Bellwood-Antis High School's rate was 90% for 2010.^[17]

According to traditional graduation rate calculations

• 2010 - 96% ^[18]
• 2009 - 96% ^[19]
• 2008 - 94% ^[20]
• 2007 - 94% ^[21]

High school

In 2012, Bellwood-Antis High School was recognized by US News and World Report as a Bronze level high school in a nationwide school ranking.^[22] The study was conducted by American Institutes for Research which examined how many students attained performance levels that exceed statistical expectations given the school's relative level of student poverty, as measured by state accountability test scores for all the school's students in the core subjects of reading and math. The study also examined the success rate for the school's least advantaged student groups (e.g., black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students) that exceed state averages. The study included 752 high schools in Pennsylvania, including traditional public schools, public charter schools and public magnet schools.^[23] In Pennsylvania, 136 public high schools achieved a Bronze rating in 2012; 49 achieved a silver rating and 7 received a gold rating. The highest ranking went to Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in the School District of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Bellwood-Antis High School is located at 400 Martin Street, Bellwood. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 434 pupils in grades th through th, with 102 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch. The school employed 23 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 19:1.^[24] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[25]

In 2011 and 2010, Bellwood-Antis High School achieved AYP status under No Child LEft Behind.^[26]

PSSA results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 73% on grade level, (8% below basic). State - 69.1% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[27]
• 2010 - 80% (9% below basic). State - 66% ^[28]
• 2009 - 75% (8% below basic). State - 65% ^[29]
• 2008 - 78% (7% below basic). State - 65% ^[30]
• 2007 - 84% (8% below basic). State - 65% ^[31]

11th Grade Math:

• 2011 - 73% on grade level (13% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 60.3% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[32]
• 2010 - 71% (14% below basic). State - 59% ^[33]
• 2009 - 74% (13% below basic). State - 56%.^[34]
• 2008 - 74% (12% below basic). State - 56% ^[35]
• 2007 - 75% (10% below basic). State - 53% ^[36]

11th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 56% on grade level (8% below basic). State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[37]
• 2010 - 60% (5% below basic). State - 39%
• 2009 - 44% (8% below basic). State - 40% ^[38]
• 2008 - 32% (15% below basic). State - 39% ^[39]

College remediation rate

The Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009 of high school graduates requiring 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.^[40] 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.^[41] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English.

Dual enrollment

The high school offers a dual enrollment program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.^[42] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[43]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $30,652 for the program.^[44]

Graduation requirements

Bellwood-Antis School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 25 credits to graduate, including: Mathematics 4 credits, English 4 credits, social studies 4 credits, science 4 credits, Practical Art/Art 1 credit, Physical Education/Health 1.5 credits, 2 Computer courses for 1 credit, Driver Ed .25 credit and electives 6.75 credits.^[45]

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.^[46]

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating class of 2017, 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.^[47][48][49] In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level.^[50] Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Middle school

Bellwood Antis Middle School is located at. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 405 pupils in grades 5th through 8th, with 132 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 17 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 24:1.^[51] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 17 teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.^[52]

In 2010 and 2011, Bellwood-Antis Middle School achieved AYP status.^[53]

PSSA Results

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 67% on grade level (17% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level.
• 2010 - 73% (13% below basic). State – 57% ^[55]
• 2009 - 68% (9% below basic). State - 55% ^[56]
• 2008 - 66% (10% below basic). State - 52% ^[57]
• 2007 - tested, but results not made public.

Elementary school

Lewis M Myers Elementary School is located at 220 Martin Street, Bellwood. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2010, the school reported an enrollment of 476 pupils in grades kindergarten through 4th, with 171 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 28 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 17:1.^[62] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[63]

In 2010 and 2011, Lewis M Myers Elementary School achieved AYP status under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[64] In 2011, only 74% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd and 4th. In math, 81% of the students in 3rd and 4th grades were on grade level, with 48% scoring advanced. In 4th grade science, 88% of the pupils were on grade level.^[65]

Teacher evaluation study

In 2011, Bellwood-Antis School District agreed to participate in a pilot program to develop a new way to evaluate teachers that, in part, takes into account student achievement. Several York County school districts are participating.^[66] The pilot program had 104 K-12 entities, including: nine career and technical centers, nine charter schools and nine intermediate units. Beginning in January 2012, participating school districts will use the new evaluation method and provide feedback to the Department of Education. This new evaluation will not be used to determine an educator’s official 2011-12 assessment. Under the new evaluation system, 50% of the evaluation of a teacher will be based on an observation divided into four categories: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities. The other half will be based on student achievement (15 percent will be building-level data, 15 percent will be teacher-specific data, and 20 percent will be elective). The new evaluation system has both announced and unannounced observations. There are meetings between the teacher and evaluator before and after the direct observation of a lesson.^[67]

Special education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 98 pupils or 7.8% of the district's pupils received Special Education services, with 31% of identified students having a specific learning disability.^[68] In December 2009, the district administration reported that 96 pupils or 7.3% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.

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 .^[69] 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.^[70][71]

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.^[72] 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.^[73] The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.^[74] 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.^[75]

The Bellwood-Antis School District received a $726,698 supplement for special education services in 2010.^[76] For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 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.^[77][78]

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 26 or 1.92% of its students were gifted in 2009. The highest percentage of gifted students reported among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted.^[79] 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.^[80][81]

Budget

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Bellwood-Antis School District was $52,763.10 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $16,762.69 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $69,525.79.^[82] According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation, including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.^[83] In May 2011, the Bellwood-Antis school board approved a one-year wage freeze Tuesday for its teachers and the administrative staff. The freeze is predicted to save the taxpayers about $278,060.

In 2009, the district reported employing 224 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $56,675 and a top salary of $116,887.^[84] The teacher’s work day is 7 hours 30 minutes with 186 days in the contract year. Teachers have a duty-free, daily preparation period. Extra compensation is paid for work required after the regular work hours. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 3 bereavement leave days, 10 paid sick days, health insurance in retirement, and other benefits.^[85]

Bellwood-Antis School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $772.42 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[86] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association collects and maintains 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.^[87]

In 2008, Bellwood-Antis School District administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,306 which ranked 365th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $11,495.58 ^[88] Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09.^[89] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.^[90] The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.^[91]

Reserves In 2008, the district reported a balance of zero in an unreserved-designated fund. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $898,153. ^[92] In 2010, Area Administration reported an increase to $734,636.00 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. Pennsylvania 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.^[93]

In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the District. The findings were reported to the School Board and the District’s administration.^[94]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, local services tax, per capita taxes, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government.^[95] Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the district. 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 level of the individual’s personal wealth.^[96]

State basic education funding

For the 2012-13 school year, the district will receive $6,719,010.^[97] The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 includes $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which is an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. The state also provides $100 million for the Accountability Block grant. The state will also provide $544.4 million for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS.^[98] This amount is a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett’s first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

In 2011-12, the District received a $6,639,648 allocation of state Basic Education Funding.^[99][100] Additionally, the School District received $79,362 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011.^[101] 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.^[102] In 2010, the district reported that 882 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.^[103]

In the 2010-2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.48% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,974,066. Among the districts in Blair County, the highest increase went to Hollidaysburg Area School District which got a 4.26% 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.^[104] The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even where enrollment had significantly declined. The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward Rendell and then Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state budget proposal given each February. This was the second year of Governor Rendell’s policy to fund some districts at a far greater rate than others.

In the 2009-2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.49% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $6,805,232. Among the districts in Blair County, the highest increase went to Spring Cove School District which got a 4.68% increase. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $6,639,648.40. Ninety Pennsylvania public school districts received the base 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.^[105] The amount of increase each school district received was set by Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak, as a part of the state's education budget proposal.^[106] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.^[107][108]

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 381 district students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.^[109]

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 $215,409 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide teacher training, after school tutoring, and to pay teachers to write New Curriculum and Course Offerings.^[110][111]

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 to 2009. The Bellwood-Antis School District was denied for funding by the PDE 2006-07. In 2007-08, the Bellwood-Antis School District administration did not apply for funding. The district received $83,441 in 2008-09.^[112] In Blair County the highest award was given to Altoona Area School District which received $597,806 over the last two years of the grant. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. In 2010, Classrooms for the Future funding was curtailed statewide due to a massive state financial crisis.

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $2,152,901 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.^[113][114] The funding was limited to the 2009-10 and 2010-2011 school years.^[115] Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly advised 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 applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one half million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement.^[116] 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.^[117] 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.^{[118][119][120]}

Environment grant

Bellwood-Antis School District received a $5,000 grant (2009) from the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters' Water Resources Education Network to support a program to develop Environmental Ambassadors of the district’s Outdoor Classroom that features storm water best management practice demonstration areas, including streamside buffers, rain gardens, rain barrels, pollinator gardens, and cover crops for gardens.^[121]

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2012-13 were set by the school board at 98.7148 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.^[122] 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.^[123] When the school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties.^[124] In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.^[125]

• 2011-12 - 96.4012 mills.^[126]
• 2010-11 - 92.3250 mills ^[127]
• 2009-10 - 115.3000 mills.^[128]
• 2008-09 - 110.3000 mills.^[129]
• 2007-08 - 104.0000 mills.^[130]
• 2006-07 - 99.0000 mills.^[131]
• 2005-06 - 94.0000 mills.^[132]

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 permitted to raise property taxes above that Index unless they either: 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.^[133] In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly eliminated six of the ten exceptions to the Act 1 Index.^[134] Several 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.^[135][136]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Bellwood-Antis School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.^[137]

• 2006-07 - 5.5%, Base 3.9%
• 2007-08 - 4.7%, Base 3.4%
• 2008-09 - 6.1%, Base 4.4%
• 2009-10 - 5.8%, Base 4.1%
• 2010-11 - 4.1%, Base 2.9%
• 2011-12 - 2.0%, Base 1.4%
• 2012-13 - 2.4%, Base 1.7% ^[138]

For the 2012-13 budget year, Bellwood-Antis School Board did not apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.^[139]

For the 2011-12 school year, the Bellwood-Antis School Board applied for an exception to exceed the Act 1 Index due to increasing teacher pension costs. Each year, the Bellwood-Antis 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.^[140]

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.^[141]

The Bellwoord-Antis School Board applied for multiple exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011: Maintenance of Local Tax Revenue, Maintenance of Selected Revenue Sources, and teacher pension costs.^[142] For the 2009-10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index.^[143] 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.^[144]

Property tax relief

In 2012, Bellwood-Antis School District approved homestead residents received $164.^[145] In 2010, property tax relief for 2,202 approved residents of Bellwood-Antis School District was set at $161.^[146] In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Bellwood-Antis School District was also $168 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,141 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Blair County, the highest tax relief went to Williamsburg Community School District which was set at $216.^[147] The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the homesteads of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County which received $632 per approved homestead in 2010. Chester-Upland School District has consistently been the top recipient since the programs inception.^[148] 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 Blair County, 53.16% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.^[149]

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 people who have an income of substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This tax rebate can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief. In 2012, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Treasury reported issuing more than half a million property tax rebates totaling $238 million.^[150] The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Property tax rebates are increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the state, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more than 15% of their income in property taxes.^[151]

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%).^[152]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports.

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.^[153]

Athletics

The District funds the following sports:

Middle School Sports

• According to PIAA directory July 2012 ^[154]

References

External links

• Bellwood-Antis School District
• PIAA Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
• Greater Altoona Area Career and Technology Center
• Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8