Titusville Area School District

The Titusville Area School District is located in northwestern Pennsylvania, approximately 45 miles southeast of Erie, Pennsylvania, The School District comprises Allegheny Township, Cherrytree Township, Oilcreek Township and Pleasantville Borough located in Venango County; and Centerville Borough, Hydetown Borough, Oil Creek Township, Rome Township and Titusville City located in Crawford County; and Southwest Township located in Warren County. The School District covers approximately 200 square miles.

Just over 72.2 percent of population of the district is in Crawford County, with 24 percent in Venango County and 3.8 percent in Warren County. The district's population accounts for 11.76 percent of the Crawford County population, 6.10 percent of the Venango County population and 1.28 percent of the Warren County population.

The median age for the district population is 40 years. The median income is $30,000.00. The education levels of adults in the community show that 82% of adults have a high school diploma, while just under 12% hold a Bachelor’s degree. The community reflects a single-parent household percentage of 9.5%. The unemployment rate is about 5.8%.

The School District enrollment is approximately 2300 students K4–12. This is a decrease of about 300 students since 2002. 98% of the students enrolled are white. There is about 49% of the students who are economically disadvantaged and 18% have an IEP to support disabilities.

The district has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) annually for the past several years. The district-wide reading proficiency is 76% and the math proficiency is 74%. The classroom profile reflects a students per teacher ratio of 15. 100% of the teachers are highly qualified based upon PDE guidelines. 63% of the District’s graduating seniors attend college, with 53% attending a four-year institution.

Fiscal summary

The Titusville Area School District constantly tries to maintain a balance between the funding for the educational needs of the students and the ability of the community to pay for these needs.Fact|date=July 2008 The 2006-07 fiscal budget consisted of expenditures total $27,704,369 with an estimated fund balance of $3,479,806. The budget process has been drastically changed with the passage of Act 1 of 2006. Districts are now required to seek voter approval if they need to raise tax rates beyond the Act 1 index. In order to seek this voter approval districts have to accelerate the budget time line. For example, in the 2008-09 budget time line districts must adopt a preliminary budget or a resolution stating that they will not raise the rate of any tax by more than the index. The budget adoption or the resolution must be passed by January 3, 2008. In light of shrinking financial resources, increasing expenditures and non-funded mandates the District has been able to strike a balance. This balance is proven by the District’s state ranking for property tax which was in the bottom half of 501 districts while its students continue to exceed the state and federal standards. In 2005, the operating expenditures was $8,300.00 per student while the instructional expenditure per student was appro $5000.00.

Facilities

The district operates an early childhood center, which contains a day care center, three elementary schools (grades 1-5), a middle school (grades 6-8), a senior high school (grades 9-12), and one alternative education school. These broad-based facilities enable the district to expand the horizons of the student entering pre-kindergarten at age four and encourage learning in an age-appropriate and learning-centered atmosphere at all levels through twelfth grade. All of the schools offer a general curriculum with supplementary programs for gifted and special needs students.

In a continual effort to provide the best educational facilities for the students, Titusville Area School District reviews buildings and grounds plans annually and maintains a long-range plan of five years. The plan addresses maintenance and modernization programs for each building in the district. Moving forward in the 21st century, the district’s three-phase building and renovation project which concluded in 2002 provided major upgrades that enhance the delivery of educational programs and support student success.Fact|date=July 2008

Organization and Central administration

The School District is a third class school district, according to population and operates under and pursuant to the School Code, as amended and supplemented. The School District is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, composed of residents of the School District who are elected on a staggered basis for four-year terms of office. The daily operations and management of the School District are overseen by the Superintendent of Schools, who serves as the chief educational officer of the School District.

The Central Administration Office is composed of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Business Manager, and Assistant Business Manager. The Administrative Team includes; building level principals and assistant principals, six directors of specialized programs which include the following positions; Director of Student Services, Federal Programs and Elementary Curriculum, Special Education, Athletics, Day Care and Vo-Tech. There are four directors of support programs which include: Directors of Food Service and Transportation, Technology, Buildings and Grounds and Parks and Recreation. There are also 12 department chairpersons that assist in the oversight of curriculum development.

Employment and Employee Relations

There are presently 319 employees of the School District, including 19 administrators, 172 professional/instructional employees and 128 support personnel.

The School District’s Administrative Team follows the current Act 93 Administrative Compensation Agreement. This agreement expires on June 30, 2010. The School District’s teachers are represented by the Titusville Area Education Association, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), under a contract with the School District, which expires on June 30, 2008. Clerical, maintenance, custodial, daycare and cafeteria workers and educational aides are represented by the Titusville Educational Support Personnel Association. The contract expires on June 30, 2009. Employee relations in the School District remain favorable.

District Planning

The School District utilizes a system of comprehensive planning under a shared leadership philosophy. The district currently has seven district level standing committees that meet on a regular basis. Those committees include; Curriculum Council, Coordinated School Health Council, Athletic Council, Information and Technology Council, Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council, Act 48 Professional Development Council, and the Administrative Team. The membership of these committees is a representation of cross section of people from administration, faculty, support staff, students and community members. Special sub-committees are developed as the need arises.

Technology

Technology continues to be a major focus for the district as well. An integrated learning system is currently in place at the middle school and all of the elementary schools. Both the middle school and the senior high school emphasize the use of technology across the curriculum Through grant funding the district recently added a technology coach position to provide support at the elementary level. The technology coach assists with the implementation of curriculum by providing assistance in the school computer labs.

The district provides networking and Internet connectivity for students and staff, recognizing that these features are key components to promoting technological competence. In addition, the district maintains a website that is updated periodically through the cooperative efforts of students and staff members. In order to stay abreast of technological advancements, the district has entered into a Wide Area Network (WAN) agreement with the Riverview Intermediate Unit 6. Through this agreement students and staff will be provided with the latest technological capabilities.

Education and Curriculum

The needs of all students of the Titusville Area School District are addressed as the administrators, guidance counselors, department chairpersons, and individual teachers participate in an annual review of curricula and make recommendations to the Board of School Directors for changes and additions to course offerings.

Each grade level has a specific role in fostering the educational process. The Early Childhood Learning Center, constructed in 1991, houses the district’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, the district made an even greater commitment to early childhood education by offering full day kindergarten. Although the same curriculum is taught, teachers have more time to incorporate activities, and the program has been enhanced by the addition of the Action Based Learning Lab program in Physical Education. Learning in full day kindergarten is tied to kinesthetic motion. These changes have been funded primarily through the Pennsylvania Department of Education Accountability Grant. Rounding out the full array of services, Titusville Learning Center, a day care program which is approved and licensed by the state, is also located in the Early Childhood Learning Center. In 2004-2005, the program was expanded to meet the growing needs of parents through the addition of a new Toddler Room, which provides day care services for children beginning at 13 months of age.The elementary schools are committed to fostering the basic skills of communication through a balanced literacy program that includes phonics and reading and writing instruction. Instructors and administrators have implemented measures that promote improved performance in reading, writing and math. Such measures include the use of technology, such as Smart Boards, the introduction of math manipulatives, and the formation of reading and math clubs and summer programs, like PALS Club. Supplemental reading instruction is provided through the Title I Program and subsidized with Federal dollars.

The goal of the district is to provide a developmentally responsive middle level school which provides a curriculum that is challenging, integrated and exploratory. There are three significant components of an exploratory curriculum. First, it enables students to discover their abilities, talents, interests, values and preferences. This self-knowledge helps students prepare for adult life, not only in terms of vocation, but also as family members and citizens (NMSA, 1998). Second, all courses and activities are taught in a way that reveals opportunities for making contributions to society. Finally, exploratory experiences acquaint students with enriching, healthy leisure-time pursuits. Therefore, in the spring, all middle school staff and community and parent volunteers offer four one-hour activities such as walking, bike riding, chess, and puppetry together with approximately 50 other choices for students. All the activities are designed to expand students’ knowledge and interest and to help them develop healthy leisure activities.

Titusville High School has been accredited by the Middle States Association for more than 75 years and maintains an academic standing comparable to many larger schools in Pennsylvania. Students in the senior high school may elect to follow an academic, arts, business education or vocational-technical curriculum. Students choosing the traditional four years of college preparatory study frequently acknowledge that their teachers prepare them well to compete academically at the college level. Business education students acquire proficiency in office skills and machines throughout their experience, which allows many of these students to be placed in cooperative job settings. Vocational students may choose to enhance their vocational education at the Venango Technology Center located in Oil City. For those who prefer to stay at the high school, career-based curricula in Art, Computer Programming, Family and Consumer Sciences and Technical Education are available. The administration and staff are developing a transition program for incoming ninth graders to ease the challenges of moving from the middle school to the high school setting. Integration of the various curricular areas has also been an area of focus. The schedule is designed to accommodate the integration of English and social studies on several levels, as well as advanced math, physics and technology education. Computers and other types of technology are available across the curriculum for students.

Extra-Curricular and Co-Curricular activities

A strong athletic program and a wide variety of extra- and co-curricular activities balance the many classroom activities. Facilities provided and maintained by the district include: Carter Field, a lighted and playing field and running track; Titusville High School Natatorium, complete with an Olympic-sized swimming pool; Colestock Auditorium, a gift bestowed in 1931 from Mary Colestock; two fitness centers; a resistance-training room; a weight room; and several gymnasiums, located at various buildings throughout the district. Opportunities exist for students to participate in intramural games and interscholastic competition in a variety of athletic activities. Students are also encouraged to participate in clubs as well as academically competitive organizations.

Student Support services

The commitment to providing students with support necessary to help them develop into successful students and productive young adults is clearly reflected through the district’s many outstanding support programs. The Student Assistance Program is the cornerstone of the programming and activities. Through student assistance, at-risk behaviors are identified and assessed for each student referral, and with parental cooperation interventions to address student issues are put into place. Under the student assistance umbrella of programs, the district has implemented anti-bullying, peer helpers/mentoring, peer tutoring, substance abuse prevention and intervention, character education, advisory teams, crisis response teams, grief support, academic support activities, just to list a few. A vital concern of the district is the health, safety and welfare of the students. The programs offered through student support services are designed to promote overall wellness which also supports academic success.

Programs for Non-Traditional Learners and Alternative Education Program

Once the student is identified by the administration a referral will be made to the Student Assistance Program teams. A cooperative effort will be formed with both the middle and high school teams being represented that focuses on a collaborative effort to assist the students being referred. This team will review the student’s behavior, academics and situations that the student is having difficulties with in the traditional school. This process will become the gateway for the student in and out of the Titusville Area School District Alternative Education Program

Adult Education Program

The district has also made a strong commitment to non-traditional learners within the community. This is evidenced by the adult diploma program offered by the district in collaboration with the Crawford County READ Program. The adult diploma program offers any returning adult student the chance to earn an official Titusville High School diploma using a combination of GED study and more advanced district standards, which are closely aligned to the Pennsylvania Chapter Four Standards.

School Affiliates

Affiliate organizations operating in conjunction with the Titusville Area School District include the Titusville Leisure Services and the Titusville Alumni Association. Leisure Services offers adult continuing education and various recreational programs at their facilities, which include the Dick Kraffert Swimming Pool and the Ed Myer Complex. Topics of interest include computer courses, aerobics, cake decorating, synchronized swimming, stamping, arts and crafts, woodworking, recreational volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer, among others.

The Titusville Alumni Association founded in 1996 typifies the Titusville Area School District spirit by providing opportunities for Titusville alumni to “stay in touch” with their hometown. The Alumni Association operates an office located in Fisher Lobby at the high school where people returning to the area can learn about their former classmates and enjoy viewing a large display of memorabilia. A newsletter, Titusville Alumni News, is mailed several times each year to approximately 9,000 Titusville High School and St. Joseph’s Academy graduates and is filled with community and alumni information.

Community Partnerships and collaborations

Over the last several yearswhen, the district has renewed its commitment to be a positive force within the Titusville community. Recently, the district has instituted a Coordinated School Health Council in conjunction with the Titusville Area Hospital, the PA Department of Health, the United Way and other community organizations. Other partnerships exist with the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the Genesis Family Center, Head Start, Benson Memorial Library, and Drake Well Museum. Through these partnerships and the service learning curriculum, many students have learned the importance of volunteerism and making a commitment to the community in which they live. Businesses, community agencies, and individuals have also assisted the school district by serving as members of various advisory boards, committees, and parent groups.

The district remains dedicated to the growth and progress of the greater Titusville community. It is the hope of the Titusville Area School District that through on-going efforts the school system can continue to evolve into a true center for community learning.

External links

* [http://www.gorockets.org GoRockets.org]