Mount Carmel Area School District

For other schools with the same name, see Mount Carmel High School.

Mount Carmel Area School District
Address
600 West 5th Street Mount Carmel, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, 17851 United States
Information
School board	9 elected members
Administrator	Mrs.Monica McKerns-O'Donnell director of special ed
Director	Mrs.Lisa Varano director of curriculum and instruction
Principal	Mrs.Donna Veach ES
Principal	Mr.Greg Sacavage HS
Grades	K-12
Kindergarten	187
Grade 1	99
Grade 2	119
Grade 3	96
Grade 4	115
Grade 5	141
Grade 6	101
Grade 7	92
Grade 8	125
Grade 9	142
Grade 10	120
Grade 11	144
Grade 12	113
Other	Enrollment declining to 1568 by 2019[1]
Mascot	Tornadoes
Website	http://www.mca.k12.pa.us/

Mount Carmel Area School District is a small, suburban, public school district in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It serves Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Marion Heights, and Mount Carmel Township in Northumberland County, as well as the borough of Centralia in Columbia County, with one elementary school and one high school. The Mount Carmel Area School District encompasses approximately 24 square miles. According to 2000 local census data, it serves a resident population of 12,815. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $15,294, while the median family income was $35,239. ^[2]Per school district officials, in school year 2007-08 the Mount Carmel Area School District provided basic educational services to 1,695 pupils through the employment of 120 teachers, 136 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 4 administrators. The Mount Carmel Area School District received more than $10.9 million in state funding, for school year 2007-08.

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.^[3] 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 "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.^[4]

Academic achievement

In 2011, the school district ranked 309th out of 498 Pennsylvania districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking is based on five years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and three years of science. ^[5]

• 2010 - 371st ^[6]
• 2009 - 365th
• 2008 - 315th
• 2007 - 328th out of 501 Pennsylvania school districts according to the Pittsburgh Business Times in May 2007. ^[7]

Graduation Rate:

In 2011, the graduation rate was 94%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4 year cohort graduation rate. Benton Area High School's rate was 76% for 2010. ^[8]

Former formula AYP graduation rate:

• 2010 - 93% ^[9]
• 2009 - 92% ^[10]
• 2008 - 90%
• 2007 - 90% ^[11]

High school

PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

• 2011 - 68% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 66% of 11th graders on grade level. Ranks 10th out of 19 CSIU region eleventh grades for reading in 2011. ^[12]
• 2010 - 72%, State - 66% of 11th graders on grade level.
• 2009 - 56%, State - 65% ^[13]
• 2008 - 48%, State - 65%
• 2007 - 67%, State - 65%^[14]

11th Grade Math

• 2011 - 59% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 60% of 11th graders are on grade level. Ranks 12th out of 19 CSIU region eleventh grades for reading in 2011. ^[15]
• 2010 - 63%, State - 59% ^[16]
• 2009 - 50%, State - 56% ^[17]
• 2008 - 48%, State - 56%
• 2007 - 55%, State - 53%

11th Grade Science

• 2011 - 39%, State - 40%. Ranks 11th out of 19 CSIU region eleventh grades for reading in 2011.^[18]
• 2010 - 39%, State - 39%
• 2009 - 29%, State - 40%
• 2008 - 21%, State - 39% ^[19]

College remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 21% of Mount Carmel Area School District 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.^[20]

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 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.^[21] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.^[22] For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $9634 for the program.

Mount Carmel Junior High School

In 2011, the school achieved AYP status. In 2010 the school was in Making Progress: in School Improvement I AYP status. In 2009, the school was in Did Not Make AYP School Improvement I status. ^[23]

Eighth Grade

8th Grade Reading: 2011 - 86.6% on grade level (6% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 81.8% of 8th graders on grade level. [24] 2010 - 87%, State - 82% 2009 - 77%, State - 80% [25] 2008 - 78%, State - 78% 2007 - 81%, State - 75%

8th Grade Math: 2011 - 87.7% on grade level (2% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 76.9% of 8th graders are on grade level. [26] 2010 - 82%, State - 75% 2009 - 59%, State - 71%. Ranked 18th out of 18 eighth grades in the CSIU16 region.[27] 2008 - 78%, State - 70% [28] 2007 - 71%, State - 68%

8th Grade Science:

• 2011 - 59.6% on grade level (16% below basic). State – 58.3% of 8th graders were on grade level. ^[29]

2010 - 54%, State - 57% 2009 - 53%, State - 54% 2008 - 53%, State - 52%^[30] The eighth grade ranked 13th out of 19 Central Pennsylvania IU16 schools for science scores in 2008.^[31]

Seventh Grade

7th Grade Reading: 2011 - 79.1% on grade level (5% below basic). State – 76% 2010 - 81%, State - 73% 2009 - 67%, State - 71% [32] 2008 - 61% (22% below basic), State - 70% 2007 - 67% (15% below basic), State - 67%

7th Grade Math: 2011 - 73.5% on grade level (12% below basic). State - 78.6% 2010 - 89%, (4% below basic). State - 78% 2009 - 78% (11% below basic), State - 75% 2008 - 60% (22% below basic), State - 71% 2007 - 74% (11% below basic), State - 67%

Elementary Schools

Mount Carmel Area Elementary School achieved AYP status in 2010 and 2011. The attendance rate was 94% in both years.^[33]

6th Grade Reading: 2011 - 70.4% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 69.9% of 6th graders are on grade level. 2010 - 64.9%, State - 68% 2009 - 74%, State - 67% 2008 - 71%, State - 67% 2007 - 63.7%, State - 63%

6th Grade Math: 2011 - 88.9% on grade level. State - 78.8% 2010 - 82.7%, State - 78% 2009 - 79.3%, State - 75% 2008 - 78%, State - 72% 2007 - 67.5%, State - 69%

5th Grade Reading: 2011 - 72% on grade level (10.8% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 67.3% . Ranks 18th among 29 5th grades in CSIU16 region. 2010 - 69.3% (% below basic). State – 64% 2009 - 48.4% (% below basic), State - 64% 2008 - 70% (% below basic), State - 62% 2007 - 61% (% below basic), State - 60%

5th Grade Math: 2011 - 86.4% on grade level 55% advanced. State - 74% Ranks 11th among 29 5th grades in CSIU16 region. 2010 - 85.8%, 55% advanced. State - 76.3% 2009 - 60.2%, 26.9% advanced. State - 73% 2008 - 81% (6% below basic), State - 73% 2007 - 72% (10% below basic), State - 71%

4th Grade Reading 2011 - 79.6%, State – 73.3% [34] 2010 - 77.5%, State - 73% 2009 - 68.5%, State - 72% 2008 - 76%, State - 70% 2007 - 72%, State - 60%

4th Grade Math 2011 - 95.6%, 66% advanced. State – 85.3% 2010 - 95.3%, 67% advanced. State - 84% 2009 - 85.1%, 52% advanced. State - 81% 2008 - 78%, State - 80% 2007 - 82.1%, State - 78%

4th Grade Science

• 2011 - 100%, 89.9% advanced. State – 82.9% ^[35]
• 2010 - 93.6%, 63% advanced. State - 81%
• 2009 - 81.9%, 45% advanced. State - 83%
• 2008 - 82.3%, State - 81%

3rd Grade Reading 2011 - 92.5%, 34% advanced. State – 77.2% [36] 2010 - 74.4%, State - 75% 2009 - 82.2%, State - 77% 2008 - 80.6%, State - 70% 2007 - 76.8%, State - 72%

3rd Grade Math 2011 - 96.2%, 60% advanced. State – 83.5% 2010 - 93%, State - 84% 2009 - 89.7%, State - 81% 2008 - 88.1%, State - 80% 2007 - 86.3%, State - 78%

Budget

In 2007, the district employed 108 teachers who earned an average teacher salary of $38,246 for 180 days worked.^[37] 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.^[38] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.^[39] According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.^[40]

The district administrative costs per pupil were $553.68 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.^[41]

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. By Pennsylvania law, pension income and social security income are exempt from Pennsylvania personal income tax and from local earned income tax, regardless of the level of income.

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district will receive $7,713,150 in state Basic Education Funding. ^{[42] [43]} Additionally, the district will receive $124,089 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.^[44] Districts experienced a reduction in funding due to the loss of federal stimulus funding which ended in 2011.

In 2010, the district reported that 915 pupils received a free or reduced lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For the 2010-11 budget year, the Mount Carmel Area School District received a 5.92% increase, in state basic education funding, for a total of $8,013,204. The highest increase in state funding, among Northumberland County school districts, was awarded to [[Milton Area School District at 6.46% increase. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received the 2% base increase for budget year 2010-11. The highest increase in the state went to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which was awarded a 23.65% increase, in state basic education funding. ^[45]

In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 6.23% increase in Basic Education Funding, to the district for a total of $8,013,205. The state Basic Education funding to the district in 2008-09 was $7,543,570.75 According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 877 students received free or reduced lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.^[46] The district also received supplemental funding for: Title I (federal funding for low income students), for district size, a poverty supplement from the Commonwealth and more. In Pennsylvania, the highest state funding increase was 22.31% to Muhlenberg School District.^[47]

Accountability Block Grant

The state provides additional education funding to schools in the form of Accountability Block Grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses designed to improve student academic achievement. Mount Carmel Area School District uses its $336,809 to fund all day kindergarten for the sixth year and a taxpayer funded preschool program. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding and all federal funding. ^[48] School Districts apply each year for Accountability Block Grants. ^[49] In 2009-10, the state provided $271.4 million dollars in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all day kindergartens. ^[50]

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, Mathematics) and paid for mandatory teacher training to optimize the computers' use in the classroom for improving instruction. The program was funded from 2006-2009. Mount Carmel Area School District administration applied but was denied the grant in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the district received $$162,473 in funding. For the 2008-09, school year the district received a final $45,413 for a total funding of $207,886. Of the 501 public school districts in Pennsylvania, 447 of them received Classrooms for the Future grant awards. ^[51]

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 Mount Carmel Area School District did not apply for funding.^[52]

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received $1,469,207 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.^[53] This was in addition to all regular, annual state and federal funding. This funding is fer the 2009-2001 school years.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district millions in additional federal dollars for committing to improve student academic achievement.^[54] To participate the administration, school board and teachers' union were required to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. ^[55] In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. ^[56] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. According to then Governor Rendell, failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. ^[57]

Common Cents state initiative

The Mount Carmel Area School District School Board chose 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.^[58] After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real Estate Taxes

In 2011, the Mount Carmel Area School Board set the property taxes rate at 40.4700 mills for Northumberland County residents and 19.2100 for Columbia County residents, for the 2011-12 school year. ^[59] A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. 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. 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. 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. ^[60] School districts located in more than one county are required to apportion the tax levy based on the market value in each county as determined by the State Tax Equalization Board pursuant to section 672.1 of the School Code. As a result, the tax rate increases are not the same for each county in a multi-county school district.^[61]

• 2010-11 - Northumberland County 40.4700 mills and Columbia County 19.0400 mills.^[62]
• 2009-10 - Northumberland County 40.2670 mills and Columbia County 21.4174 mills ^{[63] [64]}
• 2008-09 - Northumberland County 38.2600 mills and Columbia County 31.6600 mills ^[65]
• 2007-08 - Northumberland County 30.2600 mills and Columbia County 18.6000 mills ^[66]

Act 1 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 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: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increasing rising health care costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or declining 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. ^[67] With the 2011 state education budget, the General Assembly voted to end most of the Act 1 exceptions leaving only special education costs and pension costs. The cost of construction projects will go to the voters for approval via ballot referendum. ^[68]

The School District Adjusted Index for the Shamokin Area School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012. ^[69]

• 2006–07 – 5.7%, Base 3.9%
• 2007–08 – 5.0%, Base 3.4%
• 2008–09 – 6.5%, Base 4.4%
• 2009–10 – 6.1%, Base 4.1%
• 2010–11 – 4.3%, Base 2.9%
• 2011–12 – 2.1%, Base 1.4% ^{[70] [71]}
• 2012-13 - 2.6%, Base - 1.7%

For the 2011-12 school year, the Mount Carmel Area School Board applied for 2 exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: pension costs and special education costs. ^[72] Each year the Mount Carmel Area 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 publisher each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. ^[73]

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. ^[74]

Mount Carmel Area School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budgets in 2009-10, nor in 2010-11.^{[75] [76]}

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. ^[77]

Property tax relief

In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Mount Carmel Area School District was $76 per approved permanent primary residence. This was among the lowest amounts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the district, 2926 property owners applied for the 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption.

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.

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%).^[78]

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility to participate is set in school board policy. The Mount Carmel Area School District is a Division I member of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference. ^[79]

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. ^[80]

References

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2. ^ American Fact Finder, US Census Bureau, 2009
3. ^ Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010
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78. ^ New Census Data on Property Taxes on Homeowners, Tax Foundation, September 22, 2009.
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External links

• Mount Carmel Area School District