Budget
In 2009, the district reported employing 1,399 teachers with an average salary of $55,986 for 180 student instruction days. The highest salary was $156,832 while the starting salary was $41,206. In 2008 the union and school board agreed to a five-year contract which set annual raises at 4.5%. In addition the teachers receive: a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, several paid personal days, 10 paid sick days which accumulate, paid bereavement leave days and many other benefits. According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
In 2007, the Allentown City School District employed 897 teachers working 180 days pupil instruction. The average teacher salary in the district was $54,317. The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania was $49,596. 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.
In 2008, per pupil spending at Allentown City School District was ranked 475th in the state at $10,012 for each child.
In 2008, the Allentown City School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $1.8 million and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $3,112,620.
In December 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit on the district. Several serious findings were reported to the school board and administration.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local tax on income, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants have provided an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of wealth.
Read more about this topic: Allentown School District
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