Chichester High School - Budget

Budget

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Chichester School District has risen to $62,791.32 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $16,333.76 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $79,125.08. 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.

In 2010, the district reported employing over 393 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $41,200 to $150,800 for 190 days worked. The average salary was $64,327.

In 2007, the district employed 243 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $56,642 for 190 days worked. 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. Teachers are required to work 7 hours 30 minutes per school day with a paid, duty free 45 minute lunch break. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance (teacher pays 11% of cost), dental insurance, $50,000 in life insurance, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days (which accumulate), 3 days bereavement leave and other benefits. Teachers who assist in the District New Teacher Induction Plan receive an extra $1,500. When a teacher retires, the district pays for health insurance for five years, and a maximum $25,000 retirement bonus. The union's President may take 3 instructional periods per week to conduct union business.

CHichester School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $702.51 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps 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.

Reserves In 2008, the district reported $1,039,420 in a unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $4,905,842. In 2009-10 the unreserved designated fund balance was $1,448,711.00 and the undesignated unreserved fund had $4,565,000.00. PA 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.

In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $16,261 which ranked 37th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $17,624.45.

In December 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Serious findings regarding school bus drivers lacking proper documentation were reported to the school board and administration.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of personal wealth.