Cumberland Valley School District - Budget

Budget

In 2011, the board and teachers' union arrived at an agreement on a four year, teachers' employment contract that includes an average salary increases of 3.15 percent each year. In 2011, the average teacher salary in Cumberland Valley School District was $54,803 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $15,660 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $70,463.77. The district employed 608 teachers and administrators with a top salary of $156,825. 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 2009, Cumberland Valley School District employed over 600 teachers with an average salary of $53,067 for 180 days of student instruction day. Teachers work an 8 hour day. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, 3 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days which accumulate, life insurance, retirement bonus and other benefits. 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.

In 2007, the district employed 505 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $49,738 for 180 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.

Cumberland Valley School District administrative costs per pupil was $534.98 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. School Superintendent Harner was awarded a beginning salary of $150,000 when he was hired in 2008. This was the second highest superintendent salary out of the 28 school districts in the region. The Pennsylvania School Board Association tracks salaries for Pennsylvania public school employees. It reports that in 2008 the average superintendent salary in Pennsylvania was $122,165.

In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $4,689,529.00 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $6,578,986.00.

In November 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the administration and school board.

In 2008 the district reported spending $12,902 per pupil which ranked 184th among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. The district's low student spending coupled with high academic achievement was lauded by the state's Costing Out Study in 2007.

In June 2011, the Cumberland Valley School Board approved a $99 million budget.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax - 1.6%, a local real property tax, a real estate transfer tax, and a per capita tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. 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 retiree's wealth level. 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.

Current budget information may be found on the district's web site at www.cvschools.org/business.

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