Dover Area School District - Budget

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing 351 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $39,277 to $135,200. Teachers earn extra pay for duties such as advising the clubs, writing curriculum or coaching athletics teams. That amount ranges from several hundred dollars a year to a few thousand. When a team progresses past the regular season the coaches are paid additional dollars for each week the teams continues to play. All of this is stipulated in the teachers' union contract at each district. Additionally, the district teacher union contract includes seven levels, from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate. A teacher with five years of experience and a doctorate would make about $7,500 more than one with the same experience and a master's degree. A teacher who achieves a higher level of education receives a raise in step pay and then the annual raise, as well. The school contract year is 190 days. In addition to salary, the teachers receive an extensive benefits package which includes: health insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, a defined benefit pension, 10 paid sick and 2-3 paid personal days, reimbursement for college courses and more.

In 2007, Dover Area School District employed 214 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $54,777 for 180 days worked. The average teacher salary in York County was $53,918. In 2007, the district's starting salary was $34,865 and the top teacher salary was $72.365.

• PA Teacher Profiles Database 2008-09

The teachers' union contract expired in June 2009. A new contract is under negotiation. According to the state fact finder's report the union demands include a 5% annual raise for 6 years retroactive to 2009, while the school board is offering 3% each year for three years. The union is also seeking a half-hour reduction in the workday for teachers. The union voted in favor of the report. The school board rejected it.

Dover Area School District administrative costs was $685 per pupil in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 in 2008. In 2007, the Average District Administrator salary in Dover Area School District was $90,681. The Average School Administrator salary in Dover Area School District was $78,574 which ranked was the median school administrator salary in York County. In July 2007, the Dover Area School Board awarded a five year contract to Robert Krantz as Superintendent. The contract expires June 30, 2012 In 2009 the school district reported Krantz's salary as $129,875.

Reserves - In 2008, the Dover Area School Board reported a $4,148,046.00 in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero. In 2009-10 school year, Dover Area Reported a end of year fund balance of $7.2 million.

According to an extensive study of York County school districts conducted by APA Associates in 2008, Dover Area School District achieved a +9 rating based on Performance and Relative Efficiency. Central York School District and Northeastern York School District ranked +10 and 11 of 16 York County districts achieved a positive rating.

In 2008, Dover Area School District reported spending $11,312 per pupil which ranked 364th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $12,179.03 Among the states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.

In January 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the school district. Findings of irregularities were reported to the school board members and the school administration.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1.40%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.50%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can 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 individual's level of wealth.