Easton Area School District - Budget

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing over 430 teachers with a starting salary of $40,000 for 180 days of pupil instruction. The average teacher salary was $57,439 while the maximum salary is $146,103. 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. Additionally, Easton Area School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 sick days and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra when they are required to work outside of the regular school day. According to State Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System Board, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.

In May 2011, the district school board and the teachers' union revised the employment contract. Under the new agreement, there is a one year freeze in wages in exchange for no teacher layoffs. Additionally, the contract was extended by two years, making it in effect until August 2015. The new agreement is reported to save $28.7 million over the next four years

In 2007, the district employed 587 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $49,442 for 180 school days worked.

Easton Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $727.68 per pupil. The district is ranked 276th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008, Easton Area School District reported spending $13,262 per pupil. This ranked 153rd in the commonwealth.

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported $9,759,829 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $16,121,366.

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

The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, 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 and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax regardless of the individual's wealth.