Elk Lake School District - Budget

Budget

In 2009, the district reports employing over 130 teachers with a starting salary of $35,500 for 180 days for pupil instruction. The average teacher salary was $52,602 while the maximum salary is $96,915. 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, Elk Lake School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, dismemberment insurance,life insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 sick days, bereavement leave - 3 days, additional emergency leave with pay and other benefits. Teachers are paid extra if they are required to work outside of the regular school day. Sabbatical leaves pay 50% of salary. 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 2007, the district employed 100 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $50,132 for 180 school days worked. This was the highest average teacher salary by district in Susquehanna County in 2007.

Elk Lake School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $774.10 per pupil. The district is ranked 230th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008, Elk Lak School District reported spending $11,796 per pupil. This ranked 296th in the commonwealth.

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported $1,469,219in a unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as $367,305.

In January 2010, 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 0.5%, 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.