Budget
As part of the 2011-12 school year, the elected school board eliminated over 150 teachers, 22 administrators and 39 support staff through closing buildings and transferring control of the preschool program to Capital Area Head Start. Hamilton School, Lincoln School and Shimmel School were closed due to low student enrollment coupled with significant budget constraints for the district.
In 2010, the district laid off 23 administrators as a part of school consolidations and a budget shortfall plan.
In 2009, the district employed over 800 teachers with a salary range of $40,590 to $204,790. Additionally, the teachers receive: a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, paid sick days, life insurance 5 paid bereavement leave days, 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.
The district reported spending $16,447 per pupil, in 2008, which ranked 35th among all of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts.
In 2007, the district employed 651 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $52,073 for 180 days worked. The district ranked third in Dauphin County for average teacher salary in 2007. 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.
Harrisburg City School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $856 per pupil which ranked 137 in the state for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. 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 In March 2010, Mayor Thompson and the board of control rescinded the contract of Gerald Kohn. He had been paid a $235,431 annual salary.
In April 2008, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Multiple findings were reported to the Board of Control and the school district administration.
- Reserves
In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of -$592,184.00.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, and grants, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In Pennsylvania, both pension income and social security income are exempt from Pennsylvania personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the level of income.
Read more about this topic: Harrisburg School District (Pennsylvania)
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