Budget
In 2009, the district reported employing 225 teachers, with a salary range of $33,000 to $103,200. The median teacher salary was $55,280.
In 2007, the district employed 210 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $53,015for 180 days and 6 inservice days worked. They were the second highest paid teachers in the county. 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, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance (district pays the full cost of the BS/BC plan), dental insurance, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 5 paid bereavement days, 10 paid sick days, and many other benefits.The district offers an Early retirement incentive that includes health insurance coverage.
Laurel Highlands School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $623 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007-08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported zero in an unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,525,406.
In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,261 which ranked 370th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $11,955.62
In October 2011, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school board and administration. Among the serious issues noted was a failure to write and retain Board Meeting official minutes in violation of Pennsylvania Public School Code. Board members approved minutes, without having a copy of the minutes to read first.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned 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. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless the of individual's wealth.
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