Pottsville Area School District - Budget

Budget

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Pottsville Area School District was $53,738.71 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $15,382.53 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $69,121.24. According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.

In 2009, the district reports employing over 250 teachers with a starting salary of $35,081. The average teacher salary was $52,501 while the maximum salary is $128,742. In Pennsylvania, the average teacher salary for Pennsylvania's 124,100 public school teachers was $54,977 in 2008. 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, Pottsville Area School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, income protection insurance, 3 paid personal days, 5 paid bereavement days, sabbatical leave (1/2 pay with full benefits) and 10 sick days, life insurance health insurance for retirees and other benefits. 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 181 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $53,777 for 180 school days worked. This is the highest paid teachers in Schuylkill County.

Pottsville Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $575 per pupil. The district is ranked 465th out of 500 in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008, Pottsville Area School District reported spending $9,642 per pupil. This ranked 466th in the commonwealth. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $11,370.23 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. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year year 2000-01.

Reserves

In 2009, the district reported a $11,587,789 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero. In 2010, Pottsville Area Administration reported an increase to $14,243,148 in the unreserved-undesignated fund balance. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.

In December 11, 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. The District receives substantial funding in the form of tuition payments from Saint Clair Area School District for their grades 9-12 students to attend Pottsvile Area HIgh School. 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.