Budget
The school district realizes $100,000 in royalty payments from the drilling of Marcellus shale.
In 2009, the district reports employing over 100 teachers with a starting salary of $31,650 for 183 days (180 days for pupil instruction). The average teacher salary was $56,422 while the maximum salary is $99,600. The teachers work 7 hours and 15 minutes, including a prep period and a paid lunch period. Teachers are paid 1.5 times their salary for time worked past the contracted hours. 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, Bethlehem-Center School District teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, 4 paid personal days, 10 sick days which accumulate, 4 paid bereavement days and other benefits. Teacher with the district for more than one year are eligible for a one year paid (50%) sabbatical leave (with insurance benefits). Teachers receive a terminal leave payment which includes payment for unused sick days. This benefit is paid to beneficiaries in the event of death. The district provides the teachers' union with 8 paid days to perform union business, including travel outside the district. The union pays for a substitute teacher. 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 Bethlehem-Center School District employed 99 teachers and the average teacher salary in the district was $47,621 for 180 days worked.
The district administrative costs in 2008 were $655.09 per pupil. This ranked 377th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In June 2010, the school board agreed to the following compensation for the Superintendent of schools: 2010-11 $110,000.00; 2011–12 $113,000.00; 2012-13 $116,000.00; 2013–14 $119,000.00. The compensation is not tied to academic performance or budget management goals.
In 2008, Bethlehem-Center School District reported spending $13,480 per pupil. This ranked 137th in the commonwealth.
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 income level.
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