Bloomsburg Area School District - Budget

Budget

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Bloomsburg Area School District was $49,046.17 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $12,622.96 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $61,669. 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 reported employing 158 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $50,022 and a top salary of $99,000. The teacher’s work day is 7.5 hours with a 30 minute duty free lunch and a preparation period. The teachers work 207 days, with 182 student instructional days. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. The Bloomsburg Area Teachers Union is given 10 paid days to conduct union business.

In 2007, Bloomsburg Area School District employed 132 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $48,412 for 180 days worked. 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, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and other benefits. The contract expires in June 2011. According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year Pennsylvania public school educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.

On September 18, 2009, a hearing was held at the Bloomsburg Area School District, by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board regarding an impasse between the Bloomsburg Area Educational Support Professionals Association and the Board of Education. A fact finding report was issued by the labor board.

Bloomsburg Area School District administrative costs per pupil were $651.64 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In 2004, the school board awarded a five year superintendent contract to James T. Kelly with a salary of $92,500 and annual raise of $1,500. Additionally, an extensive benefits package was provided. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the school board association, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007–08 school year was $122,165.

Reserves – In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $3,024,594.00.

In 2008, the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $11,671 which ranked 320th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending was $11,647.20 which ranked 437th in Pennsylvania.

In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the school administration and school board. It found that a teacher had a lapsed certification.

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. 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.