Gettysburg Area School District - Budget

Budget

In 2007, the Gettysburg Area School District employed 233 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $54,489 for 180 days worked. In addition to a defined benefit pension, the district pays retiring teachers a bonus for giving the district 90 days notice of the intent to retire. The maximum benefit is a $16,000 lump sum payment. In 2009, the district employs over 300 teachers with a salary range of $42,000 to $131,043. The average teacher's salary is $60,000.

The district's administrative costs per pupil was $813.35 in 2008. This ranked 180th in Pennsylvania for administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. In January 2007, the Gettysburg Area School Board awarded a three year contract to William Hall with an initial salary of $120,000 and an extensive benefits package that includes health insurance, Taxpayer pays up to $5,000 moving expenses, dues, conferences, travel per policy, and a defined benefit pension. In 2011, the Pennsylvania Auditor General notified the school district that it will be investigating the recent superintendent buyout that includes a severance package costing over $500,000, including paying two years’ salary, at $135,630 a year and paying the mortgage on Hall's home, which he purchased in 2009 from the district’s Tech Prep program. In October 2010, the Gettysburg Area School Board named Larry R. Redding as Acting Superintendent. In March 2011, the board officially promoted Redding to Superintendent.

In 2008, the district's per pupil spending was $13,414. This ranked 142nd in 500 Pennsylvania public school districts.

In 2011 the district continued to reduce staffing due to a decline in student enrollment. 24 positions were eliminated. The Superintendent reported that kindergarten enrollment has been at a lower level for the past 5 years.

Reserves - In 2008, the district reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $2,944,403.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $7,279,155.00. In 2010 the reserves had increased to an unreserved designated fund balance of $5,930,484.00 and a unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $8,308,225.

In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the school board and administration.

In 2011, the school board approved the issuing of general obligation bonds totaling $37.3 million. The money raised will be used to fund various district projects including the demolition and construction of a new middle school ($35 million), the construction of the Adams County Tech Prep building ($4.2 million), and demolition of Keefauver Elementary ($350,000) as well as $7.97 million worth of additions and renovations to Lincoln, Franklin Township and James Gettys elementary schools.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, 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.