Redbank Valley School District: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|School district in Pennsylvania}} |
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{{Infobox School |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} |
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| name = Redbank Valley School District |
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| native_name = |
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{{Infobox school district |
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| latin_name = |
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| name = Redbank Valley School District |
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| image = Map of Clarion County Pennsylvania School Districts.png |
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| imagesize = 300 px |
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| caption = |
| caption = |
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| location = New Bethlehem, PA |
| location = New Bethlehem, PA |
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| streetaddress = |
| streetaddress = 920 Broad Street |
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| region = |
| region = |
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| city = New Bethlehem |
| city = New Bethlehem |
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| state = Pennsylvania |
| state = Pennsylvania |
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| zipcode = 16242 |
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| country = United States |
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| coordinates = |
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| type = |
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| mascot = Bulldog |
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| mascot image = |
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| colors = Red & White |
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| established = |
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| footnotes = |
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| picture = |
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| schoolboard = [http://www.redbankvalley.net/district/school-board.html 9 Elected Representatives] |
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| website= http://www.redbankvalley.net/ |
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| district = |
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| authority = |
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| oversight = |
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| affiliation = |
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| superintendent = Michael Drzewiecki |
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| trustee = |
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| founder = |
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| specialist = |
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| president = Dr. Chad Shaffer |
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| head of school = |
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| headteacher = |
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| head_label = |
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| head = |
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| chairperson = |
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| principal = |
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| principal1 = Mrs. Amy Rupp (7-12) |
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| principal2 = Mrs. Sue Ann Boyles (3-6) |
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| principal3 = Mrs. Cheryl McCauley (K-2) |
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| principal4 = |
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| viceprincipal = |
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| asst principal = |
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| assistant_principals = |
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| dean = Mr. Tom Logan |
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| administrator = |
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| rector = |
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| chaplain = |
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| director = |
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| custodian = John Sayers |
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| staff = 159 |
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| ranking = |
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| testaverage = |
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| state_ranking = 469/676 |
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| classes = |
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| classes offered = |
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| avg_class_size = 90 |
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| ratio = |
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| schooltype = |
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| fundingtype = |
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| type = Public |
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| system = |
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| fees = |
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| tuition = 10219.57 (HS), 9064.59 ( Elem.) |
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| revenue = 2090 per. (Fed. 2011; K-12) |
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| endowment = |
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| budget = $17,489,000.76 (2014-2015) |
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| enrolment = 1,137 |
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| products = |
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| grades = K-12 |
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| age range = 5-21 |
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| Hours_in_a_Primary_Day = 6.25 Hours |
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| Hours_in_an_Intermediate_Day = 6.25 Hours |
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| Hours_in_High_School_Day = 6.75 Hours |
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| athletics = |
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| conference = District-9 |
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| slogan = |
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| song = |
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| fightsong = "The Hey Song" |
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| motto = |
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| accreditation = |
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| rival = Union Golden Knights (Historically) |
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| mascot = Bulldog |
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| mascot image = |
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| sports = See [[Redbank Valley School District#Extracurricular|Extracurricular]] |
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| patron = |
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| team_name = Bulldogs, Lady Bulldogs |
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| nickname = |
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| colours = |
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| colors = Red & White |
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| yearbook = |
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| publication = [http://redbankvalleynews.com "The Bark"] |
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| newspaper = |
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| opened = |
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| established = |
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| founded = |
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| closed = |
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| students = |
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| sixth_form_students = |
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| pupils = |
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| alumni = |
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| nobel_laureates = |
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| enrollment = 1,137 |
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| gradeK = |
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| grade1 = |
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| other_grade_label = |
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| other = |
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| communities = |
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| feeders = |
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| free_label = |
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| footnotes = |
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| picture = |
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| homepage = http://www.redbankvalley.net/ |
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}} |
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[[File:Map of Armstrong County Pennsylvania School Districts.png|thumb|right|Redbank Valley School District region in Armstrong County]] |
[[File:Map of Armstrong County Pennsylvania School Districts.png|thumb|right|Redbank Valley School District region in Armstrong County]] |
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'''Redbank Valley School District''' ('''RVSD''' or '''Redbank)''' is a public school district in [[Western Pennsylvania]]. Spanning 165 square miles of the mountainous terrain of the [[Allegheny Plateau]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://redbankvalley.org/pg/biz/redbank-valley-school-district|title=Redbank Valley School District|last=|first=|date=2020|website=RedbankValley.org|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref> the district rests on the southern boundary of the [https://visitpago.com/ Pennsylvania Great Outdoors] region. It is the largest district in its county by both population and land area. Redbank Valley athletes compete in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference as part of [[Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association|PIAA's]] [[PIAA District 9|District IX]] in eight of its nine programs. With the second largest auditorium and performing arts stage in Clarion County (second to that of [[Clarion University of Pennsylvania|Clarion University]]), the district hosts various school and community events throughout the year attracting thousands of attendees. The district's academics and student body have been frequently featured on national network news programs such as CBN's ''[[The 700 Club]]'' and [[Nightline|''ABC News'' ''Nightline'']]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYI_ychRnL7sJrG6PUSBpQA|title=On Fire for God: Public School Bible Clubs Spread|last=Robertson|first=Pat|date=29 May 2013|website=Christian Broadcasting Network|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/pa-students-mock-election-captures-provocative-real-election-43266440|title=PA Students' Mock Election Captures Provocative Real Election Snapshot|last=Harris|first=Dan|date=2016|website=ABC|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref>'''''.''''' Other notable features include a large and active bible club, with nearly two-thirds of the student population attending throughout the year,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Strand|first=Paul|url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/April/Lessons-in-Faith-Bible-Club-Puts-God-Back-in-School|title=Lessons in Faith: Bible Club Puts God Back in School|date=8 October 2014|work=Christian Broadcasting Network|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref> and a state awarded chapter of [[FBLA-PBL|Future Business Leaders of America]]. In addition, the school district is also the no. 23 employer in the county with over 100 employees,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rossetti|first=Chris|url=https://www.exploreclarion.com/2018/01/05/here-are-the-top-50-employers-in-clarion-county/|title=Here Are the Top 50 Employers in Clarion County|date=5 January 2018|work=exploreClarion|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref> while maintaining the largest general budget expenditures and reserve fund of all county school districts.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gerow|first=John|url=https://redbankvalley.org/board-approves-2019-2020-budget-tax-increases/|title=School Board Approves 2019-2020 Budget; Tax Increases|date=2019|work=RedbankValley.org|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref> |
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'''Redbank Valley School District History''' |
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== Area served == |
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Over the last many decades, Redbank Valley has been known throughout the surrounding counties as prestige institution of education. The Redbank Valley High School (RVHS) athletics, education, and arts programs have been recognized throughout surrounding districts and communities. RVHS's "Bulldog Marching Band" was, at one point, the No. 1 marching band in the state, competing and placing high in both the North American Marching Band Association and the Lakeshore Marching Band Association. This is followed by the fine athletic programs, that have won numerous championships across the many sports programs provided. This has spanned across not only District IX, but on the state level as well. Education recently topped these all, as not even a decade ago, the school district had been educating many students that would receive highly regarded majors and doctorates. |
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Redbank Valley School District is located primarily in [[Armstrong County, Pennsylvania]] with the district offices and all three schools located in [[Clarion County, Pennsylvania]]. It serves the borough of [[South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|South Bethlehem]] and [[Redbank Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Redbank]], [[Madison Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Madison]], and [[Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Mahoning Townships]] in Armstrong County, and the boroughs of [[New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|New Bethlehem]] and [[Hawthorn, Pennsylvania|Hawthorn]] and [[Redbank Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania|Redbank]], and [[Porter Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania|Porter Townships]] as well as a portion of [[Monroe Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania|Monroe Township]] in Clarion County. The district is part of the Riverview [[Intermediate Unit]] 6 region which serves approximately 20 school districts in north central Pennsylvania. |
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'''Redbank Valley School District Currently''' |
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In recent years, enrollment has declined by nearly 1,500 students and the district has closed 3 schools in this time. Due to this decline the large tax-base that once supported the district has collapsed, and the center of all concerns within the administration, is the budget and expenses incurred by the district. Currently this public school district serves approximately 1,000 students. It is the largest school district in [[Clarion County, Pennsylvania]] in both terms of enrollment, as well as land mass. The district currently employs more than 150 staff members, and many positions are either newly created, or have been recently retired by the Board of School Education. The Redbank Valley School District is the wealthiest school district in Clarion County, and utilizes not only the highest budget, but the highest reserve fund as well. |
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== Area Served == |
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'''Redbank Valley School District''' is located primarily in [[Armstrong County, Pennsylvania]] with the district offices and all 3 schools located in [[Clarion County, Pennsylvania]]. The boroughs of [[South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|South Bethlehem]], [[New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|New Bethlehem]], and [[Hawthorn, Pennsylvania|Hawthorn]], as well as the townships of [[Redbank Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Redbank (Armstrong)]], [[Redbank Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania|Redbank (Clarion)]], [[Madison Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Madison]], [[Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Mahoning]], and [[Porter Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania|Porter]] are within district boundaries. The district is part of the Riverview [[Intermediate Unit]] 6 region which serves approximately 20 school districts in north central Pennsylvania. |
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==Schools== |
==Schools== |
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Redbank Valley currently has |
Redbank Valley currently has three operational facilities. All built within 10 years of the district's founding, they have been renovated to meet capacity limits, as the class size has increased (and later decreased). These schools include both the repurposed elementary buildings, now the Redbank Valley Intermediate School (3-5) and the Redbank Valley Primary School (K-2). The third and largest of the schools is the Redbank Valley Junior/Senior High School, that combines grades 6-12. |
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===Elementary schools=== |
===Elementary schools=== |
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| Redbank Valley Primary School<br>|| K-2<br>|| 600 Vine St.<br />New Bethlehem, PA 16242|| 1962 || 1988 |
| Redbank Valley Primary School<br>|| K-2<br>|| 600 Vine St.<br />New Bethlehem, PA 16242|| 1962 || 1988 |
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| Redbank Valley Intermediate School<br>|| 3- |
| Redbank Valley Intermediate School<br>|| 3-5<br>|| 1306 Truittsburg Rd<br />Hawthorn, PA 16230|| 1960 || 1990 |
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! School Name !! Grades !! School Address !! Built || Renovated |
! School Name !! Grades !! School Address !! Built || Renovated |
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| [[Redbank Valley Junior/Senior High School]] || |
| [[Redbank Valley Junior/Senior High School]] || 6-12 || 920 Broad St.<br />New Bethlehem, PA 16242|| 1957 || 1987, 1996, 2008 |
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| Madison Township Elementary School || K-6 || 1155 Madison Rd.<br /> Templeton, PA 16259 || 1959 || || 1986 |
| Madison Township Elementary School || K-6 || 1155 Madison Rd.<br /> Templeton, PA 16259 || 1959 || || 1986 |
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|Porter Township Elementary School || K-6 || || 1935 || || |
|Porter Township Elementary School || K-6 || || 1935 || || 1988 |
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==Governance== |
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The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members (each serving four-year terms), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]] and the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]].<ref>Pennsylvania Public School Code Governance 2010</ref> The federal government controls programs it funds like Title I funding for low-income children in the [[Elementary and Secondary Education Act]] and the [[No Child Left Behind Act]], which mandates the district focus resources on student success in acquiring reading and math skills. |
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The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "D-" for transparency based on a review of "What information can people find on their school district's website". It examined the school district's website for information regarding; taxes, the current budget, meetings, school board members names and terms, contracts, audits, public records information and more.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_school_districts |title=The Pennsylvania Project |author=The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives |accessdate=May 20, 2010 }}</ref> |
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==Academic achievement== |
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Redbank Valley School District was ranked 279th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2010 by the [[Pittsburgh Business Times]]. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the [[Pennsylvania System of School Assessment|PSSAs]] for: math, reading, writing and two years of science.<ref>Statewide Honor Roll Ranking, ''Pittsburgh Business Times''. May 14, 2010</ref> |
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2009 - 229th<br> |
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2008 - 158th<br> |
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2007 - 167th of 500 Pennsylvania school districts in 2007.<ref>Three of top school districts in state hail from Allegheny County, ''Pittsburgh Business Times'', May 23, 2007.</ref> |
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'''Graduation Rate:'''<br> |
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2009 - 88%<ref>[http://paayp.emetric.net/School/DataTable/c16/106168003/1495 Redbank Valley High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009]</ref><br> |
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2008 - 93%<br> |
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2007 - 93%<ref>Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children - High School Graduation 2007</ref> |
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===High school=== |
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'''PSSA Results'''<br> |
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'''11th Grade Reading'''<br> |
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2009 - 67% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.<ref>Redbank Valley High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009</ref><br> |
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2008 - 64%, State - 65%<br> |
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2007 - 78%, State - 65% <ref>Redbank Valley High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2007</ref> |
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'''11th Grade Math:'''<br> |
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2009 - 48% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.<br> |
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2008 - 31%, State - 55%<br> |
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2007 - 57%, State - 53%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education report PSSA Reading and Math 2007 by school and grade, August 2007</ref> |
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'''11th Grade Science:'''<br> |
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2009 - 31% on grade level. State - 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.<br> |
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2008 - 35%, State - 39%<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education report PSSA Science 2008 by school and grade, August 2008</ref> |
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'''College remediation:''' According to a [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]] study released in January 2009, 27% of Redbank Valley High School graduates required remediation in mathematics and or reading before they were prepared to take college level courses in the [[Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education]] or community colleges.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report Pennsylvania College Remediation Report]</ref> Less than 66% of Pennsylvania high school graduates, who enroll in a four-year college in Pennsylvania, will earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Among Pennsylvania high school graduates pursuing an associate degree, only one in three graduate in three years.<ref>National Center for Education Statistics - IPEDS 2008</ref> Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one in three recent high school graduates who attend Pennsylvania's public universities and community colleges takes at least one remedial course in math, reading or English. |
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===Graduation project=== |
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By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a project as a part of their eligibility to graduate from high school. The type of project, its rigor and its expectations are set by the individual school district.<ref>Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements</ref> |
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===Dual enrollment=== |
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The high school offers a [[dual enrollment]] program. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/24901214/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education-Dual-Enrollment-Guidelines-2010-2011 Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines]</ref> Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.<ref>[http://www.patrac.org/ Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement]. Site accessed March 2010.</ref> |
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For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $1,749 for the program.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Enrollment Fall Grants 2009-10. August 2009</ref> |
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==Enrollment== |
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According to the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]], there are fewer than 1200 students enrolled in K-12th grades. Annual enrollment in the Redbank Valley School District is projected to continue to decline by another 150 students by 2018. The graduating class of 2015 was 86 students. Enrollment Projections by the Pennsylvania Department of Education reported 1/2009. The district employs 7 administrators, a psychologist, a significant complement of teachers, as well as many full- and part-time staff members. Redbank Valley administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $555.21 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.<ref>Fenton, Jacob. Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, The Morning Call, Feb 2009.</ref> With limited resources, opportunities for students at the high school are limited. Consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in both communities.<ref>Fenton, Jacob, Administrative Costs for Clarion County School Districts 2007-08, The Morning Call, July 2009</ref> These excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to substantially reduce property taxes.<ref>2009-10 Executive Budget Facts Pennsylvania School District Consolidation, Edward Rendell, Governor and Mary Soderberg, Secretary of the Budget. February 2009</ref> Consolidation of two or more school district central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. Less than 95 of Pennsylvania's 501 school districts have enrollment below 1250 students, in 2007.<ref>Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, Study of the Cost Effectiveness of Consolidating Pennsylvania School Districts, 2007.</ref> |
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Over the next 10 years, rural Pennsylvania school enrollment is projected to decrease 8 percent. The most significant enrollment decline is projected to be in western Pennsylvania, where rural school districts may have a 16 percent decline. More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases (15 percent or greater).<ref>"Research Analyzes Rural School District Enrollment and Building Capacity", The Center for Rural Pennsylvania. October 2009</ref> As the enrollment declines, per pupil administrative costs of the schools will continue to rise. |
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Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under |
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5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity.<ref>Rendell, E. & Soderberg, M. (2009). Pennsylvania school district consolidation. 2009-10 Executive Budget Fast Facts. Pennsylvania Office of the Governor.</ref> In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.<ref>Study of the cost-effectiveness of consolidating Pennsylvania districts. New York: Standard & Poor’s School Evaluation Services. 2007, p. 6.</ref> |
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==Budget== |
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In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $48,346 for 180 days worked. The district ranked third in Clarion County for average teacher salary in 2007.<ref>Fenton, Jacob, Average classroom teacher salary in Clarion County, 2006-07. The Morning Call. Accessed March 2009.</ref> 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.<ref>Teachers need to know enough is enough, PaDelcoTimes, April 20, 2010.</ref> Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit [[pension]], [[health insurance]], professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.<ref>Redbank Valley Professional Education Association Employment Contract 2009</ref> According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.<ref>Legislature must act on educators' pension hole. ''The Patriot News''. February 21, 2010</ref> |
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===2014/2015 budget=== |
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The general fund budget for the 2014/2015 school year is exactly $17,489,000.76. This is a slight increase from last year's budget of $16,439,194.00. Redbank Valley, as of May 2014, has a deficit of approximately 1.5 million. This has resulted in all-around cuts, ranging from the sciences, to general supplies, and textbooks. |
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===State basic education funding=== |
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In the 2009/2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 2.0% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $8,425,418. The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $8,260,213.85. Two percent was the lowest level of increase for districts in 2009. Seventy school districts received a 2% increase in 2009. [[Clarion-Limestone Area School District]] received a 4.86% increase in state basic education funding. [[Muhlenberg School District]] in [[Berks County]] received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education - Funding Allocations by district, October 2009</ref> The amount of increase each school district receives is set by the Governor and the Secretary of Education as a part of the state budget proposal given each February.<ref>The Pennsylvania Department of Education Budget Proposal 2009</ref> |
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The district reports that 435 students enrolled in the federal free and reduced school lunch program in 2007-2008. |
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====Federal Stimulus funding==== |
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The district received $1,389,322 in [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|ARRA]] - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific education programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students.<ref>[http://www.recovery.pa.gov/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=525527&mode=2&projectid=106168003 PA ARRA Funding by district]</ref> This funding was for 2009-2011 school years. |
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====Race to the Top==== |
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School district officials did not apply for the [[Race to the Top]] federal grant which would have brought the district millions in additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.<ref name="Strong Local">Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support Governor's Office press release, January 20, 2010</ref> Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.<ref name="Strong Local"/> Pennsylvania was not approved in the first round of the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved. A second round of state RTTT application judging will occur in June 2010.<ref>Race to the Top Fund, U.S. Department of Education, March 29, 2010.</ref>{{Update after|2015|1|16}} |
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In 2008, the district reported a $3,259,400 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was $6,390,000.<ref>Pennsylvania Department of Education report on Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2008</ref> |
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===Real estate taxes=== |
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Property tax rates in 2008-2009 were set at: Armstrong County residents - 19.4200 mills and the residents in Clarion County was 42.6700 mills.<ref>Real Estate Tax Millage by School District, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. 2009</ref> School districts located in more than one county are required to apportion the tax levy based on the market value in each county as determined by the State Tax Equalization Board pursuant to section 672.1 of the School Code. As a result, the tax rate increases are not the same for each county in a multi-county school district.<ref>Taxpayer Relief Act Special Session Act 1 of 2006 - Report on Referendum Exceptions For School Year 2009-2010. Pennsylvania Department of Education. April 24, 2009.</ref> A mill is $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Irregular property reassessments have become a serious issue in the commonwealth as it creates a significant disparity in taxation within a community and across a region. |
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====Property tax relief==== |
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In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Redbank Valley School District was $116 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,162 property owners applied for the tax relief. In Clarion County, the highest amount of tax relief in 2009, went to [[Clarion-Limestone Area School District]] at $140. The highest property tax relief, among Pennsylvania school districts, went to the residents of [[Chester Upland School District]] of [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]] who received $632 per approved homestead.<ref>Tax Relief per Homestead 2009, Pennsylvania Department of Education Report, May 1, 2009</ref> The relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill. Property owners apply for the relief through the county Treasurer's office. Farmers can qualify for a farmstead exemption on building used for agricultural purposes. The farm must be at least 10 contiguous acres and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Clarion County, 47% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. In Armstrong County, 77% of residents applied for property tax relief. |
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Additionally, the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is provided for low income Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older; widows and widowers aged 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. The maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters is $650. Applicants can exclude one-half (1/2) of their Social Security income, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief. |
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Property taxes in Pennsylvania are relatively high on a national scale. According to the Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania ranked 11th in the U.S. in 2008 in terms of property taxes paid as a percentage of home value (1.34%) and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income (3.55%). |
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==Extracurricular== |
==Extracurricular== |
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===Eligibility=== |
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By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students in the district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs, including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools. These include a mandatory yearly physical for all sports; fall, winter, or spring. To participate in all athletic activities and/or events, students or participants must pay a $50.00 "activity fee" as outlined the 2014/2015 handbook. If the fee has failed to be paid, the participant is to be exempted from practices and games, performances, until which time the fee has been paid, or the school has dismissed him or her from team eligibility. |
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===Programs and activities=== |
===Programs and activities=== |
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As of the |
As of the 2017/2018 school year, RVSD offers the following extracurricular activities and programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.redbankvalley.net/extracurricular/extracurricular-offerings.html|title=Extracurricular Offerings}}</ref> |
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====Athletics==== |
====Athletics==== |
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Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading |
Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Football, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wrestling |
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====Clubs==== |
====Clubs==== |
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Bible Club, FBLA, FFA |
Bible Club, [[FBLA-PBL|Future Business Leaders of America]], [[National FFA Organization|Future Farmers of America]], Journalism Club, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Outdoor Club, Ski Club, Student Council, Broadcast Journalism, Show Choir, SPARK Club - Chapter of The Smile Project, AV Club, Robotics ([[FIRST Robotics Competition|FIRST]], [[BEST Robotics|BEST]], [[VEX Robotics Competition|VEX]]) |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 01:37, 8 January 2025
| Redbank Valley School District | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
920 Broad Street New Bethlehem, PA
New Bethlehem , Pennsylvania, 16242United States | |
| Students and staff | |
| District mascot | Bulldog |
| Colors | Red & White |
| Other information | |
| Website | http://www.redbankvalley.net/ |
Redbank Valley School District (RVSD or Redbank) is a public school district in Western Pennsylvania. Spanning 165 square miles of the mountainous terrain of the Allegheny Plateau,[1] the district rests on the southern boundary of the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region. It is the largest district in its county by both population and land area. Redbank Valley athletes compete in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference as part of PIAA's District IX in eight of its nine programs. With the second largest auditorium and performing arts stage in Clarion County (second to that of Clarion University), the district hosts various school and community events throughout the year attracting thousands of attendees. The district's academics and student body have been frequently featured on national network news programs such as CBN's The 700 Club and ABC News Nightline[2][3]. Other notable features include a large and active bible club, with nearly two-thirds of the student population attending throughout the year,[4] and a state awarded chapter of Future Business Leaders of America. In addition, the school district is also the no. 23 employer in the county with over 100 employees,[5] while maintaining the largest general budget expenditures and reserve fund of all county school districts.[6]
Area served
[edit]Redbank Valley School District is located primarily in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania with the district offices and all three schools located in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. It serves the borough of South Bethlehem and Redbank, Madison, and Mahoning Townships in Armstrong County, and the boroughs of New Bethlehem and Hawthorn and Redbank, and Porter Townships as well as a portion of Monroe Township in Clarion County. The district is part of the Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 region which serves approximately 20 school districts in north central Pennsylvania.
Schools
[edit]Redbank Valley currently has three operational facilities. All built within 10 years of the district's founding, they have been renovated to meet capacity limits, as the class size has increased (and later decreased). These schools include both the repurposed elementary buildings, now the Redbank Valley Intermediate School (3-5) and the Redbank Valley Primary School (K-2). The third and largest of the schools is the Redbank Valley Junior/Senior High School, that combines grades 6-12.
Elementary schools
[edit]| School Name | Grades | School Address | Built | Renovated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redbank Valley Primary School |
K-2 |
600 Vine St. New Bethlehem, PA 16242 |
1962 | 1988 |
| Redbank Valley Intermediate School |
3-5 |
1306 Truittsburg Rd Hawthorn, PA 16230 |
1960 | 1990 |
Junior/senior high school
[edit]| School Name | Grades | School Address | Built | Renovated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redbank Valley Junior/Senior High School | 6-12 | 920 Broad St. New Bethlehem, PA 16242 |
1957 | 1987, 1996, 2008 |
Defunct schools
[edit]| School Name | Grades | School Address | Built | Renovated | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahoning Township Elementary School | K-6 | 330 Pheasant Farm Rd. New Bethlehem, PA 16242 |
1959 | 1990 | 2011 |
| Madison Township Elementary School | K-6 | 1155 Madison Rd. Templeton, PA 16259 |
1959 | 1986 | |
| Porter Township Elementary School | K-6 | 1935 | 1988 |
Extracurricular
[edit]Programs and activities
[edit]As of the 2017/2018 school year, RVSD offers the following extracurricular activities and programs.[7]
Athletics
[edit]Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Football, Soccer, Softball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wrestling
Clubs
[edit]Bible Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, Journalism Club, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Outdoor Club, Ski Club, Student Council, Broadcast Journalism, Show Choir, SPARK Club - Chapter of The Smile Project, AV Club, Robotics (FIRST, BEST, VEX)
References
[edit]- ^ "Redbank Valley School District". RedbankValley.org. 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ Robertson, Pat (May 29, 2013). "On Fire for God: Public School Bible Clubs Spread". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Harris, Dan (2016). "PA Students' Mock Election Captures Provocative Real Election Snapshot". ABC. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ Strand, Paul (October 8, 2014). "Lessons in Faith: Bible Club Puts God Back in School". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ Rossetti, Chris (January 5, 2018). "Here Are the Top 50 Employers in Clarion County". exploreClarion. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ Gerow, John (2019). "School Board Approves 2019-2020 Budget; Tax Increases". RedbankValley.org. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- ^ "Extracurricular Offerings".