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[[Category:Education in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Education in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
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[[Category:School districts in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Schools in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Schools in Pennsylvania]]
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[[Category:School districts in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]

Revision as of 22:16, 26 October 2010

Plum Borough School District
Address
Map
900 Elicker Road

Plum
,
Allegheny
,
Pennsylvania
15239

United States
Information
TypePublic
School board9 elected at large members
SuperintendentDr. Lillian Naccarati
AdministratorMrs. Margaret Evans, Asst. Superintendent
GradesK-12
Enrollment4109 (2009-2010)
 • Kindergarten253
 • Grade 1303
 • Grade 2274
 • Grade 3272
 • Grade 4309
 • Grade 5340
 • Grade 6307
 • Grade 7329
 • Grade 8346
 • Grade 9353
 • Grade 10329
 • Grade 11357
 • Grade 12337
 • OtherEnrollment is Projected to decline to 3375 by 2019[1]
Websitehttp://www.pbsd.k12.pa.us/

The Plum Borough School District is a public school district serving the Pittsburgh suburb of Plum, Pennsylvania. The district features seven schools, including Plum High School (9th-12th), Oblock Junior High School (7th-8th), and five elementary schools serving grades K-6th: Adlai Stevenson, Center, Holiday Park, Pivik, and Regency Elementary Schools.

Academic achievement

Plum Borough School District was ranked 35th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and one year of science.[2] In 2008 the school ranked 31st.

Plum Borough School District was ranked 118th out of the 500 ranked Pennsylvania school districts in 2008 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic performance as demonstrated in 3 years of PSSA results.[3]

Graduation Rate:
2009 - 97%[4]
2008 - 96%
2007 - 96% [5]

High school

The high school ranked 43rd out of 123 western Pennsylvania high schools, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2009, for academic achievement as reflected by three years of 11th grade results on: math, reading, writing and one year of science PSSAs.[6]

PSSA Results
11th Grade Reading
2009 - 74% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.
2008 - 70%, State - 65%

11th Grade Math:
2009 - 63% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.[7]
2008 - 60%, State - 56%

11th Grade Science:
2009 - 45% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 41% [8]

College Remediation: According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 32% of Plum Borough School District 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.

Dual enrollment

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 both: high school graduation requirements and towards a college degree. The students continue to have full access to all clubs, activities and programs, at their high school including the graduation ceremony. 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.[11] Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions.[12]

For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of $2,647 for the program.[13]

Graduation project

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.[14]

Oblock Junior High School

In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 34th out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[15] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County

8th Grade Reading:
2009 - 95% on grade level. State: 80.9% of 8th graders were on grade level.[16]
2008 - 93%, State - 78%[17]

8th Grade Math:
2009 - 83% on grade level. State: 71% of 8th graders were on grade level.[18]
2008 - 77%, State -70%

8th Grade Science:
2009 - 68% on grade level. State: 55% of 8th graders were on grade level.
2008 - 66%, State - 50%

Budget

In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $63,233 for 180 days worked. The district ranked sixth in Allegheny County for average teacher salary in 2007. The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania was $54,977.[19] 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.[20] Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, personal days, sick days, and other benefits.[21]

The district's administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $648 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[22] The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association, the average salary for a superintendent for the 2007-08 school year was $122,165.[23] In 2008, Dr. Lillian Naccarati, Superintendent, received $119,802.[24] Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, and grants, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. In Pennsylvania, pension income and social security income are exempt from Pennsylvania personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of level of income.

Federal Stimulus Grant

The district received an extra $2,312,443 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low income students.[25] The funding is for 2009-2011.

Race to the Top grant

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district over one million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28]

Consolidation

A proposal has been made by David Wassell, a prominent resident and leader in Allegheny County, to consolidate Allegheny County school districts to save tax dollars. focus dollars on student achievement, and improve student services. The plan calls for a proposed district that includes: Plum Borough School District and Riverview School District.

Wellness policy

Plum Borough School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246.[29] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education and physical education that are aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[30]

The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Extracurriculars

The students have access to a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.[31]

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.[32]

References:

  1. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Enrollment and projections for Plum Borough School District January 2009
  2. ^ Western Pennsylvania School District Rankings, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  3. ^ Pennsylvania Public School Rankings, Pittsburgh Business Times. May 23, 2007.
  4. ^ Plum Borough School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
  5. ^ Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children - High School Graduation 2007 Report
  6. ^ The Rankings: 11th Grades, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009
  7. ^ 2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results
  8. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report on Science PSSA 2008 August 2008.
  9. ^ Pennsylvania College Remediation Report http://www.scribd.com/doc/23970364/Pennsylvania-College-Remediation-Report
  10. ^ National Center for Education Statistics
  11. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education - Dual Enrollment Guidelines.
  12. ^ Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement. site accessed March 2010. http://www.patrac.org/
  13. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Dual Enrollment Fall Grants 2009-10. August 2009
  14. ^ Pennsylvania Code §4.24 (a) High school graduation requirements
  15. ^ The Rankings: Eighth grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15th, 2009.
  16. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education - Reading, Math, Science and Writing PSSA Results 2009
  17. ^ Oblock Junior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
  18. ^ Oblock Junior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
  19. ^ Fenton, Jacob, Average classroom teacher salary in Allegheny County, 2006-07. The Morning Call. accessed March 2009.
  20. ^ Teachers need to know enough is enough, PaDelcoTimes, April 20, 2010.
  21. ^ Plum Borough Professional Education Association Employment Contract 2009
  22. ^ Fenton, Jacob. Pennsylvania School District Data: Will School Consolidation Save Money?, The Morning Call, Feb 2009.
  23. ^ Public School Employee Salaries 2007-08 - 11th Annual, Pennsylvania School Board Association, October 2009
  24. ^ Polanick, Celanie, School administrators' slice of budget shrinks, Valley News Dispatch. Septenber 28, 2008
  25. ^ Allegheny County ARRA FUNDING
  26. ^ Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support, Governor's news office. January 20, 2010
  27. ^ Pennsylvania's 'Race to the Top' Fueled by Effective Reforms, Strong Local Support
  28. ^ Race to the Top Fund, U.S. Department of Education, March 29, 2010.
  29. ^ Plum Borough School Board Policy Manual
  30. ^ Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive, Pennsylvania Department of Education — Division of Food and Nutrition. July 2008
  31. ^ Plum Borough School Board Policy Manual Extracurriculars Policy 122 and Interscholastic Athletics Policy 123.
  32. ^ Home-Schooled, Charter School Children Can Participate in School District Extracurricular Activities, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor Press Release, November 10, 2005

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