Interboro School District


Interboro School District is a midsized, suburban public school district located in southeastern Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia in Delaware County. Interboro School District encompasses approximately 11 square miles. The district is made up of four communities: the boroughs of Glenolden, Norwood, and Prospect Park, and Tinicum Township. At one time the area was divided into separate school districts: Glen-Nor, Prospect Park, and Lester. In 1955 Glen-Nor and Prospect Park joined with Lester being included later. The first graduating class of Interboro High School was in 1956 with 125 members. According to 2000 federal census data, Interboro School District serves a resident population of 24,408. In 2009, the district residents’ per capita income was $19,983, while the median family income was $51,323. In the Commonwealth, the median family income was $49,501 and the United States median family income was $49,445, in 2010. According to Interboro School District officials, in the 2007–08 school year, the District provided basic educational services to 3,883 pupils. Interboro School District employed: 291 teachers, 285 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 17 administrators. Interboro School District received more than $13.2 million in state funding in school year 2007–08.

Schools

There are 6 schools in this district:
;Interboro High School:
Grades 9-12 | Principal: Paul Gibson
;Glenolden School:
Located in Glenolden, PA serving the children of the borough
Grades 1-8 | Principal: Rachel Lambert
In 2011, 70% of the students grades 3-8th are reading on grade level. Math 81% of Grades 3rd-8th on grade level. Science 4th grade - 83% on grade level and 8th grade - 58%.
;Norwood School:
Located in Norwood, Pennsylvania. | serving the children in the borough of Norwood
Grades 1-8 | Principal: Daniel Mills

In 2011, 77% of the students grades 3-8th are reading on grade level. Math 79% of Grades 3rd-8th on grade level. Science 4th grade - 93% on grade level and 8th grade - 65%.
;Prospect Park School:
Located in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania. Serving children in Prospect Park
Grades 1-8 | Principal: Paul Korinth
In 2011, 76% of the students grades 3-8th are reading on grade level. Math 80% of Grades 3rd-8th on grade level. Science 4th grade - 85% on grade level and 8th grade - 51%.
;Tinicum School:
Located in Tinicum, Pennsylvania. | Serves students in Tinicum, Lester and Essington.
Grades 1-8 | Principal: Mr. Tim Fanning
In 2011, 72% of the students grades 3-8th are reading on grade level. Math 89% of Grades 3rd-8th on grade level. Science 4th grade - 92% on grade level and 8th grade - 58%. In 2010, the school received a Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence award from the U.S. Department of Education. Tinicum was one of 14 schools — 12 public and two private — that received the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence award in Pennsylvania. The award recognizes schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement especially among disadvantaged and minority students.
;Interboro Kindergarten Academy:
Located in Prospect Park, PA
Grades Kindergarten and Transitional First Grade | Principal: Ms. Nancy DeSanctis

Academic achievement

Interboro School District was ranked 348th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2011, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on four years of student academic performance on the reading, writing, math and two years of science PSSAs.
In 2011, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Interboro School District ranked 404th. In 2010, the district was 455th. The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of Interboro School District was in the 43rd percentile among 500 Pennsylvania school districts. Scale -

Graduation rate

In 2011, the graduation rate was 92%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. The state of Pennsylvania's graduation rate was reduced to 78% for 2010. No data for specific districts has been released.
;According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
Interboro High School is located in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania. In 2010, it serves 1,272 pupils with 89 teachers. In 2011, the school declined to Corrective Action II 1st Year status to chronic low student achievement. In 2010, the school was in, Making Progress: in Corrective Action I status due to low student achievement especially in mathematics. Under No Child Left Behind the school was required to offer students the right to transfer to a successful high school in the district. None exists. The school was required by the PA Department of Education to develop a school improvement plan. Due to the low student achievement, the school qualifies for additional state funding to improve student achievement in reading, math and science. The school was one of 37 public schools statewide whose student achievement has fallen to this level in 2011.
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 61% of the Interboro Senior 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. 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. 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 does offer the Pennsylvania dual enrollment program which permits students to earn deeply discounted college credits while still enrolled in high school. The program is offered through over 400 school districts with the assistance of a state grant.

Graduation requirements

The Interboro School Board has determined that a pupil must earn 23 credits to graduate, including: math 3 credits, English 4 credits, history 4 credits, science 3 credits, Physical Education 1 credit, health 0.5 credit, Computer course 0.5 credits, family and Consumer Science 0.5 credit and electives. Students must earn a minimum of 4.5 credits to be promoted to 10th grade. To move to 11th Grade a student must earn a minimum 10.5 credits. To enter 12th Grade a student must earn a minimum 16.5 credits.
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.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016, students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, English Composition, and Literature for which the Keystone Exams serve as the final course exams. Students’ Keystone Exam scores shall count for at least one-third of the final course grade.

SAT scores

From January to June 2011, 181 Interboro High School students took the SAT exams. The district's Verbal Average Score was 461. The Math average score was 468. The Writing average score was 445. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among state with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged Verbal 497, Math - 514 and in writing - 489.

Special education

In December 2010, the district administration reported that 713 pupils or 19.8% of the district's pupils received Special Education services. Fifty eight percent of the identified students had learning disabilities.
In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for special education services. This funding is in addition to the state's basic education per pupil funding, as well as, all other state and federal funding. The Pennsylvania Special Education funding system assumes that 16% of the district's students receive special education services. It also assumes that each student's needs accrue the same level of costs. The state requires each district to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students. Overidentification of students in order to increase state funding has been an issue in the Commonwealth. Some districts have more than 20% of its students receiving special education services while others have 10% supported through special education.
Interboro School District received a $1,952,170 supplement for special education services in 2010. For the 2011–12 school year, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010. This level funding is provided regardless of changes in the number of pupils who need special education services and regardless of the level of services the respective students required.

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 111 or 2.87% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student's building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.

School safety and bullying

The school district administration reported there were zero incidents of bullying in the district in 2009. However, there were 11 incidents of fighting.
Interboro School Board has not provided the district's antibully policy online. All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students. The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.
Education standards relating to student safety and antiharassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.

Wellness policy

School Board established a district wellness policy in 2006. 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. The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 "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, physical activity, 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. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing over 300 teachers and administrators with a salary range of $45,000 to $94,352.
In 2007, the district employed 256 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $63,107 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.
Interboro School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $958.81 per pupil. This ranked 78th out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association keeps statistics on salaries of public school district employees in Pennsylvania. According to the association's report, the average salary for a superintendent, for the 2007–08 school year, was $122,165. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union. In 2010, the superintendent came under fire for charging mileage to the district for her drive from New Jersey home to work. She was also accused of inflating mileage on trips. Interboro hired Hacker as Superintendent in February 2010 with a contract providing a yearly salary of $163,000 with benefits, the total cost of the contract will be over $200,000. In 2011, the district reports having 17 administrators.
Reserves In 2008, the district reported $4,988,866.00 in an unreserved-designated fund balance. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as $3,514,346.00. In 2010 the unreserved-designated fund was $3,811,181.00, while the unreserved-undesignated fund balance was $3,424,356.00. PA school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.
In 2008, the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $12,700 which ranked 220th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts. In 2010 the per pupil spending had increased to $14,848.51 Among the states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008–09. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.
In April 2011, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of Interboro School District. The findings were reported to the school board and administration.
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. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of personal wealth.

State basic education funding

In 2011–12, the district received a $8,019,264 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the School District received $215,928 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget includes $5,354,629,000 for the 2011–2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount is a $233,290,000 increase over the enacted State appropriation for 2010–2011. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011–12. In 2010, the district reported that 1,068 students received free or reduced-price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.
In the 2010–2011 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a %2 increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,620,245. Among the districts in Delaware County, the highest increase went to Southeast Delco School District which got a 10.34% increase. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. The highest increase in 2010–11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding.
In the 2009–2010 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided an 8.57% increase in Basic Education Funding for a total of $8,620,274. Among the districts in Delaware County, the highest increase went to Upper Darby School District which got an 11.61%. The state Basic Education Funding to Interboro School District, in 2008–09, was $7,939,867.47. Ninety school districts received a 2% increase. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received a 22.31% increase in state basic education funding in 2009. 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. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 805 Interboro School District students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007–2008 school year.

Accountability Block Grants

Beginning in 2004–2005, the state launched the Accountability Block Grant school funding. This program has provided $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's school districts. The Accountability Block Grant program requires that its taxpayer dollars are focused on specific interventions that are most likely to increase student academic achievement. These interventions include: teacher training, all-day kindergarten, lower class size K-3rd grade, literacy and math coaching programs that provide teachers with individualized job-embedded professional development to improve their instruction, before or after school tutoring assistance to struggling students, For 2010–11, the district applied for and received $586,081 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The district uses the funding to provide full-day kindergarten and social services.

Classrooms for the Future grant

The Classroom for the Future state program provided districts with hundreds of thousands of extra state funding to buy laptop computers for each core curriculum high school class and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006–2009. The School District did not apply to participate in 2006–07 or in 2007–08. The district received $188,223 in 2008–09.

Education Assistance grant

The state's EAP funding provides for the continuing support of tutoring services and other programs to address the academic needs of eligible students. Funds are available to eligible school districts and full-time career and technology centers in which one or more schools have failed to meet at least one academic performance target, as provided for in Section 1512-C of the Pennsylvania Public School Code. In 2010–11 the Interboro School District received $82,933.

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received an extra $326,400 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used in specific programs like special education and meeting the academic needs of low-income students. The funding was limited to the 2009–10 and 2010–2011 school years. Due to the temporary nature of the funding, schools were repeatedly warned to use the funds for one-time expenditures like acquiring equipment, making repairs to buildings, training teachers to provide more effective instruction or purchasing books and software

Race to the Top grant

District officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars in additional federal funding to improve student academic achievement. 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. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.

Common Cents state initiative

Interboro School Board elected to not participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education Common Cents program. The program called for the state to audit the district, at no cost to local taxpayers, to identify ways the district could save tax dollars. After the review of the information, the district was not required to implement the recommended cost savings changes.

Real estate taxes

Property tax rates in 2011–12 were set by the school board at 32.2000 mills. 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. Property taxes, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, apply only to real estate - land and buildings. The property tax is not levied on cars, business inventory, or other personal property. Certain types of property are exempt from property taxes, including: places of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and government property. Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts. The school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, necessitating a state board equalization of the tax rates between the counties.
The Act 1 of 2006 Index regulates the rates at which each school district can raise property taxes in Pennsylvania. Districts are not allowed to raise taxes above that index unless they allow voters to vote by referendum, or they seek an exception from the state Department of Education. The base index for the 2011–2012 school year is 1.4 percent, but the Act 1 Index can be adjusted higher, depending on a number of factors, such as property values and the personal income of district residents. Act 1 included 10 exceptions, including: increasing pension costs, increases in special education costs, a catastrophe like a fire or flood, increase in health insurance costs for contracts in effect in 2006 or dwindling tax bases. The base index is the average of the percentage increase in the statewide average weekly wage, as determined by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, for the preceding calendar year and the percentage increase in the Employment Cost Index for Elementary and Secondary Schools, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor, for the previous 12-month period ending June 30. For a school district with a market value/personal income aid ratio costs to pay interest and principal on indebtedness incurred prior to September 4, 2004 for Act 72 schools and prior to June 27, 2006 for non-Act 72 schools; 2) costs to pay interest and principal on electoral debt; 3) costs incurred in providing special education programs and services costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school's share of payments to PSERS taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate.
The School District Adjusted Index for the School District 2006–2007 through 2011–2012.
For the 2011–12 school year, the Interboro School Board applied for a pension exception to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Interboro School Board has the option of adopting either 1) a resolution in January certifying they will not increase taxes above their index or 2) a preliminary budget in February. A school district adopting the resolution may not apply for referendum exceptions or ask voters for a tax increase above the inflation index. A specific timeline for these decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
According to a state report, for the 2011–2012 school year budgets, 247 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 250 school districts adopted a preliminary budget. Of the 250 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget, 231 adopted real estate tax rates that exceeded their index. Tax rate increases in the other 19 school districts that adopted a preliminary budget did not exceed the school district's index. Of the districts who sought exceptions: 221 used the pension costs exemption and 171 sought a Special Education costs exemption. Only 1 school district sought an exemption for Nonacademic School Construction Project, while 1 sought an exception for Electoral debt for school construction.
The Interboro School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011. For 2009–10 school budget, the board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Index. In the Spring of 2010, 135 Pennsylvania school boards asked to exceed their adjusted index. Approval was granted to 133 of them and 128 sought an exception for pension costs increases.

Property tax relief

In 2010, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Interboro School District was $381 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 5,310 property owners applied for the tax relief. 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 and must be the primary residence of the owner. Farmers can qualify for both the homestead exemption and the farmstead exemption. In Delaware County, 66% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009. The highest property tax relief in Pennsylvania went to the residents of Chester Upland School District of Delaware County who received $632 per approved homestead. This was the third year they were the top recipient.
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 of their Social Security income, consequently, individual with income much 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.
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 and 12th in the country in terms of property taxes as a percentage of income.

Community service

Community service is very important to the Interboro School District. A listing of various done by the students in Interboro School District.

Controversy

In 1968, Joe Stillman, then a fifth-grade student at Prospect Park Elementary . The allegations by Stillman, and other boys went unheeded by both Robert Castle, the then-Prospect Park principal, and the ISD superintendent. The allegations would not become public until two decades later when Friedrichs went on trial in Fayette County, West Virginia first for sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy, then later for sexual abuse, and murder of another 12-year-old boy.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a variety of clubs, activities and sports. Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy.
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.