Wyoming Area School District

Governance

Wyoming Area School District is governed by 9 individually elected board members (serve without compensation for a term of four years), the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 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. The Superintendent and Business Manager are appointed by the school board. The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer with overall responsibility for all aspects of operations, including education and finance. The Business Manager is responsible for budget and financial operations. Neither of these officials are voting members of the School Board.

The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the school board and district administration a "F" 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.

Mission Statements

The mission of the Wyoming Area School District is to provide educational programs and services which meet the needs of all the youth of the district. These programs and services shall be equitable and accessible so that all students may grow to their full potential and become responsible citizens. In this mission, we shall forge new partnerships with parents, community, groups, businesses, industries, and higher education, so as to enhance the quality of life for students and members of the community.

Academic achievement

Wyoming Area School District was ranked 1738rd out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts in 2013, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on student academic achievement as demonstrated on the last three years of the PSSAs for: reading, writing, math and science. The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Wyoming Area School District ranked 92nd. In 2012, the District was ranked 89th. 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 pupils in the Wyoming Area School District was in the 83rd percentile among Pennsylvanian's 500 school districts. Scale (0-99; 100 is state best)

In 2007, the state conducted a study to determine a cost per pupil, for education K-12. In the study, Wyoming Area School District was as one of 80 high performing school districts. Additionally, the district was recognized as a low spending - high achievement school district. The author went on to suggest that the district should be spending another $3000 per pupil to achieve AYP. In 2005, Standard and Poors Educational Services ranked Wyoming Area as one of the top 47 school districts of the 501 in Pennsylvania.

District AYP status history

In 2012, Wyoming Area School District achieved AYP status. In 2011, Wyoming Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In 2011, 94 percent of the 500 Pennsylvania public school districts achieved the No Child Left Behind Act progress level of 72% of students reading on grade level and 67% of students demonstrating on grade level math. In 2011, 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania school districts achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on student performance. An additional 37.8 percent of Pennsylvania public school districts made AYP based on a calculated method called safe harbor, 8.2 percent on the growth model and 0.8 percent on a two-year average performance. Wyoming Area School District achieved AYP status each year from 2006 to 2010.

Graduation rate

In 2012, Wyoming Area School District's graduation rate rose to 96%. In 2011, the Wyoming Area School District graduation rate was 95.6%. In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Wyoming Area School District's rate was 87.84% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

Graduation requirements

In order to graduate from the Wyoming Area School District, a student must successfully complete 22 credits which include: 4 credits of English, 4 credits of Social Studies, 3 credits of Mathematics, 3 credits of Science, 2 credits of Arts & Humanities, 4.5 credits of electives and 1.2 credits of Health & Physical Education.

By law, all Pennsylvania secondary school students must complete a graduation 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. This project is an extremely enduring project and takes over most of the students senior year. The project includes 20 hours of job shadowing, and community service, 30 cited sources, and a 10-page research paper. Effective with the graduating class of 2017, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education eliminated the state mandate that students complete a culminating project in order to graduate.

By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, beginning with the class of 2017, public school students must demonstrate successful completion of secondary level course work in Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature by passing the Keystone Exams. The exam is given at the end of the course. Keystone Exams replace the PSSAs for 11th grade. Students have several opportunities to pass the exam, with those who do not able to perform a project in order to graduate. For the class of 2019, a Composition exam will be added. For the class of 2020, passing a civics and government exam will be added to the graduation requirements. In 2011, Pennsylvania high school students field tested the Algebra 1, Biology and English Lit exams. The statewide results were: Algebra 1 38% on grade level, Biology 35% on grade level and English Lit - 49% on grade level. Individual student, school or district reports were not made public, although they were reported to district officials by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Students identified as having special needs and qualifying for an Individual Educational Program (IEP) may graduate by meeting the requirements of their IEP.

Wyoming Area Secondary Center

Wyoming Area Secondary Center is located at 20 Memorial Street, Exeter. According to the National Center for Education Statistics in 2010, the school had 1,190 students enrolled in grades 7th through 12th, with 321 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employs 73 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1. The school is not a federally designated Title I school. According to a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 16 English, science or math courses were taught by teachers who were not highly qualified in 2011. At the secondary level, students may enroll in an honors program and have a choice of ten Advanced Placement Courses.

In 2012, Wyoming Area Secondary Center declined again to School Improvement II due to low student achievement in both reading and mathematics. In 2012, just 68% of boys were reading on read level and 71% of boys were on grade level in mathematics skills. In 2011, Wyoming Area Secondary Center declined to School Improvement I AYP status, due to lagging student achievement in reading and math. The school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's lagging student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students. The High School is eligible for special, extra funding under School Improvement Grants which the school must apply for each year.

Science in Motion Wyoming Area Secondary Center took advantage of a state program called Science in Motion which brought college professors and sophisticated science equipment to the school to raise science awareness and to provide inquiry-based experiences for the students. The Science in Motion program was funded by a state appropriation and cost the school nothing to participate. Wilkes University worked with the District to provide the science enrichment experiences.

College remediation

According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 37% of Wyoming Area Secondary Center 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

Wyoming Area Secondary Center offers a dual enrollment program. This state-funded 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. Students can enroll at Kings College and Wilkes University. All students in their junior or senior year who rank in the top ten percent of the class are eligible as are other students who have a teacher recommendation. The students continue to have full access to activities 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. Under the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Agreement, many Pennsylvania colleges and universities accept these credits for students who transfer to their institutions. The Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System reported in 2009, that students saved nearly $35.4 million by having their transferred credits count towards a degree under the new system. For the 2009-10 funding year, the school district received a state grant of 4,737 for its dual enrollment program.

SAT scores

In 2012, 155 Wyoming Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 475. The Math average score was 482. The Writing average score was 470. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 152 Wyoming Area School District students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 480. The Math average score was 507. The Writing average score was 472. Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479. In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.

Eighth Grade

Elementary schools

In 2012, due to a $1.3 million budget shortfall and declining enrollment, the Wyoming Area School District administration proposed closing an elementary school and/or reconfiguring the elementary buildings. Other proposals were also considered to address the budget shortfall, including eliminating full-day kindergarten, eliminating art and music classes for kindergarten through sixth grades, eliminating kindergarten aides, and eliminating special education aides. Wyoming Area School District provides full-day kindergarten to 100% of eligible students since 2003. None of the proposals were used to balance the 2012-13 budget.

John F. Kennedy Elementary Center

John F. Kennedy Elementary Center is located at 50 Penn Avenue, Exeter. In 2011, the School reported 168 students enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade, with 67 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 11 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1. John F. Kennedy Elementary Center is a federally designated Title I school. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

In 2010 through 2012, John F. Kennedy Elementary Center achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.

Montgomery Avenue Elementary

Montgomery Avenue Elementary School is located at 100 Montgomery Avenue, West Pittston. In 2011, the School reported 386 students enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade, with 160 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. is a federally designated Title I school. Montgomery Avenue Elementary School Avenue Elementary School employed 25 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

In 2012, Montgomery Avenue Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging reading and math scores. In particular it missed all reading metrics. In 2011 and 2010, Montgomery Avenue Elementary School achieved AYP status in all measured metrics.

Sara J Dymond Elementary School

Sara J. Dymond Elementary School is located at Sutton Creek Road, Pittston. In 2011, the school reported 201 students enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade, with 81 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. Sara J Dymond Elementary School employed 15 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 15:1. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.

In 2003 through 2012, Sara J Dymond Elementary School achieved AYP status each year.

Tenth Street Elementary School

Tenth Street Elementary School is located at 55 Tenth Street, Wyoming. In 2011, the school reported 583 students enrolled in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade, with 189 students receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. Tenth Street Elementary School employed 37 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 16:1. All the District's 6th graders attend Tenth Street Elementary School.

In 2011 and 2010, Tenth Street Elementary School achieved AYP status. In 2011, 82% of the students in 3rd through 6th grade were on grade level in reading. The third grade reading achievement was 88% on grade level with 6% below basic. The 3rd grade math achievement was 88% on grade level with 5% below basic. Additionally, 84% of the students in 3rd through 6th grade were on grade level in mathematics. Fourth graders were also tested for science. In 2011, 96% were on grade level with 67% achieving advanced in science.

Special education

The district administration reported that 371 students or 14% were receiving special education services in 2009.

The District engages in identification procedures to ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate educational program consisting of special education and related services, individualized to meet student needs. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law; and are reasonably calculated to yield meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities include: review of group-based data (cumulative records, enrollment records, health records, report cards, ability and achievement test scores); hearing, vision, motor, and speech/language screening; and review by the Instructional Support Team. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Parents who suspect their child is eligible may request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the School District or contact the Special Education Department head.

In 2010, the state of Pennsylvania provided $1,026,815,000 for special education services. The funds were distributed to districts based on a state policy which estimates that 16% of the district's pupils are receiving 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.

Wyoming Area School District received a $1,361,651 supplement for special education services in 2010.

Gifted education

The District Administration reported that 89 or 3.54% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. 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.

Bullying policy

The school district administration reported there were no incidents of bullying in the district in 2009.

All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. Wyoming Area School District has posted a Bullying Policy online. 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.

Technology

Wyoming Area has been praised numerous times for its integration of technology into curricula and activities. Furthermore, it provides an outstanding set of extracurricular activities focused around technology. The district has High speed internet connection, wireless technology, Smart and Active Boards, Mobile computer labs and video streaming. The district harnesses an online grading system to communication on demand with students and parents.

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 (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program also paid for computer integrated white boards and digital projectors for classrooms. CFF was funded from 2006-2009. Wyoming Area School District applied and was denied funding, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The district received $147,120 in 2008-09.

Technology Team Achievements

Enrichment technology programs

Budget and taxes

Pennsylvania public school districts budget and expend funds according to procedures mandated by the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). An annual operating budget is prepared by school district administrative officials. A uniform form is furnished by the PDE and submitted to the board of school directors for approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1.

Under Pennsylvania’s Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of the Special Session of 2006, all school districts of the first class A, second class, third class and fourth class must adopt a preliminary budget proposal. The proposal must include estimated revenues and expenditures and the proposed tax rates. This proposed budget must be considered by the Board no later than 90 days prior to the date of the election immediately preceding the fiscal year. The preliminary budget proposal must also be printed and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to its adoption. The board of school directors may hold a public hearing on the budget, but are not required to do so. The board must give at least 10 days’ public notice of its intent to adopt the final budget according to Act 1 of 2006.

In August 2013, the Wyoming Area Teachers Union declared a strike just as the school year began. The teachers remained on strike for 23 days. In April 2014, the teachers declared a second strike. Of nearly 140 teacher strikes that occurred nationally between 2000 and 2007, 60 percent took place in Pennsylvania, according to a report released in August by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. Pennsylvania, according to a report released by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in which teacher strikes are legal. Pennsylvania has the highest rate of teacher strikes in the United States. State law gives the Pennsylvania Department of Education the power to order the teachers to return so that students will complete 180 days of school by June 15.

In 2012, the average teacher salary in Wyoming Area School District was $53,919 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $18,268 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $72,188. The District employed 199 teachers with a top salary of $124,099.

In 2011, the average teacher salary in Wyoming Area School District was $53,919 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $18,258 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $72,168. The District employed 167 teachers with a top salary of $121,665.

In 2009, Wyoming Area School District reported employing over 170 teachers with a salary range of $39,699 to $116,986 and a median teacher salary of $59,616. Teachers work 7 hours per day with a duty-free 30-minute lunch period and a daily prep period. In addition to salary, the teachers' compensation includes: health insurance (with no employee contribution), life insurance, paid funeral leave, 10 paid sick days, 2 personal days, and reimbursement for college courses. At retirement, teachers receive $30 per unused sick day and can receive, through district funding, 40% of final salary retirement bonus and health insurance until age 65. Teachers receive extra compensation for additional duties and for extracurricular advising and sports coaching. The teacher's union is given 10 days with pay to use at its discretion for teachers to conduct union business.

In 2007, the district employed over 157 teachers. The average teacher salary in the Wyoming Area School District was $52,842 for 186 days worked.

Per pupil spending In 2008, Wyoming Area School District reported spending $9,812 per pupil. This ranked 487th among the 500 school districts, in the commonwealth. In 2010, Wyoming Area School District’s per pupil spending had increased to $10,826.48. In 2011, Pennsylvania’s per pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759. Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. Pennsylvania’s total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.

Wyoming Area School District administrative costs per pupil in 2008 was $599 in 2008. This ranked 440th in Pennsylvania public schools. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

Reserves In 2008, Wyoming Area School District reported $1,088,066 in an unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The designated fund balance was reported as zero. The District also reported $1,980,706.00 in its unreserved-undesignated fund in 2010. The designated fund balance was again reported as zero. By 2012, Wyoming Area School District had $3,479,561 in it reserve funds. Pennsylvania public 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. By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.

Debt In 2009, Wyoming Area School District reported having over $27 million in outstanding debt in General Obligation bonds and over $1 million in other long term debt.

Audit In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the school board and the school district administration In January 2012, the District was audited again by the Pennsylvania Auditor General. The findings were reported to the school board, the administration and the community.

Tuition Students who live in the Wyoming Area School District's attendance area may choose to attend one of Pennsylvania's 157 public charter schools. A student living in a neighboring public school district or a foreign exchange student may seek admission to Wyoming Area School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each school district. It is the amount the public school district pays to a charter school for each resident student that attends the charter and it is the amount a nonresident student's parents must pay to attend the Wyoming Area School District's schools. The 2012 tuition rates are Elementary School - $7,500.90, High School - $7,793.02.

Wyoming Area School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax of 1%, local services tax, per capita tax $5, a second per capita tax of $5.00 on residents over 21 years old, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax of 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Interest earnings on accounts also provide nontax income to the District. 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 the level of the individual’s personal wealth. The average Pennsylvania public school teacher pension in 2011 exceeds $60,000 a year plus they receive federal Social Security benefits: both are free of Pennsylvania state income tax and local income tax which funds local public schools.

State basic education funding

According to a report from Representative Todd Stephens office, Wyoming Area School District receives 43.6% of its annual revenue from the state.

For the 2013-14 school year, the Wyoming Area School District received a 2.3% increase or $7,412,666 in Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding. This is $169,981 more than its 2012-13 state BEF to the District. Additionally, Wyoming Area School District received $118,496 in Accountability Block Grant funding to focus on academic achievement and level funding for special education services. Among the public school districts in Luzerne County, Hazleton Area School District received the highest percentage increase at 5.4%. The District has the option of applying for several other state and federal grants to increase revenues. The Commonwealth’s budget increased Basic Education Funding statewide by $123 million to over $5.5 billion. Most of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts received an increase of Basic Education Funding in a range of 0.9% to 4%. Eight public school districts received exceptionally high funding increases of 10% to 16%. The highest increase in state funding was awarded to Austin Area School District which received a 22.5% increase in Basic Education Funding. The state funded the PSERS (Pennsylvania school employee pension fund) with $1,017,000,000 and Social Security payments for school employees of $495 million.

For the 2012-13 school year, the Wyoming Area School District received $7,242,685 . The Governor's Executive Budget for 2012-2013 included $9.34 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade public education, including $5.4 billion in basic education funding, which was an increase of $49 million over the 2011-12 budget. In addition, the Commonwealth provided $100 million for the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) program. Wyoming Area School District also received $118,496 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The state also provided a $544.4 million payment for School Employees’ Social Security and $856 million for School Employees’ Retirement fund called PSERS. This amount was a $21,823,000 increase (0.34%) over the 2011-2012 appropriations for Basic Education Funding, School Employees' Social Security, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation. Since taking office, Corbett’s first two budgets have restored more than $918 million in support of public schools, compensating for the $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars lost at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

In the 2011-12 budget year, Wyoming Area School District received a $7,241,732 allocation, of state Basic Education Funding (BEF) which was a 2.39% increase over the 2010-11 year funding. Additionally, the Wyoming Area School District received $118,496 in Accountability Block Grant funding. The enacted Pennsylvania state Education budget included $5,354,629,000 for the 2011-2012 Basic Education Funding appropriation. This amount was a $233,290,000 increase (4.6%) over the enacted State appropriation for 2010-2011. Among Luzerne County public schools, the highest BEF increase was awarded to Northwest Area School District which received a 5.99% increase over 2010-11 funding. The highest increase in state basic education funding was awarded to Duquesne City School District of Allegheny County, which got a 49% increase in state funding for 2011-12. The state's hold harmless policy regarding state basic education funding continued where each district received at least the same amount as it received the prior school year, even when enrollment had significantly declined. In 2010, the Wyoming Area School District reported that 832 students received free or reduced price lunches, due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.

For the 2010-11 school year, the state's basic education funding to Wyoming Area School District was increased by 8.59% for a total of $7,956,525. The highest increase among Luzerne County public schools was again awarded to Hazleton Area School District a 12.61% increase. Sixteen Pennsylvania school districts received an increase over 10%. One hundred fifty Pennsylvania school districts received the base 2% increase. Among 500 Pennsylvania public school districts, the highest increase in 2010-11 went to Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County which received a 23.65% increase in state funding. The amount of increase each school district received was determined by then Governor Edward Rendell and the Secretary of Education, Gerald Zahorchak, through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year. This was the second year of Governor Rendell’s policy to fund some public school districts at a far greater rate than others.

For the 2009-10 budget year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 7.65% increase in Basic Education Funding for Wyoming Area School District a total of $7,327,023. The highest increase in BEF for the school districts in Luzerne County was awarded to Hazleton Area School District which received a 13.36% increase in BEF from the state. The highest increase in Pennsylvania went to Muhlenberg School District of Berks County which received an increase of 22.31 percent. Sixteen Pennsylvania school districts received an increase in funding of over 10 percent in 2009.

The state Basic Education Funding to the district in 2008-09 was $6,793,486.28. In 2009, the District reported that 741 students were eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to low family income. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania spent $7,824 Per Pupil in the year 2000. This amount increased up to $12,085 by the year 2008.

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 Wyoming Area School District applied for and received $321,629 in addition to all other state and federal funding. The District used the funding to provide all-day kindergarten for the seventh year.

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 (English, Science, History, Math) and paid for teacher training to optimize the computers use. The program was funded from 2006 to 2009. The Wyoming Area School District was denied funding by the PDE in 2006-07 or in 2007-08. The District received $147,120 in 2008-09. Among the public school districts in Luzerne County the highest award was given to Hazleton Area School District which received $1,100,352. The highest funding statewide was awarded to Philadelphia City School District in Philadelphia County - $9,409,073. The grant program was discontinued by Governor Edward Rendell as part of the 2009-10 state budget.

Other grants

Wyoming Area School District did not participate in: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Environmental Education annual grants, PA Science Its Elementary grants (discontinued effective with 2009-10 budget by Governor Rendell), Education Assistance Grants, 2012 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, nor the federal 21st Century Learning grants.

Federal Stimulus grant

Wyoming Area School District received an extra $2,039,495 in ARRA - Federal Stimulus money to be used only 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 advised 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

Wyoming Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district over $1 million in additional federal dollars for improving 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 a majority of school districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.

Common Cents state initiative

The Wyoming Area School Board decided 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

Wyoming Area School Board levied a real estate tax of 13.8522 mills, Wyoming County residents - 76.9683 mills in 2013-14. The Board reduced the tax rate on properties in Exeter Township in Wyoming County by 0.5 percent due to a comparison adjustment of property values. 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. On the local level, Pennsylvania district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts. 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, includingplaces of worship, places of burial, private social clubs, charitable and educational institutions and all government property (local, state and federal). Additionally, service related, disabled US military veterans may seek an exemption from paying property taxes. There are several veterans who receive this benefit in Wyoming Area School District. Pennsylvania school district revenues are dominated by two main sources: 1) Property tax collections, which account for the vast majority (between 75-85%) of local revenues; and 2) Act 511 tax collections, which are around 15% of revenues for school districts. When a Pennsylvania public school district includes municipalities in two counties, each of which has different rates of property tax assessment, a state board equalizes the tax rates between the counties. In 2010, miscalculations by the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) were widespread in the Commonwealth and adversely impacted funding for many school districts, including those that did not cross county borders.

In 2008, Luzerne County conducted a county wide property value reassessment. The previous county wide assessment had been done in 1965.

The average yearly property tax paid by Luzerne County residents amounts to about 3.02% of their yearly income. Luzerne County ranked 586th out of the 3143 United States counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income. In Wyoming County, residents the average yearly property tax paid is 3.73% of their yearly income which ranked 304th among the counties in the United States. According to a report prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the total real estate taxes collected by all school districts in Pennsylvania rose from $6,474,133,936 in 1999-00 to $10,438,463,356 in 2008-09 and to $11,153,412,490 in 2011. 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%).

Act 1 Adjusted index

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 (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of .75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.

In June 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed legislation eliminating six of the exceptions to the Act 1 Index. Several exceptions were maintained: 1) 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 (beyond what is already paid by the State); and 4) costs due to increases of more than the Index in the school’s share of payments to PSERS (PA school employees pension fund) taking into account the state mandated PSERS contribution rate. The legislature also froze the payroll amount public school districts use to calculate the pension-plan exception at the 2012 payroll levels. Further increases in payroll cannot be used to raise the district’s exception for pension payments.

A specific timeline for Act I Index decisions is published annually, by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The School District Adjusted Index for the Wyoming Area School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.

For the 2013-14 budget year, Wyoming Area School Board applied for an exception to exceed their Act 1 Index limit due to the state mandated escalating teacher pension costs. The Board was approved, but for less than the amount requested. The Wyoming Area Teachers Union is pressuring the Board to raise the taxes to the maximum allowed. For the school budget year 2013-14, 311 Pennsylvania public school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index. Another 171 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 89 school districts received approval to exceed the Index in full while others received a partial approval of their request. For special education costs, 75 districts received approval to exceed their tax limit. For the pension costs exception, 169 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. Eleven Pennsylvania public school districts received an approval for grandfathered construction debts.

For the 2012-13 budget year, Wyoming Area School Board applied for one exception to exceed the Act 1 Index, without local voter approval, due to the rapidly increasing costs of the teachers pensions. The Board was approved for significantly less than it requested. For 2012-2013, 274 school districts adopted a resolution certifying that tax rates would not be increased above their index; 223 school districts adopted a preliminary budget leaving open the option of exceeded the Index limit. For the exception for pension costs, 194 school districts received approval to exceed the Index. For special education costs, 129 districts received approval to exceed the tax limit.

For the 2011-12 school year, the Wyoming Area School Board applied for four exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: School Construction Grandfathered Debt, employee health insurance costs increases, increasing special education costs and teacher pension costs. The District was approved for all four increases. Each year, the Wyoming Area 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.

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 Wyoming Area School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011. In the Spring of 2010, 135 of 500 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 Wyoming Area School District was $83 per approved permanent primary residence. In the District, 5,750 property owners applied for the tax relief. In 2010 within Luzerne County, the highest reported amount went to Wilkes-Barre Area School District set at $210 per approved homestead. The property tax relief was subtracted from the total annual school property tax bill for each property. 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. Pennsylvania awarded the highest property tax relief to residents of the Chester-Upland School District in Delaware County at $641 per homestead and farmstead in 2010. CUSD was given $632 in 2009. This was the second year they were the top recipient.

Extracurriculars

Wyoming Area School District's students have access to a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive costly sports program. Eligibility for participation is determined by the 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.

Academic competition teams achievements

Athletics

The District funds:

According to PIAA directory July 2013

Football has traditionally been the school's most competitive program. In addition to having won the Wyoming Valley Conference numerous times, the program won the PIAA District 2 AA titles in 1992, 1998, and 2012, and the PIAA District 2 AAA title in 2003. Several football players have also gone on to play NCAA Division I Football at schools such as Brown University, Bucknell University, Columbia University, Sacred Heart University, Cornell University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Penn State University, William and Mary, and Yale University. Paul Marranca, the head coach at Wyoming Area for 27 seasons (1976–86, 1992–2007), was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

Baseball is also a major sport at Wyoming Area and students have been recruited by schools such as Bucknell University and Temple University to play at their institution. In the 2006-2007 school year, the Wyoming Area golf team took a perfect record of 12-0 into the playoffs. Other sports include basketball, volleyball, soccer, field hockey, cross country, swimming, track and field, ice hockey and tennis. Wrestling (the most demanding{both physically & mentally} and unappreciated of all the aforementioned sports), not previously mentioned, is also offered and has showcased numerous Wyoming Valley Conference/District II Individual & Team Champions throughout the history of the Wyoming Area Warriors wrestling program. The 2012-2013 wrestling season produced four P.I.A.A. District II Wrestling Champions in Patrick Heck (106 lbs.), Carmen Mauriello (120 lbs.), Nicholas Heck (138 lbs.) and Andrew Schultz (126 lbs.), with Andrew Schultz becoming the school's first 4X P.I.A.A. District II Wrestling Champion. Andrew Schultz was also the 2013 NE regional runner up and placed 7th at the 2013 P.I.A.A. State Wrestling Championships in Hershey, PA, along with Nicholas Heck finishing third at the 2013 NE regionals, respectively. Patrick Heck and Nicholas Heck (brothers) followed in their Uncle Pat Heck's footsteps, who himself was a two-time P.I.A.A. District II Champion.

Programs, Clubs, and Organizations

The Wyoming Area Secondary Center provides its students with various extracurricular activities aside from sports. These activities include Chess Club, Key Club, Builder's Club, Student Council, Art Club, FBLA, SADD, TATU, Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Indoor Percussion, Chorus and Drama. Students may also participate in Young Scholars, Scholastic Scrimmage, Brain Bee, Shore Bowl, Science Olympiad, American Chemical Society Contest, Bloomsburg Science Iditarod, Kane Physics Competition, JETS Contest, Envirothon and History Day. The Journalism Club, Yearbook, and the WAVE(Warrior audio visual entertainment) allow students to showcase their creative writing and reporting skills.

Current Board of Education

Additional information

There are soccer fields, baseball fields, field hockey facilities, tennis courts and a lighted track at the football stadium in West Pittston that are open to the public until 10 p.m.