Brentwood Borough School District


The Brentwood Borough School District is a small, suburban public school district. It serves the Borough of Brentwood in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The School District of the Borough of Brentwood encompasses approximately 1.5 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 10,466. In 2009, the district residents' per capita income was $20,024, while the median family income was $48,552. Per District officials, in school year 2007-08 School District of the Borough of Brentwood provided basic educational services to 1,289 pupils through the employment of 98 teachers, 54 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 6 administrators. The School District of the Borough of Brentwood received more than $19 million in state funding in school year 2018-19.
The district operates four schools:
The school district is governed by 9 individually elected board members, 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 Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives Sunshine Review gave the Brentwood Borough School Board and Brentwood Borough School 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.

Statewide High School PSSA Rankings

The following statewide rankings are based solely on the PSSA results of the high school's junior class:
In 2011, the School District of Brentwood Borough ranked 152nd out of 498 Pennsylvania districts. The ranking is based on five years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in reading, writing, math and three years of science.
;Local ranking:
Brentwood Borough School District was ranked 40th out of 105 western Pennsylvania school districts in 2011 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on five years of student academic performance on the PSSAs on: math, reading, writing and three years of science.
In 2009, the academic achievement of the students of the Brentwood Borough School District was in the 57th percentile of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Scale

Graduation rate

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. Brentwood Borough School District's rate was 94% for 2010.
According to traditional graduation rate calculations:
In 2010 and 2009, the high school achieved AYP status.
;PSSA Results
;11th Grade Reading
;11th Grade Math:
11th Grade Science:
College remediation According to a Pennsylvania Department of Education study released in January 2009, 35% of Brentwood 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. 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, 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 offers a dual enrollment program to students with a GPA of 3.0 and better. This state program permits high school students to take courses, at local higher education institutions, to earn college credits. Students remain enrolled at their high school. The courses count towards high school graduation requirements and towards earning a college degree. The students continue to have full access to activities and programs at their high school. The college credits are offered at a deeply discounted rate. The state offers a small grant to assist students in costs for tuition, fees and books. 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 $1,940 for the program.

Graduation requirements

The Brentwood Borough School Board requires a minimum of 25 credits for a student to graduate, including: English 4 credits, Graduation project 1 credit, Social Students 4 credits, Science 3 credits, Mathematics 4 credits, Arts/Humanities 2 credits, Health and PE. 1 and Electives 6 credits. Additionally, the board requires that the student achieve a score at the advanced or proficient levels on the writing, reading and mathematics assessments of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment administered in the eleventh grade.
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. At Brentwood Borough a students may focus on: research on a Curriculum-related project; a School/Community improvement project; an Entrepreneurial project; an Internship or apprenticeship with a local business or corporation or a personal interest project.
By Pennsylvania School Board regulations, for the graduating classes 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.

Middle school

The middle school was ranked 42nd out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools for student academic achievement on 2009 PSSAs in reading, writing, math and one year of science by the Pittsburgh Business Times. In 2008, the middle school ranked 85th for academic achievement.
In 2010 and 2009, the school achieved AYP status.
;8th Grade Reading:
;8th Grade Math:
;8th Grade Science:
;7th Grade Reading:
;7th Grade Math:
;6th Grade Reading:
;6th Grade Math:
In December 2009 the district administration reported that 155 pupils or 12% of the district's pupils received Special Education services.
In complying with state and federal laws, 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 ; 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 or guardians, who suspect their child is eligible, may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the District or contact the Coordinator of Special Education.
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.
Brentwood Borough School District received a $772,185 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 46 or 3.47% of its students were gifted in 2009. By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The primary emphasis is on enrichment and acceleration of the regular education curriculum through a push in model with the gifted instructor in the classroom with the regular instructor. Students identified as gifted attending the High School have access to honors and advanced placement courses, and dual enrollment with local colleges. The special education department works to connect students with local enrichment opportunities offered by groups in the region. 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 and safety

In 2009 the administrative reported there were 3 incidents of bullying in the district.
The Brentwood Borough School Board prohibits bullying by district students and faculty. The policy defines bullying and cyberbullying. The Board directs that complaints of bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when allegations are verified. No reprisals or retaliation shall occur as a result of good faith reports of bullying. The board expects staff members to be responsible to maintain an educational environment free from all forms of bullying. 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.

Budget

In 2009, the district employed 100 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $55,595 for 192 days with 184 days instructing students. The beginning salary was $38,770, while the highest salary was $113,568. Teachers work a 7-hour 30 minute day, which includes one planning period and a paid 30 minute lunch. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, vision insurance, income insurance, 100% professional development tuition reimbursement, 2-3 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, 3 paid bereavement days, 1 year paid sabbatical leave and other benefits. The district offers a retirement stipend that includes payment for unused sick days. The union receives 4 paid days per year to conduct union business, including travel outside of the district. According to Rep. Glen Grell, a trustee of the state teacher retirement fund, a 40-year educator can retire with a pension equal to 100 percent of their final salary.
The board pays a $2500 annual stipend to a teacher who achieves National Board Certification for as long as the national certification is maintained.
In 2007, the district employed 88 teachers with the average teacher salary in the district at $51,284 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.
The district administrative costs in 2008 were $870.74 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. The school board gave Superintendent Dufalia a five-year contract, in July 2006, with an initial salary of $105,000. Additionally, he receives annual raised equal to the teachers' union raises, a $125000 life insurance policy, 20 days of vacation, health insurance until he is 65 years old and more. 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. Superintendents and administrators receive a benefit package commensurate with that offered to the district's teachers' union.
The district reported that its per pupil spending was $12,880 in 2008. This ranked 187th among 501 Pennsylvania public school districts.
Reserves In 2008, the Brentwood Borough School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of $2,100,000.00 and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $1,409,111.00.
In April 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit on the district. Several findings were reported to the school board and administration.
The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the income level.

State basic education funding

In 2011-12, the district will receive $4,482,287 in state Basic Education Funding. Additionally, the district will receive $75,335 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.
For the 2010-11 budget year, the Brentwood Borough School District received a 2.16% increase in state basic education funding for a total of $4,769,417. In Allegheny County, the highest increase went to South Fayette Township School District which received an 11.32% increase in state funding. One hundred fifty school districts in Pennsylvania received a 2% base increase for budget year 2010-11. The highest increase in the state was given to Kennett Consolidated School District of Chester County which was given a 23.65% increase in state funding. The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the budget proposal made in February each year.
In the 2009-2010 budget year the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided a 4.15% increase in Basic Education funding for a total of $4,668,531. Four county school districts received increases of over 6% in Basic Education Funding in 2008-10. Chartiers Valley School District received an 8.17% increase. The majority of Allegheny County districts received a 2% increase. In Pennsylvania, over 15 school districts received Basic Education Funding increases in excess of 10% in 2009. Muhlenberg School District in Berks County received the highest with a 22.31% increase in funding. The state's Basic Education Funding to the Brentwood Borough School District in 2008-09 was $4,483,154.48 The amount of increase each school district receives is determined by the Governor and the Secretary of Education through the allocation set in the state budget proposal made in February each year.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 394 students received free or reduced-price lunches due to low family income in the 2007-2008 school year.

Accountability Block Grant

The state provides supplemental funding in the form of accountability block grants. The use of these funds is strictly focused on specific state approved uses. Brentwood Borough School District uses its $204,479 to fund all-day kindergarten and to reduce class size Kindergarten to 3rd grade. These annual funds are in addition to the state's basic education funding. Schools Districts must apply each year for Accountability Block Grants. In 2009-10 the state provided $271.4 million in Accountability Block grants $199.5 million went to providing all-day kindergartens.

Classrooms for the Future Grants

In 2008-09, Brentwood Borough School Board, applied for and received a grant from the PA Department of Education for over to purchase equipment to help reform the high school's core subjects instruction and to prepare students for future employment by using cutting-edge equipment and software. The district used the funds to purchase laptops for students, laptops for teachers, laptop carts and other digital equipment. The district also received substantial funds to upgrade our existing network infrastructure. The grant provided additional funding for a technology coach to instruct teachers in using the equipment to improve instruction. In 2006-07 the district did not apply for funding. In 2007-08, the district's application was rejected by the PDE. In 2008, the district received $76,390 for computers and related equipment. Since 2006, Pennsylvania's Classrooms for the Future program has distributed more than $150 million for laptops, interactive boards and other high-tech tools in 543 high schools. In 2009 the state funding program was terminated due to a deep state budget shortfall.

Federal Stimulus grant

The district received $902,429 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 for 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

Race to the Top

School district officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district hundreds of thousands of 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 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.

Real estate taxes

The Brentwood Borough School Board set property tax rates in 2011-12 28,2700 mills. One mill in Brentwood School District generates about $338,000. 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.
The Brentwood Borough School District offers an option for installment payments of real estate taxes on approved Homestead and Farmstead Property pursuant to the Taxpayer Relief Act.

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 2010-2011 school year is 2.9 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 greater than 0.4000, its index equals the base index multiplied by the sum of 0.75 and its MV/PI AR for the current year.
The School District Adjusted Index for the Brentwood Borough School District 2006-2007 through 2011-2012.
For the 2011-12 school year the Brentwood Borough School Board did not apply for exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index. Each year, the Brentwood Borough 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 publisher each year 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.
For the 2010-11 school year budget, the Brentwood Borough School Board did not apply for any exceptions to exceed the Act 1 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. In 2009 the school board did not apply for any exceptions.

Property tax relief

In 2011, property tax relief was set at $243 for the 2,570 approved homesteads. In Allegheny County, the highest tax relief went to Duquesne City School District which was set at $351.
In 2010, property tax relief was set at $244 for 2,561 homesteads. In 2009, the Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief from gambling for the Brentwood Borough School District was $247 per approved permanent primary residence. In the district, 2,533 property owners applied for the tax relief. Among Allegheny County school districts, Duquesne City School District received the highest tax relief at $346 in 2009. In Pennsylvania the highest tax relief was given to Chester Upland School District of Delaware County at $632 in 2009. 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 Allegheny County, 60% of eligible property owners applied for property tax relief in 2009.
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, so people who make substantially more than $35,000 may still qualify for a rebate. Individuals must apply annually for the rebate. This can be taken in addition to Homestead/Farmstead Property Tax Relief.
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.

Enrollment and Consolidation

The Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that the Brentwood Borough School District's enrollment had declined to 1238 pupils in 2010. In 2006, the enrollment had been 1327 pupils. The PDE projects that enrollment will continue to decline to 1002 students by 2019-2020.
A proposal was 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: Brentwood Borough School District, Baldwin-Whitehall School District, Keystone Oaks School District and Mount Lebanon School District. The proposed district would serve the communities of: Baldwin, Baldwin Township, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Dormont, Green Tree, and Mt. Lebanon.
A Standard and Poors study found that an optimal school district size, to conserve administrative costs, was at least 3000 pupils. The report found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings for people in the schools' communities. In February 2009, Governor Edward Rendell proposed reducing the number of school districts in Pennsylvania from 500 to 100. He asserted that consolidation of adjacent school districts, in each county, would achieve substantial administrative cost savings. His proposal stated that the savings could be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes. Consolidation of the central administrations into one would not require the closing of any local schools.
In March 2011, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Fiscal Responsibility Task Force released a report which found that consolidating school district administrations with one neighboring district would save the Commonwealth $1.2 billion without forcing the consolidation of any school buildings. The study noted that while the best school districts spent 4% of the annual budget on administration, others spend over 15% on administration.
More than 40 percent of elementary schools and more than 60 percent of secondary schools in western Pennsylvania are projected to experience significant enrollment decreases.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of school districts in the nation. In Pennsylvania, 80% of the school districts serve student populations under 5,000, and 40% serve less than 2,000. This results in excessive school administration bureaucracy and not enough course diversity. In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts, 42% of the 49 respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.

Extracurriculars

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. The school board determines eligibility policies to participate in these programs.
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. The students must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.

Sports

The district offers high school students: Track and Field, Golf, Football, Girls' Volleyball, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Softball, Baseball, Cross Country, Soccer, and Swimming.
Middle school - Swimming, Cheerleading, Basketball, as well as Track and Field.
It also offers a combined Middle and High school marching band