PRINTER'S NO. 863
No. 804 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY SCANLON, ROMANELLI AND NOSZKA, APRIL 27, 1977
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 27, 1977
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," changing dates of organizational
6 meetings, levying of school taxes and the taxing powers of
7 boards of education of school districts of the first class A.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 401, act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
11 No.14), known as the "Public School Code of 1949," is amended by
12 adding a subsection to read:
13 Section 401. Beginning of School Year; Organization
14 Meetings.--
15 * * *
16 (a.1) In all school districts of the first class A, the
17 school directors shall meet and organize annually during the
18 first week of December.
19 * * *
20 Section 2. Section 652 of the act, amended May 29, 1951
21 (P.L.436, No.103), is amended to read:
1 Section 652. Tax Levy; Purposes; Limitations.--In all
2 school districts of the first class [and first class A] the
3 school taxes for the following fiscal year shall be levied
4 annually, by the board of public education thereof, on or after
5 the second Monday of November and before the first Monday of
6 December following. In all school districts of the first class A
7 the school taxes for the following fiscal year shall be levied
8 annually by the board of public education on or after the first
9 Monday of December and before the end of the current fiscal
10 year. The board of public education thereof shall annually levy
11 a tax on each dollar of the total assessments of all property
12 assessed and certified for taxation in said district, which tax
13 shall be ascertained, determined, and fixed by adding together
14 the following:
15 (1) An amount which, with all moneys received from the
16 Commonwealth applicable thereto, shall be sufficient to pay the
17 minimum salaries and increments of the teaching and supervisory
18 staff thereof as fixed and provided by law and to pay the
19 contributions of said district to the teachers' retirement
20 system. For the purpose of computing the amount required to pay
21 the minimum salaries and increments fixed by law, but without
22 otherwise limiting the rights of the district to employ teachers
23 or other employes, (i) The number of teachers on the salary
24 schedule of the elementary schools shall not exceed one for
25 every thirty pupils in average daily membership in such schools,
26 (ii) The number of teachers on the salary schedule of the junior
27 high schools shall not exceed one for every twenty-two pupils in
28 average daily membership in such schools, (iii) The number of
29 teachers on the salary schedule of the senior high schools shall
30 not exceed one for every twenty-two pupils in average daily
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1 membership in such schools, (iv) The number of teachers with
2 salaries and increments fixed by law, on any salary schedule now
3 established or hereafter established, and not specially
4 mentioned in this act, shall not exceed one for every twenty-two
5 pupils in average daily membership, (v) The number of principals
6 in the elementary schools, and the principals in charge of all
7 other character of schools now established or hereafter
8 established, and not specially mentioned in this act, shall not
9 exceed one for every six hundred pupils in average daily
10 membership in such schools, (vi) The number of principals in the
11 junior and senior high schools shall not exceed one for every
12 twelve hundred pupils in average daily membership in such
13 schools, (vii) The number of supervisors in all schools shall
14 not exceed one for every fifteen hundred pupils in average daily
15 membership, (viii) The number of attendance officers and home
16 and school visitors shall not exceed one for every two thousand
17 pupils in average daily membership in all elementary and
18 secondary schools, (ix) In all adult and extension school
19 classes, the number of teachers shall not exceed one for every
20 twenty pupils in average daily membership in such schools.
21 The salary and increments, fixed by law, of members of the
22 teaching and supervisory staff whose number is not in some
23 manner limited hereby, shall not be included within the purposes
24 authorized by clause (1) of this section, but shall be construed
25 and regarded as constituting expenses within the meaning of
26 clause (3) of this section.
27 Average daily membership, as used herein, shall be based upon
28 membership during the preceding school term.
29 (2) An amount sufficient to pay the interest on, and retire
30 at maturity the principal of, the indebtedness of said district
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1 incurred as authorized by law.
2 (2.1) An amount sufficient to pay any rentals agreed to be
3 paid to the State Public School Building Authority or any other
4 authority created by the General Assembly, having State-wide
5 jurisdiction.
6 (3) An amount sufficient to pay all other expenses and
7 requirements of said school district, which amount shall be
8 equivalent to not less than three, nor more than five, mills on
9 the dollar of the total assessment of all property assessed and
10 certified for taxation therein.
11 The total annual school tax levy for all purposes in any
12 school district of the first class shall not be more than eleven
13 and three-quarter (11 3/4) mills on the dollar of the total
14 assessment of all property assessed and certified for taxation
15 in the territory constituting the district.
16 Section 3. Subclause (iv) of clause (1) of subsection (a) of
17 section 652.1 of the act, added December 19, 1975 (P.L.511,
18 No.150), is amended to read:
19 Section 652.1. Taxing Power of Elected Board of Public
20 Education of School Districts of the First Class A.--(a) The
21 elected board of public education in any school district of the
22 first class A shall have authority to impose taxes for the
23 purposes of such school district as follows:
24 (1) Without ordinance and under the following statutes their
25 reenactments and amendments, at the rates fixed therein, namely:
26 * * *
27 [(iv) Real property tax acts:
28 Act of November 19, 1959 (P.L.1552, No.557), (additional 2
29 mills),
30 Act of August 8, 1963 (P.L.585, No.304), (additional 1 mill),
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1 Act of May 23, 1949 (P.L.1661, No.505), (additional 1 1/2
2 mills),
3 Act of July 12, 1957 (P.L.837, No.386), (additional 3/4 mill)
4 and section 652 of this act, (11 3/4 mills).]
5 (iv) Real property tax acts:
6 Act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), 11.75 mills,
7 Act of November 30, 1955 (P.L.793, No.226), 1.5 mills,
8 Act of July 12, 1957 (P.L.837, No.386), .75 mills,
9 Act of November 19, 1959 (P.L.1552, No.557), 2 mills,
10 Act of October 21, 1965 (P.L.650, No.321), 1 mill,
11 Act of November 26, 1968 (P.L.1098, No.340), 6 mills,
12 Act of December 15, 1975 (P.L.483, No.143), 6 mills.
13 * * *
14 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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