Moniteau School District

Moniteau School District is governed by 9 individually elected, school 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.[16] 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 School Board enters into individual employment contracts for these positions. In Pennsylvania, public school districts are required to give 150 days notice to the superintendent regarding renewal of the employment contract.[17]

A May 2013, performance audit of the district conducted by the Pennsylvania Auditor General found the Moniteau School Board had spent $128,901 on an agreement that prematurely terminated Its former superintendent's employment contract.[18] Dr. Trudy Kay Peterman was appointed superintendent in October 2005 with a five-year contract.[19] Peterman resigned her position in April 2010.[20] Michael A. Panza served as superintendent from 1999-2005.[21]

Campbell Bus Co. Is their local bus company.

In 2014, Moniteau School District ranked 253rd out of 496 Pennsylvania public school districts, by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[22] The ranking is based on the last 3 years of student academic achievement as demonstrated by PSSAs results in: reading, writing, math and science and the three Keystone Exams (literature, Algebra 1, Biology I) in high school.[23] Three school districts were excluded because they do not operate high schools (Saint Clair Area School District, Midland Borough School District, Duquesne City School District). The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th. Adapted PSSA examinations are given to children in the special education programs. Writing exams were given to children in 5th and 8th grades.

• 2013 - 254th [24]
• 2010 - 336th [25]
• 2009 - 362nd
• 2008 - 394th
• 2007 - 361st out of 501 school districts.[26]

Western Pennsylvania local ranking Moniteau School District was ranked 54th out of 104 western Pennsylvania school districts, in 2014, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs on: math, reading, writing and science.[27] (includes 105 districts in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County and Westmoreland County but excludes Duquesne City School District & Midland Borough School District due to their not operating a high school). In 2006, the district ranked 89th in the region.[28]

Overachiever statewide ranking

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 498 Pennsylvania school districts. Moniteau School District ranked 14th in the western Pennsylvania region. In 2013, the district was 26th.[29] 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."[30]

Moniteau Junior Senior High School is located at 1810 W Sunbury Road, West Sunbury. In 2013, enrollment was reported as 685 pupils in 7th through 12th grades, with 40% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 11.6% of pupils received special education services, while 3.36% of pupils were identified as gifted. The school employed 41 teachers.[43] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school is not a Title I school.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, the school reported an enrollment of 722 pupils in grades 7th through 12th, with 284 pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level. In 2011, the school employed 40.9 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 17.6:1.[44] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under No Child Left Behind.[45] The Moniteau Junior Senior High School was a Title I school.

Western PA academic ranking;

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Moniteau Junior Senior High School's eleventh grade 82nd out of 105 western Pennsylvania high schools, based on the last three years of student academic achievement in Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in: reading, math, writing and science.[46] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County) In 2013, the 11th grade ranked 91st.[47] In 2012, the eleventh grade ranked 94th out of 105.

2013 School Performance Profile

Moniteau Junior Senior High School achieved 70.9 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics and science achievement. In reading/literature -81% of pupils were reading on grade level. In Algebra 1, 77% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Biology, just 52% showed on grade level science understanding.[48] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, beginning in 2012, they take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.[49]

AYP History

In 2012, Moniteau Junior Senior High School declined to Warning AYP status due to lagging achievement in reading and mathematics.[50] In 2010 and 2011, Moniteau Junior Senior High School achieved AYP status.[51] Effective with Spring 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Education discontinued administering the PSSA's to 11th graders.

• 2009 - declined to Warning AYP status[52]
• 2008 - achieved AYP status[53]
• 2007 - declined to Warning AYP status[54]
• 2006 - achieved AYP status
• 2005 - declined to Warning AYP status
• 2004 - achieved AYP status
• 2003 - Warning AYP status

PSSA results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012, in all Pennsylvania public high schools. The exams were administered in the Spring of each school year. The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam included content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies. The mathematics exam included: Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry and trigonometry. The standards were first published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.[55]

In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year.[56]

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 71% on grade level, (13 below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.[57]
• 2011 - 73% (12% below basic). State - 69.1%[58]
• 2010 - 70% (11% below basic). State - 66%[59]
• 2009 - 55% (20% below basic). State - 65% [60]
• 2008 - 65% (18% below basic). State - 65% [61]

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 52% on grade level (23% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.[62]
• 2011 - 52% (22% below basic). State - 60.3% [63]
• 2010 - 45% (31% below basic). State - 59% [64]
• 2009 - 49% (23% below basic). State - 71% [65]
• 2008 - 47% (30% below basic). State - 56% [66]

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 31% on grade level (19% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.[67]
• 2011 - 32% (14% below basic). State - 40%[68]
• 2010 - 30% (13% below basic). State – 57% [69]
• 2009 - 18% (35% below basic). State - 40% [70]
• 2008 - 26% (17% below basic). State - 39% [71]
• 2007 - students field tested. Results withheld from the public by PDE.

Dassa McKinney Elementary School is a rural school located at 391 Hooker Road, West Sunbury. In 2013, the school's enrollment was 719 pupils in grades kindergarten through sixth, with 47% of pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price meals due to family poverty. Additionally, 13% of the pupils receive special education services, while 1.5% are identified as gifted.[100] According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of the teachers were rated highly qualified under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school provides half-day kindergarten.[101] The school is a federally designated Title I school. The school provides half-day kindergarten to all its pupils. Dassa McKinney was a woman who had a school built on her land, in her honor.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011, enrollment was 733 pupils in grades kindergarten through 6th, with 303 pupils receiving a free or reduced-price lunch. Dassa McKinney Elementary School employed 44 teachers, yielding a student-teacher ratio of 16:1.[102] Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 100% of its teachers were rated "Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[103] The school provides half-day kindergarten to all its pupils.[104]

2013 School Performance Profile

Dassa McKinney Elementary School achieved a score of 82.4 out of 100. The score reflects on grade level: reading, science, writing and mathematics achievement. In 2012-13, only 71% of the students were reading on grade level in grades 3rd through 6th. In 3rd grade, 77.78% of the pupils were reading on grade level. In math, 81% were on grade level (3rd-6th grades). In 4th grade science, 93% of the pupils demonstrated on grade level understanding. In writing, only 74% of 5th grade pupils demonstrated on grade level skills.[105]

Western Pennsylvania ranking

In 2014, Dassa McKinney Elementary School's sixth grade ranked 28th out of 105 western Pennsylvania middle school's sixth grades.[106] The fifth grade ranked 42nd out of 105 schools. The 4th grade ranked 35th while the third grade ranked 43rd out of 105 schools.

AYP history

In 2012, Dassa McKinney Elementary School declined to Warning AYP status, due to lagging achievement in reading and mathematics.[107] From 2003 through 2011, Dassa McKinney Elementary School achieved AYP status each school year.

PSSA History

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. The sixth grade was assessed in reading and mathematics. These PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.[108] Prior to that year the test were given to 5th grades, 8th grades and 11th grades. The goal established by NCLB was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.[109][110][111] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.[112]

PSSA history

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 90%, (5% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 97%, (0% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - 91%, (1% below basic). State - 81%
• 2009 - 99%, (0% below basic). State - 83%
• 2008 - 96%, (0% below basic). State - 81%

In December 2012, Moniteau School District Administration reported that 197 pupils, or 13.9% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 41.6% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.[119] In December 2010, Moniteau School District Administration reported that 222 pupils, or 14.8% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 39% of the identified students having a specific learning disability. In December 2008, the district administration reported that 246 pupils, or 15.4% of the district's pupils, received special education services, with 47% of the identified students having a specific learning disability.[120] Special education services in the Commonwealth are provided to students from ages three years to 21 years old. In the 2010-2011 school year, the total student enrollment was more than 1.78 million students with approximately 275,000 students eligible for special education services. Among these students 18,959 were identified with mental retardation and 21,245 students with autism.[121] The largest group of students are identified as Specific Learning Disabilities 126,026 students (46.9 percent) and Speech or Language Impairments with 43,542 students (16.2 percent).

In order to comply with state and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act rules and regulations, the school 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.[122] To identify students who may be eligible for special education services, 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 Special Education administration. When screening results suggest that the student may be eligible, the district seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation.[123] Parents who suspect their child is eligible may verbally request a multidisciplinary evaluation from a professional employee of the district or contact the district's Special Education Department.[124][125] The IDEA 2004 requires each school entity to publish a notice to parents, in newspapers or other media, including the student handbook and website regarding the availability of screening and intervention services and how to access them.

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.[126] The Special Education funding structure is through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and state appropriations. IDEA funds are appropriated to the state on an annual basis and distributed through intermediate units (IUs) to school districts, while state funds are distributed directly to the districts. Total funds that are received by school districts are calculated through a formula. The Pennsylvania Department of Education oversees four appropriations used to fund students with special needs: Special Education; Approved Private Schools; Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and Early Intervention. 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.[127] Over identification 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.[128] The state requires each public school district and charter school to have a three-year special education plan to meet the unique needs of its special education students.[129] In 2012, the Obama Administration's US Department of Education issued a directive requiring schools include students with disabilities in extracurricular activities, including sports.[130]

The Moniteau School District received a $1,013,088 supplement for special education services in 2010-2011.[131] For the 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013–2014 and 2014-2015 school years, all Pennsylvania public school districts received the same level of funding for special education that they received in 2010-11. 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.[132][133] Additionally, the state provides supplemental funding for extraordinarily impacted students. The district must apply for this added funding.

Moniteau School District administration reported there were thirteen incidents of bullying in the district in 2012. Additionally, there were two thefts and no sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in eleven incidents at the schools with no arrests.[137] [138] Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.[139]

In 2014, Moniteau High School English teacher and football coach, Jonathan Crum pled guilty to sexually molesting 5 students at the school including trading grades for sex.[140][141][142]

In August 2012, a hazing incident involving the football team became public. Older team players stuck the bare buttocks in the faces of younger players in a practice they called brown nosing.[143] The perpetrators were barred from the team.[144] The district has an anti-hazing policy which was revised after the incident.[145]

In 2008, Matthew Goettler a seventh grade basketball coach and substitute teacher at the district was charged with sexual abuse of students for conducting a game with sexual activities and sending sexual messages to pupils.[146][147] In 2009, Goettler was declared a sexual predator and sentenced to prison.[148]

The Moniteau School Board has provided the district's antibully policy online.[149] 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.[150] 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.[151][152]

Education standards relating to student safety and anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[153]

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.[157]

In the 2012-2013 school year, the average teacher salary in Moniteau School District was $56,170 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers received was $23,621 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $79,791.[158] The district employed 138 teachers and administrators, with a top salary of $100,000.[159][160]

According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation was roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.[161] At Moniteau School District there were 140 teachers and administrators in 2009.[162]

In 2009, the Moniteau School District reported employing 115 teachers and administrators with a median salary of $52,716 and a top salary of 87,802.[163] The teacher's work day is 7.5 hours with a 30-minute duty-free lunch and a daily prep period. There were 186 days in the contract year. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit PSERS pension, health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, professional development reimbursement, 2 paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, 4 bereavement days and other benefits. The full cost of health insurance for district retirees is paid by the district taxpayers. The district also provides both short term and long term disability insurance and a cash bonus retirement incentive. The local union president is entitled to 6 days with pay to conduct union business.[164]

In 2008, Moniteau School District administration reported that per-pupil spending was $10,753. In 2010, the district's per-pupil spending had increased to $11,217.38.[165] In 2011, Pennsylvania's state per-pupil spending was $13,467, ranking 6th in the United States.[166] In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.[167]

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Pennsylvania spent $8,191 per pupil in school year 2000-01.[168] By 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was reported as $12,759.[169] Among the fifty states, Pennsylvania's total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, for the 2008-2009 school year.[170] Pennsylvania's total revenue per pupil rose to $16,186 ranking 9th in the nation in 2011.[171]

Reserves In 2008, the Moniteau School District reported a balance of $2,312,971 in its unreserved-designated fund. The district's unreserved-undesignated fund balance was reported as another $1,364,871.00. [172] In 2010, Moniteau School District Administration reported $1,364,871 in the district's unreserved-undesignated fund balance. The district also reported $2,383,480 in its unreserved-designated fund in 2010. By June 30, 2013, Moniteau School District had amaaed $4,591,427 in its reserve accounts.[173] 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.[174] In 2005, the total reserve funds held by Pennsylvania public school districts was $1.9 billion.[175] By 2013, reserves held by Pennsylvania public school districts, as a whole, had increased to over $3.8 billion.[176] In July 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that Pennsylvania public schools as a whole held over $4.27 billion in reserves.[177]

Audit In May 2013, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the School Board and the district's administration. Multiple issues were noted including: failing to correct chronic overreporting of enrollment and continuing to retain an uncertified special education administrator.[178] In 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. The findings were reported to the Moniteau School Board and the district's administration. Multiple issues were noted several of which had been noted in previous audits and remained uncorrected.[179]

Tuition Students who live in the 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 Moniteau School District. For these cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education sets an annual tuition rate for each public 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 Moniteau School District's schools. The 2013 tuition rates are Elementary School - $8,183.02, High School/Junior High - $8,514.84.[180]

Moniteau School District is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax 1%,[181] a local property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a small amount, generally 10% of its budget from the federal government.[182] 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.[183] 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.[184]

According to Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports, there were 1,663 students enrolled in K-12 in Moniteau School District (MSD) during the 2009–2010 school year. There were 144 students in the MSD Class of 2009. The district's class of 2010 had 135 students. The Class of 2011 had 119 pupils. Enrollment is projected to decline further to 1,200 students by 2020.[264] In 2008, the district's administrative costs were $629.13 per pupil. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.[265] A study of Pennsylvania public school spending, conducted by Standard & Poor's, examined the consolidation of small public school districts in Pennsylvania in 2007. The study found that consolidation of the administration with an adjacent school district would achieve substantial administrative cost savings which varied by district.[266] The Study found that several Butler County school districts were candidates for consolidation of administrations.

According to a 2009 school district administration consolidation proposal by then Governor Edward Rendell, the excessive administrative overhead dollars could be redirected to improve lagging academic achievement, to enrich the academic programs or to reduce property taxes.[267] Consolidation of two central administrations into one would not require the closing of any schools. The Governor's proposal called for the savings to be redirected to improving lagging reading and science achievement, to enriching the academic programs or to reducing residents' property taxes.[268] 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 schools.[269]

From 2000 through 2010, rural Pennsylvania public school district enrollment has decreased by 8 percent.[270] In 2010, there were 726,417 children in rural Pennsylvania, or 21 percent of the total rural population. From 2000 to 2010, the number of children in rural counties decreased 7 percent. The decline in the number of children impacted most rural counties with 42 of Pennsylvania's 48 rural counties experiencing a decline. Cameron County, Elk County and Sullivan County experienced the greatest declines, with a decrease of more than 21 percent in all three counties. Butler County's live birth rate was 2,051 births in 1990. Butler County's live birth rate in 2000 was 2,069 births while in 2011 it had declined to 1,802 babies.[271] Over the past 50 years (1960 to 2010), rural Pennsylvania saw a steady decline in both the number and proportion of residents under 18 years old. In 1960, 1.06 million rural residents, or 35 percent of the rural population, were children.

The Commonwealth of 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.[272] In a survey of 88 superintendents of small districts like Moniteau School District, 42% of the respondents stated that they thought consolidation would save money without closing any schools.[273]

Moniteau School Board established a district-wide wellness policy in 2006.[274] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[275]

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

The Moniteau School District offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[277] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture.[278]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[279] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[280] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[281] The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.[282]

Moniteau School District provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth and the federal government. Nurses are available in the buildings to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the State Department of Health's extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[283][284] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

The district offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive, publicly funded sports program.[287] Eligibility for participation is determined by school board policy and in compliance with standards set by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).[288] The district is noncompliant with state law, due to failing to post its Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities Disclosure Form on its website.

According to Pennsylvania's Safety in Youth Sports Act, all sports coaches, paid and volunteer, are required to annually complete the Concussion Management Certification Training and present the certification before coaching.[289][290]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing 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.[291]

Coaches receive compensation as outlined in the teachers' union contract. When athletic competition exceeds the regular season, additional compensation is paid.[292]