The graphics on spending in the 2008-09 budget are clear, and the explanatory notes, which appear in boxes next to the charts, are helpful. (I found the data on PSSA results too colorful — distracting from content.) The explanation of the 2009-2010 preliminary budget is especially effective. I found it interesting that the budget access page provides an RSS feed for the 2009-10 preliminary budget — presumably to enable a district resident to be informed as the budget progresses toward final approval.

The annual Report to the Community focuses on test scores. It includes useful explanations of the differences among tests.

The budget for 2009-10 appears as a .pdf copy of a PowerPoint presentation. It includes a list of “Pressure Points” highlighting issues with serious budgetary implications, such as rising costs of district contributions to the state retirement system. One chart called a “History of State Subsidy” compares trends in state subsidies to inflation rates and notes how these subsidies have differed in legislative election years and non-election years. These are revenue issues worth explaining, but it’s hard to cram two idea into one chart. They were probably clear when explained orally to a live audience, but I found this particular graphic confusing. But that’s a quibble.

One page (shown below) lists major expense categories, ranked from most expensive to least expensive. I think it’s fine when websites post raw budget data in the format required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. But 20-plus pages of coded line-item entries can be mind-numbing. This one-page list gives readers an easy-to-grasp snapshot of how the district spends money.