[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6321055,"mediaKeyId","2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e","parentId",2353191,"title","Board approves construction coordination and furniture/moving contracts for two new elementary schools","audioSeconds",264,"startMs",6610000,"endMs",6874000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e&start=6610&end=6874","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e/thumbnail_6610000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321055/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-construction-coordination-and-furnituremoving-contracts-for-two-new-elementary-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321055-78ef646a39c58e39d8d25fbbec12c00c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137872&Signature=IH1QPH86ol16O1ngQuibRjG8M3CEvtJFf7A8gXA8vKXbWO3bD~v5s4ix-P0bKM69ETZFxA6dPrEW8Tu9WUZReEgoMxZj2owJ7QWgd~7CDL-7oZaUyv-YNqhmzr5d4ySS30fNB3TZvxGCm6a~Iodm-7eQSAVnsvt9Rf4PJ2ciXp2wmqS9V69QSPp5vHZZ2lBG7SJsUfvJLDGz40AimXw0ryTaSyoylfpYG7JK59P698VynDXCWLCfye2gXNjpBrrUT2HEu7jUT1iqOfdJVBlIYTra2tk1qCLqb0sL2Fa8WbvaXal4mSVwguO97Y1d6iK5za9Y-ryn7psjo0v6bpHBdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kennett Consolidated School District","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Kennett Consolidated School District board on Feb. 10 approved two construction-related agreements intended to streamline the Greenwood and New Garden elementary projects: an amendment to CHA Solutions’ agreement to add on-site electrical-engineering coordination and an agreement with School Operation Services Group (SOS) to manage furniture procurement and moving logistics.

District staff described the CHA amendment as a targeted coordination resource: an on-site electrical engineer from CHA will help integrate electrical, HVAC and trade contractors so questions and RFI (request-for-information) items can be resolved more quickly on site, the district said. The amendment was presented as a modest up-front expense intended to reduce downstream schedule delays and related costs.

The SOS agreement covers procurement and staging of furniture and equipment for the two new elementary buildings, each budgeted with approximately $1.3 million in furniture and equipment. SOS will coordinate selection with teachers and administrators, shepherd bids through the Chester County Intermediate Unit procurement support, and manage the moving logistics and staging, including selecting moving firms and coordinating classroom-to-classroom sequencing when staff and materials shift from old to new spaces. District staff said comparable procurement strategies in nearby districts produced significant savings over sole-source government purchasing vehicle purchases.

Board action: The board approved the CHA amendment and the SOS agreement after staff presentations explaining the expected efficiencies and logistics. The CHA amendment was described as intended to accelerate coordination for Greenwood; SOS will coordinate simultaneous procurement and staging for both New Garden and Greenwood to reduce costs and ensure on-time delivery.

Next steps: District staff said they will begin coordination meetings with contractors, architects and the Chester County Intermediate Unit procurement team, and will present updates to the board and finance committee as procurement and staging progress.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 10, 2025 - School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved an amendment with CHA Solutions for on-site electrical coordination at Greenwood, and approved School Operation Services Group (SOS) for furniture procurement and logistics for New Garden and Greenwood elementary projects.","taxTitle","Kennett Consolidated SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",78434,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321060,"Board releases $107.2 million preliminary 2025–26 budget with 2.81% proposed tax increase",3115,3487000,6602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e&start=3487&end=6602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e/thumbnail_3487000.jpg","/articles/6321060/Pennsylvania/Board-releases-1072-million-preliminary-202526-budget-with-281-proposed-tax-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321060-cc92d03b15db8ec788a1fe3669b1b244/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137872&Signature=TEFkKZDtv034cE0GPLu779lEVqeLpC9mKG5KZSyF0OOltmzJSwQkfHmY6A4j6G3z1kjhn82mGBCjq9MSvQyKGjEIk2D~Y-wV8vdW01BNgHq8eOLcGYbnfuTTvmBOUZM3rB8c6ixuIJwa5Vzq2R6A3yw-7km2kB20j4X0DAnrC7MrDeVIOHPMWcJ210bnrH9lxr9PGO1H1PHoM3u4FpIikVgEcfbFxYFHpzuHU~SSyVIiFNFyCL7xqe7snVR-WtpHbJypZ5~WpMBqG-UDW6HIZJFG5Hf82zP4MZJITSoG9DQSKBgnePaZArOadcPow~9CpRwuSxzU3Y1FdphLmgQ1mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kennett Consolidated School District board voted on Feb. 10 to release a $107,184,158 preliminary general operating budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year and authorized public notice and comment. The preliminary budget proposal includes a 2.81% proposed real-estate tax increase.

During a presentation, board member Michael Finnegan and business-office staff explained key assumptions: no appropriation from fund balance, no new full-year positions funded in the operating budget, a placeholder for strategic-planning items, and a proposed increase in state basic education and special-education subsidies assumed at 2 percent pending the Pennsylvania state budget. The presentation noted two major commercial tax-assessment appeals that could reduce revenue by $341,810 if decided against the district, and a possible East Marlboro Township earned-income-tax enactment that could cut the district’s earned-income tax revenue by an estimated $250,000–$500,000 annually.

Why it matters: The proposed tax increase would generate additional levy revenue while the district plans to absorb programmatic needs largely through attrition or reclassification. The board’s action on Feb. 10 was to release the preliminary budget for public review; the final budget remains scheduled for adoption on June 9, 2025.

Board action: The board approved release of the preliminary budget and authorized the district to post the budget for public inspection and accept public comment at the superintendent’s office through June 9, 2025. The motion to release the preliminary budget was made by board member Michael Finnegan and seconded by Dr. McVeigh; the motion carried.

Budget details included in the presentation: projected local revenues centered on real-estate tax collections (more than two-thirds of revenue), $6.1 million expected from the earned-income tax (at risk if township enacts its own EIT), and expenditures driven primarily by salaries and benefits (more than half the budget). The presentation listed a $1,900,000 increase in levy-derived revenue tied to the proposed 2.81 percent rate and placeholders for technology and programmatic needs in 2025–26.","Finance committee and administration presented a $107,184,158 preliminary general operating budget with a proposed 2.81% real-estate tax increase; the board approved releasing the budget for public inspection and comment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321065,"Kennett Future Ready program expands dual enrollment, internships and a new game-design course",1492,3994000,5486000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e&start=3994&end=5486","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e/thumbnail_3994000.jpg","/articles/6321065/Pennsylvania/Kennett-Future-Ready-program-expands-dual-enrollment-internships-and-a-new-game-design-course","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321065-08148b9601963b95de6e72ebbfa9ad48/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137872&Signature=P8FnApNWaAwCTzwpKor9AdbxzvHr0~DQUpRaveo9xlTaU2XWBYrbd1dDD6YO1g9AwT4KpHGT9vdwQcbLtHwggL9bOaKuiZMXvaGzviHAU2M01FbhlaV5WRp9jRD3Er9Jef-DQo054skh~85DFx769BgKqFlsmVEcvmiC2xbuw33tbbWRXvRzTf5V8fO4TWnLqYkgIlgoWt8eflDNeg-poHyJJOzPl3vt1y0NFpUqCxBcXXhhs0-UuoA-W45nib4cUip3FiBwVgjF39bKMhjD4lMVWDJBWhK2BFMEjLtrrKtwb1UKtX9AM~klahxQe~sEWcsyoDTwFXObW8TyJ8FzBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kennett Consolidated School District officials described progress on “Kennett Future Ready,” a district initiative to expand career-focused programs of study, dual-enrollment opportunities and work-based learning, and the board approved new high-school courses including a game-design capstone.

Dean Ivory, the district’s supervisor of innovative programs, told the board on Feb. 10 that the district has identified program-of-study completers for a pilot in 2025–26 and has secured community, university and employer partners. Ivory said a midyear partnership with Immaculata University registered 19 students for 35 courses; if students complete the classes, they could earn as many as 108 college credits this school year through partnerships and dual-enrollment agreements.

Why it matters: The initiative aims to connect K–12 curriculum with postsecondary credentials and local labor-market needs through a mix of dual enrollment, industry credentials, internships and capstone projects. Ivory said research shows students who earn college credits in high school are more likely to complete degrees and attain higher employment outcomes.

Students who are already participating described their internships. Lena Liu, a senior who worked in elementary classrooms, said the placement deepened her understanding of different learning styles and classroom needs. Kared Van Herbeck, an engineering-pathway senior, described an internship at Bancroft Construction that included job-site visits and meetings with project managers and noted he is pursuing OSHA-10 certification. Ben Chandler, a senior placed with a local construction firm, described orientation through the company and early estimating work using industry software.

Board action and courses: The board approved a new game-design capstone course to build out the computer science pathway, and approved a slate of dual-enrollment offerings in partnership with Immaculata University and Delaware County Community College. The motion to approve the new courses passed at the Feb. 10 meeting.

What’s next: Ivory said the district will identify interested students this spring, hand-schedule those students for 2025–26 to accommodate internships or pilot elements, continue building employer partnerships and align the work with the district’s strategic plan. The program envisions recognition for program completers at senior awards and a future Kennett Future Ready “Wall of Fame.”","The district described a pilot for career-focused \"programs of study,\" reported a midyear dual-enrollment partnership with Immaculata University and presented student internship experiences. The board approved new courses including a game-design capstone.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321070,"Kennett SD outlines school protocols after DHS rescinds guidance on enforcement near schools",545,2627000,3172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e&start=2627&end=3172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2353191-d1846fff63995d60b2ba8a6d41fd872e/thumbnail_2627000.jpg","/articles/6321070/Pennsylvania/Kennett-SD-outlines-school-protocols-after-DHS-rescinds-guidance-on-enforcement-near-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321070-5f6127710d1823eb509587497f89fc9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137872&Signature=aLQDBNOaeKLrXjyRnXWFARufynrx9ZAX1v5fmCvX2i-1RmDPGZrq86IjfNoCHxXHcEYrcEsxp0ktKMX2wdLJHGB2fMOpJwG~3VIYHiYaJHY3tWmjq0~m8VKuQqi0iCTatZWpDMeM6E4AqOdgAGHQjFys~dsByz834VX~Kzvr24qjTvjHI9zf09WE6WKUuHPxWfYJ1ihwYpr2mJ4cDKtzulA4iZx1UBKWRg1sHE6hIDbEtoSIeNRi8ybr2WrNofvLf6Eb6YkKOzp7G13XCOBp4w-SH99DBD282yrqCuyY1867N0iK2oohI00X3Yln9VWJ-CMYrs9U~1xcaVotaJROXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders told the Kennett Consolidated School District board on Feb. 10 that the district will continue longstanding protocols for handling any law-enforcement actions on or near school property after the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a 2021 letter that had limited enforcement actions at sensitive locations.

Rizzo Saunders said the change — she noted the DHS letter of understanding from October 2021 was rescinded on Jan. 21, 2025 — does not alter the district’s legal obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or the district’s on-site safety procedures. “No one simply walks up to one of our buildings and walks in,” she said, describing layered access checks and the district’s decision not to publish tactical protocols for safety reasons.

Why it matters: The rescission prompted concern among some families. The superintendent and board president said the district will keep communicating with families, track attendance and other indicators, and provide information in Spanish as needed. Rizzo Saunders described the narrow circumstances in which federal enforcement agents could take action on campus — for example, when they possess a judicial warrant — and underscored that district staff are prohibited by FERPA from sharing education records without proper legal process.

In her presentation, Rizzo Saunders summarized the district’s approach: staff have been briefed on who may enter school buildings and under what documentation, how to validate outsiders’ need to enter, how to minimize student exposure if removal occurs, and how the district would notify families if an enforcement action takes place. Board president Bryce Cronenberg told the meeting the board had requested the presentation because of community concern and said the district has been preparing protocols since December.

Board members asked about communications and mental-health supports. Rizzo Saunders said the district had already sent a Feb. 4 communication and would add Spanish-language materials and a Spanish-language video where appropriate. She said the district was monitoring attendance and had not seen a rise in absences; in fact, she said absences had decreased since December.

The superintendent and board noted they are prepared to follow state and federal law and would update the community if procedures or legal guidance change. They emphasized the district’s aim to maintain normal school operations to provide stability for students.","Superintendent Dr. Rizzo Saunders told the Kennett Consolidated School District board the district will continue existing protocols and comply with FERPA after the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a 2021 letter limiting enforcement actions in schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves construction coordination and furniture/moving contracts for two new elementary schools

Board releases $107.2 million preliminary 2025–26 budget with 2.81% proposed tax increase

Kennett Future Ready program expands dual enrollment, internships and a new game-design course

Kennett SD outlines school protocols after DHS rescinds guidance on enforcement near schools