[{"_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",6076110,"mediaKeyId","2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6","parentId",2973934,"title","Board discusses conflicting federal and state guidance on Title VI attestation; public commenter warns of lawsuits","audioSeconds",598,"startMs",4417000,"endMs",5015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6&start=4417&end=5015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6/thumbnail_4417000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076110/Pennsylvania/Board-discusses-conflicting-federal-and-state-guidance-on-Title-VI-attestation-public-commenter-warns-of-lawsuits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076110-7656a9d3114c4bae2b3e1a5499c4b807/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989681&Signature=Igg-sAZcsBK2Uta-1~fYlnK5RQIvMkfdlULt156b-AEsNSO3n709nBkiA2MpopQE00V3IsB9PfqL9i8KHb49lumzfo90n67uX7OW9uS9AdD~6xClX44GaskqqCfMZdavkoNxu9Fcx6yhmL9wsNWPEJHb09iZns~XMj5RLJnJ7g61KNOfNlvaVUxqq5~fnFl27d0UZZbX6KlBQkD~fRH8osGadaBcz7A~sDyGvLs1t4SyhOqj1EW3Di8N-2y26qbN5BqWXX045CcNPyiEJKnsvauyE~-8DvQR7bcqOcjHTlTgjRDU9cPykNIIU3loE5NK~sUwwZiI5DlUEOGNtqmJ0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware Valley School District","date","2025-04-11T21:01:02Z","article","Board members discussed a recent packet of correspondence and attestations relating to Title VI compliance and federal administrative policy, saying state and federal guidance appear to differ and that the district has not signed any attestation pending further guidance.

The discussion matters because the district is reviewing whether to sign a certification related to compliance and because federal guidance and state responses could affect federal funding and district obligations.

Board members noted the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) letter describes Title VI more broadly (including gender, race, color, national origin, age or disability in the district summary), while a U.S. Department of Education communication focused on race, color and national origin in its immediate text. Board members asked who would sign any attestation and said the district has not signed anything; staff said the district has taken a cautious approach and is awaiting further guidance from PDE and federal authorities. One board member noted the attestation deadline had been extended to April 24 and said more guidance is expected before that date.

During public comment earlier in the meeting, Alexander Lethabore (introduced himself as a resident) asked the board to protect all students and urged the board to resist policies that single out transgender students. Lethabore warned that discrimination could lead to lawsuits and national media attention and said the district could lose federal funding (he cited a $3,000,000 figure) if rights violations were permitted. The commenter also urged board members who have engaged constructively to continue education and dialogue with the community.

Board members said they expect PDE and other state leaders to continue communicating guidance, and they indicated no attestation would be signed without resolving the apparent federal‑state difference. The board scheduled follow‑up discussion at upcoming meetings; no final action was taken on attestations at the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DVSD April 2025 Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Board members raised concerns about differing language in U.S. Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance on Title VI; a public commenter urged the board to protect transgender students and warned that failing to do so could lead to lawsuits and reputational harm.","taxTitle","Delaware Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",60569,"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},6076114,"District to pilot CLEAR residency‑verification software for cyber and residency checks",143,3901000,4044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6&start=3901&end=4044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6/thumbnail_3901000.jpg","/articles/6076114/Pennsylvania/District-to-pilot-CLEAR-residencyverification-software-for-cyber-and-residency-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076114-c14864c0e21803dfed602d11caf01944/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989681&Signature=RKqKG-trh0VpSq6TvbGu33pQ-gK6u83zld9Ldy4DDOdgnf72PPjPEgzz7X1Xmbj7P4sm0qKTn8psQaoTDltcJh3ffkWRyD~llFU8NMb0sQGINEz41mM7qKjSlf4Roy4bIoM5VdnhoK3lYVLAn7RTjRHWuGxBBcGr5CH7VDx~3a~E3CxUvFFI4SlehDMn23KyYoGtPPMu7hfSQcAXagGwfARSnIgs86z1QJ8207jtEkrFOmb-pL~9yT3-6ZwhgZ7iDFh0k90BMXmkzzDMy5IM08sFmbz96w0CESaAMAwimpCMxEEh8oz668hs0QIivIN08B8HUCD793Zi2Si431I4kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The district’s safety office described a new subscription to CLEAR, a residency‑verification database, and said it will use the system to spot‑check student residency and run batches of students in categories the district deems high risk — initially, students enrolled in outside cyber schools who live in the district.

Administrators said the software aggregates public records and other sources into a single searchable database that will make residency checks less labor‑intensive for officers, registrars and administrators. Safety staff said the district trained three police officers this week and that Caroline Dardia in registration and Nancy Schafer, student‑services coordinator, will also have access.

Staff told the board the district expects the PCCD grant the district manages to pay for the software in the next grant cycle; the district is currently managing multiple PCCD grants with staggered end dates. Administrators estimated that finding as few as one out‑of‑district student in an outside cyber program could nearly offset the annual subscription cost.

The board discussed the software’s use for ad hoc spot checks and batches triggered by enrollment changes. Staff emphasized the system uses public records and said batches will be reserved for higher‑profile cases (for example, students enrolled in outside cyber programs) but can be used to check any student on request. Staff said the goal is to save officer time so officers remain visible in schools rather than tied to manual residency investigation work. The board did not vote on purchasing at the meeting; staff said the purchase will be covered by expected PCCD funding next year.","School safety staff introduced a subscription to CLEAR, a residency‑verification database the district will use to spot‑check students (initial focus on students enrolled in outside cyber programs); staff said PCCD grant funding is expected to cover the purchase next year.",{"_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},6076119,"Board hears sharp rises in special education and therapeutic program costs; staff consider in‑district options",490,1114000,1604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6&start=1114&end=1604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6/thumbnail_1114000.jpg","/articles/6076119/Pennsylvania/Board-hears-sharp-rises-in-special-education-and-therapeutic-program-costs-staff-consider-indistrict-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076119-1e4945f57001a9c37234cdda283afb36/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989681&Signature=XXuZIZkFoOCKPIl9iMy8bpPd1L~RYleXElx-zsx6F0gPcBI~wmSRqNsuNpE7AxlwqcyMAPcWoXOCTP9tgToNmWR~rACZrzvq6XlNyTnwEaKbbWPFAkhrm8ZeB7jrBTuDZh0Kyrej8URKVTJR0r7Lh6udmFLmBf4icOX1ejU4e-dMDSlDsUFOJWPDsCVxLgdRWpSuJxuVraZKvYtdPkmxewfI09tCH7fGVMkWvjN~9cCYDZZ2HAkAqA1ERgOtX3exOKS-cLWs2ocjEstn0pjaYhR7m5n58Ieja~1NaMNdY~5fPXeDiYZVU5uNq8aoj41XklDT7hPmm-GKGPpe2jhydw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff said increases in out‑of‑district placements and contracted services with the intermediate unit (IU) are key drivers of the proposed 2025‑26 budget for special education and mental‑health supports.

The matters are significant because special education placements and contracted therapeutic services are legally required and costly; a small number of high‑need placements can materially change a district’s special-education budget.

Staff reported an overall increase in IU‑contracted services of roughly $86,000 (district figure given during the presentation) and described several subcategories with material changes. Emotional‑support and therapeutic (out‑of‑district) placements rose sharply; staff cited an increase in the district’s projected emotional‑support contracted services from about $32,000 in the current year to roughly $121,000 in the proposed budget, driven by student placements determined by IEP teams. Staff said student placements and partial‑hospitalization or therapeutic emotional‑support programs — which provide higher staff ratios and daily therapy — account for much of the cost rise. Staff also cited an approximately $206,720 figure tied to student placements referenced in the discussion.

To offset some costs the district said it plans to increase the use of its medical‑access fund (Medicaid reimbursement). Staff reported the district intends to budget $400,000 from that fund for next year (up from a lower amount used previously) and said prior inflows the district estimated at roughly $335,000 per year were the basis for projecting multi‑year cash flow; staff emphasized that exact yearly Medicaid reimbursement amounts vary and are not finalized.

Board members pressed staff for more granular information: how many students drive line‑item increases, the nature of the placements, the staffing and qualifications of contracted personnel, and a comparison of per‑student costs with other LEAs in the IU. Staff said the district is exploring options to bring more services in‑house (for example, hosting a partial‑hospitalization program) but warned that such a move requires a “sweet spot” of sufficient student counts and physical space; they noted IU and regional boundaries may complicate multi‑district partnerships. The board asked staff to return with more detailed cost breakdowns and IU comparisons at a May meeting.

Staff also reviewed mental‑health programming funded in part by PCCD grants, and said some positions and professional development have been grant‑funded in prior years; the expiration of those grants has moved certain training and conference costs into the district budget (one line cited at $19,700). Staff identified the proposed replacement of the high‑school reading intervention Read180 with a new language‑based program called “Language,” and said initial costs include consumables and training. The board did not vote on any special‑education motions; staff will deliver more detail in May.","District staff told the board contracted special education services and therapeutic emotional‑support placements have driven a large portion of the proposed increase; the district plans to increase use of Medicaid/medical-access reimbursements and is exploring bringing more services in‑house.",{"_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},6076124,"Delaware Valley SD staff outline higher 2025-26 transportation, energy and facilities costs",240,121000,361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6&start=121&end=361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2973934-03756247b8782b2fe0f73a49f299fad6/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6076124/Pennsylvania/Delaware-Valley-SD-staff-outline-higher-2025-26-transportation-energy-and-facilities-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076124-c5f436692e3edebcb67a3570f63e9459/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989681&Signature=QqN8s0lFeLJV9U47lzRvQLUQbBy43vZJOES88GyDgkXq0mkrzQQ5S88xF1OlyWDmDQ-wLU1CywCugPaM5uaVOiirM5k5cqoeaIJ1nHun1NAS8bXDYjM~-n4LoHgtA4TfcJU67u5ZGozvc5whY-dr-3krdetqHP28mFViweLpMCrSSV~md7EzvQrESzsG8dasd7s5f~2Mv-PLCym8KJNdpKSqkvOUAAPuDdJ5ZWx56gf8aO3lzQkecqqjxgsydbtLLObuZvYddjex0pTcAioqdORXnuzld3r~EsBYZajKuMguSr4sEMnDbsDjgwRFuUwdKCfq3YZxco3iNb9zqqacZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff on Tuesday presented the transportation and facilities portions of the Delaware Valley School District (DVSD) 2025-26 proposed budget, saying the transportation bottom line is $2,938,000 — an increase of $88,694 from the prior year — and that energy and insurance cost increases account for most of the facilities variance.

The presentation matters because transportation and building operations together represent a large recurring cost for the district; rising fuel, electricity and insurance costs could affect the general fund and require one-time offsets or shifts to capital funds.

Staff said the transportation budget reflects a state-mandated 2.9% adjustment to contracted home-to-school services; that adjustment adds about $66,115 to contractor costs. On the revenue side, staff said the district recovers roughly 60% of the 2.9% adjustment from the state for contracted routes. Fuel and diesel purchases also increased: staff described a pattern in which the district buys fuel in some years and not others depending on starting tank levels, and noted roughly 8,000 gallons’ worth of diesel/gasoline purchases account for much of the year-over-year variance. Staff reported having locked diesel fuel at about $2.17 per gallon for the coming year.

At the facilities level, staff reported a $166,775 increase (about 5.6% by their accounting) and pointed to two categories as the primary drivers: energy and insurance. Electricity costs alone were called out as up by roughly $184,000; staff attributed the jump to market-wide rate increases and singled out several regional utilities that are raising rates. Insurance premiums were described as up by about $42,561, with staff citing recent storm losses, fires and floods as contributing factors.

Staff also described smaller line-item shifts: parts and supplies increases offsetting equipment repair decreases, technology maintenance and copy-lease decreases, and modest changes to custodial and rental expense lines. The district reported a fleet and facilities inventory of nine major buildings on four campuses, 38 licensed maintenance vehicles, and roughly a dozen field-trip vehicles and multiple athletic fields to maintain.

Board members asked whether large capital items could be moved to the capital fund rather than the general fund; staff said they attempt to move major items to CapEx when the item has a multiyear useful life and cited recent HVAC work moved to capital. Insurance rates are estimates until quotes are finalized closer to June. Staff confirmed they will continue to seek one-time funding options to smooth nonrecurring costs and said some equipment purchases could be shifted to capital if the board chooses.

The board did not take a formal vote on the budget at the session; staff said salaries and benefits will be discussed at a May 8 work session and that final approvals will be scheduled in later meetings.","District staff told the board the transportation budget for 2025-26 increases modestly driven by a 2.9% state-mandated contractor adjustment and higher fuel, energy and insurance costs; facilities costs also rise largely because of higher energy and insurance premiums.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board discusses conflicting federal and state guidance on Title VI attestation; public commenter warns of lawsuits

District to pilot CLEAR residency‑verification software for cyber and residency checks

Board hears sharp rises in special education and therapeutic program costs; staff consider in‑district options

Delaware Valley SD staff outline higher 2025-26 transportation, energy and facilities costs