[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6600406,"mediaKeyId","3065986-2bffbd40947451333344e06f95f012e0","parentId",3065986,"title","Avon Grove board approves business and consent agendas; budget review shows cuts and proposed 3% tax increase","audioSeconds",362,"startMs",3069000,"endMs",3431000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065986-2bffbd40947451333344e06f95f012e0&start=3069&end=3431","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065986-2bffbd40947451333344e06f95f012e0/thumbnail_3069000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600406/Pennsylvania/Avon-Grove-board-approves-business-and-consent-agendas-budget-review-shows-cuts-and-proposed-3-tax-increase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600406-a1c400fe51f5291a90ace2246e6fe0b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152570&Signature=F08h6qWsgTczjq~McVQSJHAoseXKoPgoUyipqMu4oXGyrRIfw9PBwhIf57FL6D~t6aUtCglz5zIadl7B8RN2wQ-s87CzQLJGtt7sLJero-RPHG455r9UKCWozDx2aHGNb69kvcernUXQa5SPQw0svx8slvgZ4WVuzrZFNLWMf2k0s6v88GeBEFyGBTb~KTBkhsyut6n9cHyggeSs5Rvsc01FL-WjX6Bfycs5cBP3-hpulJ5H5NNrmzwGF5j-uISBycPxDNAJoPoCnva2ZtwYoQjWKF3fsyt8M3gL7wuLz8w5w9N-w6D924MOrorM50HCyahob9Xgf6hsM1ETxBvicQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avon Grove School District","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Avon Grove School District Board unanimously approved a package of business-office items and a consent agenda at a March meeting, approving contracts and routine financial reports and advancing policies and personnel items with 9-0 roll-call votes.

Business-office items approved included bill lists covering several pay periods, the treasurer's report for January 2025, a budget transfer summary for February 2025, additions to the approved bus-driver list, change orders and allowances, chiller service and repair contracts for Avon Grove High School and the intermediate school, a parking-lot resealing contract for the Engle Education Center, and vendor proposals including Edwards Business Systems and Next Gen Security quotations and a Next Gen service retainage agreement. Mr. Carsley, speaking for the business office, presented the slate. Miss Wolf moved the business-office motion and Mr. Wooden seconded; the board voted 9-0.

The board then approved a consolidated consent agenda covering second readings of board policy, resignations and retirements, appointments and supplemental appointments, volunteer approvals, the district comprehensive plan (to be placed on the legislative meeting agenda), memoranda of understanding, a dual-enrollment agreement, a settlement, conference requests, and minutes from recent board and committee meetings. The consent motion passed by roll call, 9-0; the record does not specify the names of the motion's mover and seconder.

District staff also presented budget and planning information. Mr. Riley (staff) reviewed drivers behind the proposed budget increase, identifying personnel costs as a primary factor and noting other contributors including professional services, utilities and charter tuition. Staff reported that $489,000 in reductions had been made since the February budget presentation. The district's overall budget projection includes a possible 3% tax increase pending finalization.

Staff reported additional financial figures and requests for follow-up. The district noted it has the lowest per-pupil spending in the county, about 20% below the county average, while achievement scores remain above that average. Retirement expenses were described in the meeting as projected to exceed $14,000,000, and board members asked for a more comprehensive analysis of medical and prescription-claim cost trends after staff said medical costs had risen; staff did not provide a final breakdown during the meeting.

The Comprehensive Plan (2025-2028) was discussed by Dr. Harvey and the board agreed to place a motion to approve the plan on the legislative meeting agenda scheduled for March 27. Dr. Harvey said public inspection of the draft had been open and that staff planned further policy work (including technology-policy work) in coming weeks.

Mr. Wood highlighted community support, thanking the Avon Grove Education Foundation for donations to disadvantaged students and calling out a donation of more than $66,000 that staff reported was used for medical, dental, clothing, books and supplies for students at Penn London Elementary and the intermediate school.

Roll-call tallies for the business-office vote and the consent-agenda vote recorded \"yes\" from the following board members: Mister Engel, Miss Wolf, Mister Wood, Mister Roark, Mister Taylor, Mister Wooden, Miss Singh, Mister Dumont and Doctor Lin. Both motions passed 9-0.

No executive-session action was reported during the meeting. Staff gave a superintendent's report with district enrollment numbers (4,880 total enrollment, 617 in cyber/charter programs), kindergarten-registration increases compared with the previous year (about 220 registrations so far versus roughly 184 at the same point last year) and the results of a district satisfaction survey (496 responses), among other updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","AGSD School Board Meeting - 3.27.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Avon Grove School District Board unanimously approved a slate of business-office contracts and a consolidated consent agenda at a March meeting, including chiller service contracts, parking-lot work and policy and personnel items, with recorded roll-call votes of 9-0.","taxTitle","Avon Grove SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38840,"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},6600412,"Penn London first graders demonstrate Chompsaw woodworking project funded by Avon Grove Education Foundation",567,280000,847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065986-2bffbd40947451333344e06f95f012e0&start=280&end=847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065986-2bffbd40947451333344e06f95f012e0/thumbnail_280000.jpg","/articles/6600412/Pennsylvania/Penn-London-first-graders-demonstrate-Chompsaw-woodworking-project-funded-by-Avon-Grove-Education-Foundation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600412-cbfdf476fba6d5c6b73b08b5e33f201e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152570&Signature=JzBHNgDgF9g5mpHLw7XPsfdQHdhoHbehlHdLxK9WmRuLmVpv5UA7ROM69lhG-CnL2mlauMl2Gh6JpmtGl2OVNGMMpNiNblQ9lIx12ThvyET4K8Ud4S1tGam4Xkix0qCSrfJmI9K8vMfBHlJBWESwvAxeCVt3k-rTQqL~I6-8qtKZPAMX~7fPzsoQyjAHSA7qbDPC7Jkb5f0Pwflgfpz7BoVTVIVNuFRFoxMXvlauc1oaX-LqljHZWwYDlrj1dNjq22UIeq8rDH9A57YC2zpdwPSpSRqcV-VGkKBrDmWrxtDWr0i1wjrj8eFi2f99FXniOJbN0-H49vThnaOVr~E8sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a March Avon Grove School District board meeting, first graders from Penn London Elementary demonstrated a hands-on woodworking project using a Chompsaw tool purchased with a grant from the Avon Grove Education Foundation.

The presentation, introduced by Dr. Harvey, featured teacher Ms. Harrison and Penn London teacher Miss Shiley, who explained that the tool and accompanying workstations were obtained through a grant. Miss Shiley said the idea began after seeing an online advertisement and that the product developers had appeared on Shark Tank. \"Who doesn't want to use power tools?\" she told the board, describing how the grant was written and awarded.

Students demonstrated safety and basic technique before showing finished projects. \"First, we put on our safety goggles. They keep our eyes safe from pieces of cardboard,\" said Lily, a first-grade student. Another student described lining up the white line on the saw with the guitar outline and using a hand saw with smaller teeth because it was \"easier\" to cut. John, a student, summarized a learning outcome: \"During this project, we had to use a growth mindset. That means we had to be flexible and try again sometimes.\"

Ms. Harrison framed the activity as part of the district's Future Ready profile and the Penn London PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) program. She said teachers began with thinner cardboard to teach technique, progressed to more complex shapes and painting, and incorporated recycling and reuse as part of engineering and sustainability learning. \"This also starts for us to dip our toes into the state standards for Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Learning, and Sustainability,\" she said, describing the reuse and basic engineering work students are doing.

Presenters told the board the activity emphasized collaboration, accountability and citizenship: students held pieces steady for classmates using the saws, followed directions to complete steps, and helped clean up materials so tools will be ready for the next class. Ms. Harrison said the district plans to expand the project to all 13 first-grade classes and later introduce elements to kindergarten, noting safety procedures and adult supervision are part of every session.

Board members and attendees praised the students. One board member told the group, \"You did a phenomenal job,\" and others thanked the Avon Grove Education Foundation for funding the program and encouraged attendance at the Foundation's fundraiser.

The presentation included an invitation for board members and adults in the room to try the tools at demonstration stations after the formal remarks ended.

Penn London staff and students said the activity is intended to connect early elementary students to design and engineering practices, practice growth mindset and collaboration, and provide opportunities for reuse and sustainability in classroom projects.","First graders from Penn London Elementary demonstrated a cardboard woodworking project using a Chompsaw obtained through a grant from the Avon Grove Education Foundation, showing connections to the district's Future Ready profile and state science/engineering standards.","actionData","errors"]

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Avon Grove board approves business and consent agendas; budget review shows cuts and proposed 3% tax increase

Penn London first graders demonstrate Chompsaw woodworking project funded by Avon Grove Education Foundation