[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,76,87],{"_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",6261691,"mediaKeyId","3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b","parentId",3120684,"title","Students honored for ‘effective communicator’ portrait and Bucks County STEM teams advance — Quakertown students win county design challenge","audioSeconds",2939,"startMs",71000,"endMs",3010000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b&start=71&end=3010","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b/thumbnail_71000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6261691/Pennsylvania/Students-honored-for-effective-communicator-portrait-and-Bucks-County-STEM-teams-advance-Quakertown-students-win-county-design-challenge","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6261691-ed23034c9fdc9510e3f008c9d1bbc76f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920509&Signature=ZJ9mSTQyUFjP-qKYfGUdNOQ2ivdLMiKV5cgOm1JbSeZp9eimPXX-xU-G9EU0LW6jqMVsIzX~uhUKbyHmn4-RGROIBus2kV0W9dOfLXF-6ZQ4jgqHw0QVV6nga7fiwln5QVfTCvLc6NFkYRLkurOrJxFjJCCrI1nWpxa-qE6KN-nJcRNbea-Nm7KWbe9zstKEpF3tK5v6lnlaJAbNcyz14VhFhwEU-TdtUKtsw-xRwzMZmELfPjsODRhZTpQNUX4MXfCN440MM3J-ldTG3pOkxGmIzOLbr4~6qsvk83itLTkgEFqAHPCgexBj0mNpF74O2wEQB~EqrVsVFKpRcTOahQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Quakertown Community School District","date","2025-04-25T08:20:54.963Z","article","The Quakertown Community School District opened its April 24 meeting with awards recognizing students who exemplify the district’s \"Portrait of a Graduate\" skill of being effective communicators. Elementary schools named students from Trumbauer'sville, Pop, Richland, NYDIG and Quakertown Elementary; middle‑level effective communicators were also honored.

Pathways and field-study recognition followed. Administrators spotlighted juniors and seniors who completed field‑study assignments at local businesses and institutions — placements included dental clinics, St. Luke’s Medical Center, event logistics and airport aviation experiences. The district also described the Entrepreneur Challenge (developed with Lehigh University SBDC), which asked students to iterate on ideas under a theme of “success through failure.” Winning group concepts ranged from underwater fireworks to a “marine mattress” and the quirky “drinkable shoe.”

STEM: Bucks County IU Design Challenge
Quakertown schools also reported strong results at the Bucks County STEM Design Challenge. Three Quakertown teams reached county finals; the QE team “Fire Destroyers” presented a prototype robot designed to detect and extinguish wildfires by clipping to trees, using solar power and a water tank to spray flames. QE coaches and judges praised the students’ notebook documentation, model blueprints and two‑minute presentations under the event’s criteria (creativity, teamwork, design, presentation).

Student voice: \"Our invention stops wildfires,\" said student Damien Osborne as he described the Fire Destroyers prototype. \"Wildfires can start at any time and they cost $10,000,000 per wildfire. They also burn down forests which is very very bad for our environment.\" (student remarks as recorded in the meeting.)

Teachers and coaches from Trumbauer'sville and other schools were recognized for mentoring students. The board also acknowledged a $10,357.64 donation the district received from Giant supermarket’s year‑round round‑up for schools program.

Ending: Administrators said the district will post photos and recognition materials on each school website and will share brief video clips of student projects online.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 24, 2025 QCSD School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board recognized elementary and middle school students as \"effective communicators,\" presented field-study and pathways awards, and celebrated Bucks County STEM Design Challenge finalists from Quakertown (including a QE team that presented a wildfire‑suppression prototype). Students and teachers from multiple schools were acknowledged.","taxTitle","Quakertown Community SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",53596,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6261696,"Board adopts proposed 2025–26 budget with 2.5% preliminary tax increase after multi-hour debate",0,6917000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b&start=6917&end=6917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b/thumbnail_6917000.jpg","/articles/6261696/Pennsylvania/Board-adopts-proposed-202526-budget-with-25-preliminary-tax-increase-after-multi-hour-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6261696-0dd22152039c261257bf55761989dcdf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920509&Signature=e-NWndKX5FifedOyH7koGEOGYY5wcKTZsFmTL0ZfMFjAl~4aOKk2g7ixuR3ObaViB-8u8w43DmhuyF-Li1Ys~BPrftijzak3u1fzYoNy9qZFmJ4~GoHSXQXyv~tarwl55gZYbcbjalC9oI62ua14gdkejpalKAOnHxE-0xOg-lK1haGKYHsCgQ7LxxZllKEp1j2L2qdjygjQ6BCTBITY12GlE~4SoyrNQFoJ86F5917q-1tX5FCHlyvFxqPjN7C9gG10dILRvyulY1WW7k6-BMnt3V~uqyWgv9XEZxBcKLlNfNHGy9Pdles~aU1nPLCLWnqWt6jmw2ciXvgSVhP3LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Quakertown Community School District board on April 24 approved a proposed final budget for 2025–26 that includes a 2.5% preliminary tax increase (the board’s \"option D\"). The vote follows a contentious discussion during which motions for higher preliminary increases were rejected.

Why it matters: The budget as presented showed a proposed general fund total of about $149,472,526 and a projected operating deficit of approximately $15,840,000 before any tax action. The district reported a June 30, 2024 fund balance of about $39.0 million and warned that multi-year structural pressures — salary and benefit growth, special education tuition and debt service — would deplete reserves unless revenue or spending changes are made.

Board debate focused on how much of a preliminary tax increase to authorize now. The board may legally set a preliminary rate that is adjusted before the final adoption in June; members argued about transparency to taxpayers, the range of contractual cost pressures, and impacts on fixed‑income residents. Several members said they preferred a conservative increase tied loosely to cost-of-living adjustments, while others said a higher preliminary rate would provide the administration more leeway to finalize a balanced final budget.

Vote and next steps: After unsuccessful motions for higher options, the board approved the 2.5% proposed final budget. The administration will continue budget refinement at finance committee meetings and return a final budget for the board’s June action; state and local deadlines require the district to publish a proposed budget at least 30 days before the final vote.

Quotable: “We are going to spend more than what we take in, and we'll be using our fund balance to make ends meet,” said a budget presenter summarizing the district’s projected shortfall.

Budget detail (selected): proposed operating budget $149,472,526; assumed benefit increase in projections 10%; projected long-term revenue/inflation assumptions (annual tax growth 2.0% in outer years, earned income tax 3.0%, state revenue growth 2.0%). The superintendent and business administrator said the figures are a snapshot and will be refined at the May and June finance meetings.

Ending: The preliminary 2.5% figure is procedural and subject to change before final adoption; board members emphasized further work on expenditures and alternative revenue options before the June final vote.","After two failed higher-rate proposals, the Quakertown Community School District board approved a proposed final 2025–26 budget carrying a 2.5% preliminary tax index (option D). The vote was procedural; the administration will continue refinements before the final June vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6261700,"Quakertown board signals preference for unoccupied rebuild of Quakertown Elementary, asks architects to prepare May contract",1234,3864000,5098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b&start=3864&end=5098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3120684-f43494648deb9d8fa6647a419c521a9b/thumbnail_3864000.jpg","/articles/6261700/Pennsylvania/Quakertown-board-signals-preference-for-unoccupied-rebuild-of-Quakertown-Elementary-asks-architects-to-prepare-May-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6261700-740937ecdab7546b6fb331b206809fdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920509&Signature=FhUNpo3j5kKraSVAj7ulSZq6h3trsfo28u45CIjGh0gjFMPy4KRtJoYiqFZeIIm130vrJ0KoybMLeifum8Rzg9JzH5tTR0--8ouAYmu~8AFFdN2rBWd~QesdVH0SgW8MZUOyQICi2f4UD2ZUJZZvWpEvjkMhT8d8jLt36S6rlmEWp0WIP8QX7r5HKQjf0zB-JjpnILo0yWj7UsrDNCcjuCjiAOd-5sPhvj-yo7dF6q2tyi9BHlMbPQMLEZmtsSBeZ5LBm4atdq4lWkvnvYuL5vIstxfOBcUIZ9k6yC3MY87urKB3aXUzzhDfQhxgCPD2G521UZ5w3PUY9DVNaiDPvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Quakertown Community School District on April 24 directed architects and engineers to prepare contract documents for a replacement Quakertown Elementary (QE) built after students move off-site, rather than a phased build around an occupied school. The board did not vote to award a construction contract; supervisors said a design-and-permit contract will be brought back for a May board vote.

Architects from Schrader Architects and CHA Engineers told the board the unoccupied option is safer and more constructible, and likely faster and cheaper overall once premium costs for working on a cramped, occupied site are included. The presenters said an occupied approach would force tight on‑site staging, daily street closures, complicated utility relocations, limited emergency access and a roughly 10% premium in contractor pricing for the constrained site.

Why it matters: QE sits on a confined parcel in the middle of town and serves mostly walkers, the presenters said. If the district builds a new facility with students moved to temporary modular classrooms (the “unoccupied” option), contractors would have full site access, fewer logistics constraints and no need to build a new structure around the old building. That approach requires temporary classrooms and short-term student relocations but avoids the daily construction adjacency hazards described for the occupied option.

Presenters said specific complications for the occupied option included underground utilities that must be relocated before new construction (gas, water, power), an underground oil tank to be removed, limited access to the loading dock and kitchen, and the need to sequence abatement and demolition amid daily school operations. They also highlighted that stormwater connections for the new building could not be completed before demolition in some scenarios, which would create an additional project stage at the end of construction.

Board members discussed tradeoffs at length. Several members — including Mr. Kern and Mr. Lyons — said they now favor the unoccupied approach for safety and design flexibility. The board president said architects were asked to prepare conceptual drawings and a contract to return at the May meeting for formal action. The administration and designers emphasized that the May item is for a design/engineering contract and permitting; it is not a construction contract and no demolition will occur before the board takes a subsequent, formal construction vote.

Quotable: “The unoccupied building is safer. Kids are off-site. Student everything is removed from the construction area,” Mike Spadafore of CHA Engineers said during the presentation.

Next steps: The district’s capital team and the architects will refine schematic designs and a contract scope so the board can consider a contract in May. Presenters said, if approvals proceed on schedule, bidding for construction could occur in spring 2026.

Ending: The board’s direction narrows the options the architects will pursue, but the action stops short of any construction contract or demolition authorization; the design contract and permitting package will be presented to the board for a vote in May.","After a technical presentation, the board told architects to prepare contract documents for a rebuild of Quakertown Elementary performed off-site (students relocated) rather than building around the occupied school. No final construction contract was approved; a contract will be presented for board action in May.","actionData","errors"]

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Students honored for ‘effective communicator’ portrait and Bucks County STEM teams advance — Quakertown students win county design challenge

Board adopts proposed 2025–26 budget with 2.5% preliminary tax increase after multi-hour debate

Quakertown board signals preference for unoccupied rebuild of Quakertown Elementary, asks architects to prepare May contract