[{"_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",6563932,"mediaKeyId","3311192-dcd8c053e953f5656dafd07ca413921f","parentId",3311192,"title","Parents urge Downingtown board to stop excluding students from events over unpaid technology fees; superintendent says policy on pause","audioSeconds",243,"startMs",4607000,"endMs",4850000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3311192-dcd8c053e953f5656dafd07ca413921f&start=4607&end=4850","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3311192-dcd8c053e953f5656dafd07ca413921f/thumbnail_4607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6563932/Pennsylvania/Parents-urge-Downingtown-board-to-stop-excluding-students-from-events-over-unpaid-technology-fees-superintendent-says-policy-on-pause","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563932-ee59056fd9d70055740bc18673146d23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437860&Signature=OYLHHuN4syoaOKju8h2FgRel8SSUkftycWKAVL2EBGB9bMBx1h7xKq099-i0pG-2Fz5q5LXso8IFOc3noO1QcHAOCFvE7uP9VsncBwU3lBnwCH0DVJNXBZ8iQxWRSWA~iamCTgVRvI3R7-gWtwSyUBY4femsDoQOBgM0utixz0bkLNEdWH9QqCZ9eCpCXSasJUSzgAdVhLUWvda7wrnIk8gdzq~HpgAIn4XIOVWwNnQIPrIZGPF9cqIrPXOFuImscmGGd6l0TGgbrC4IURYdXuji-5gP9SWN1s2Xutu7jlHsc-AVBM8xMvZf8-EtiWzcUK5EyZ~jgde-TO71TA9ZYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Downingtown Area School District","date","2025-05-14T23:58:41.547Z","article","Several parents and residents told the Downingtown Area School District board on May 14 that barring students from school events over unpaid technology fees is unethical and counter to district goals; the superintendent said the district will pause changes to enforcement while considering alternatives.

Resident Rachel Gibson told the board the practice of excluding children from activities because of unpaid fees violates the Commonwealth’s guarantee of a free public education. \"This legal guarantee makes no exceptions based on financial status, fee payment, or a financials ability to cover every cost the school imposes,\" Gibson said during public comment, citing the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949 and PA Administrative Code Title 22, Chapter 12.1. She called excluding young children from field day \"morally indefensible.\"

Kate Miller, another West Bradford resident, said the district’s use of in‑school, during‑school events as a leverage point for fee collection is especially harmful for elementary students. \"This policy is both unethical and goes against the district's own goals,\" Miller said, noting the district’s strategic plan emphasizes fostering students’ sense of belonging.

Superintendent Dr. O’Donnell outlined the district’s existing technology‑fee policy and why it was adopted: the fee was designed as a limited insurance mechanism so repair costs are not borne entirely by the broader taxpayer base. He said the current annual fee is $50 for K‑8 students and $75 for grades 9‑12; no family pays more than a $175 annual cap; students eligible for free and reduced‑price meals are not charged the fee. \"Without collecting a tech fee, we'd really need to find an additional $700,000 in our annual budget to cover that,\" O’Donnell said, adding that the total revenue from fees does not fully cover repair costs.

O’Donnell also acknowledged that district practice has included withholding certain social experiences when families were delinquent in fees, but said the administration will pause making any significant policy changes on tech‑fee enforcement in the current budget cycle while it considers options and listens to community feedback. \"So with that said, we're open to ideas. We're reflecting on some of the thinking being shared with us as we look to next year,\" he said.

Public commenters also raised separate concerns during the same comment period about the district’s recent decision to discontinue the full‑year foreign exchange program. Multiple parents who had applied to host exchange students described completing background checks, home inspections, and preparations before learning the program would not proceed; they asked the board to reconsider the change for 2026–27.

The board did not take an immediate vote to change the technology‑fee enforcement policy during the meeting; the superintendent said the item is on pause and the administration will continue reviewing options.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: the district said tech fees are $50 (K‑8) and $75 (9‑12), with an annual family cap of $175; families on free/reduced meal plans are exempt; administration estimated eliminating the fee would create a $700,000 gap in the annual budget.

The board accepted public comment and indicated staff will continue to review the policy and consider community input before any enforcement changes become final.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Downingtown Area School District School Board Meeting May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters criticized the district’s practice of excluding students from school events like field day for unpaid technology fees. Superintendent Dr. O’Donnell explained the fee structure and said changes are on hold while the district reviews options.","taxTitle","Downingtown Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",12922,"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},6563937,"Downingtown Area School District adopts 2025-26 budget, raises tax rate 3.9% to fund full-day kindergarten",277,4061000,4338000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3311192-dcd8c053e953f5656dafd07ca413921f&start=4061&end=4338","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3311192-dcd8c053e953f5656dafd07ca413921f/thumbnail_4061000.jpg","/articles/6563937/Pennsylvania/Downingtown-Area-School-District-adopts-2025-26-budget-raises-tax-rate-39-to-fund-full-day-kindergarten","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563937-24730cc9bf62ec3f0fab901c3ce8b3d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437860&Signature=Jb-dKutgeMIXUkdWB6LwAsil9nxdWSiHTcARRqt9LJb7tc6J4geRBEDZGU2vHvLdimFyik-neVjiI09XMcnlwkRTYRYd2BTRBaX69LNL9tt91fQHoFfoUPc0bWWtuNVzFmd5WWsvLT2Xr3PC~iP~gwc0GVEcFySuYHgjIi8boHiEMvxqCsP-iOyEpY1cqL7Ww9ldYVdBnh~6LZydrAaHHW0doWvqWx88VnQYTZvfWNVWnOsfikvBR~AU0EvmZPaVjppu8kmxucQqNWOHjVMu5cWe6U-LLcCGOSF0utMHHC49429hdbzjC7wQJ3E2k6UcKRACtXsJ0hT02DFSPJA46A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Downingtown Area School District Board of Directors voted May 14 to approve the district’s 2025–26 general fund budget and related tax and levy resolutions, including a 3.9% tax-rate increase the board said is necessary to sustain programs such as full-day kindergarten.

Board members framed the vote as a difficult choice after months of budget adjustments. Superintendent Dr. M. O’Donnell told the board the district started the year with a projected $5 million deficit and has since reduced nearly 25 full‑time positions while trying to preserve key services and programs.

\"At 1 point, we were at a $5,000,000 deficit. So we've reduced, nearly 25, full time positions that are mainly faculty member roles,\" O’Donnell said during his report. The administration’s files attached to the meeting, the superintendent said, include the updated budget proposal the board approved.

Board discussion repeated two central revenue pressures: higher-than-expected charter and cyber‑charter tuition costs and local assessment reductions. A board member noted business reassessment losses of about $900,000 this year and roughly $3.8 million since February 2021, figures the administration provided in budget materials.

Board members said preserving full‑day kindergarten was a driving priority. One board speaker said the budget includes the tax increase to fund full‑day kindergarten and that, painful as it is, the district could not start the program without additional revenue.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the 2025–26 general fund budget (motion carried), the 2025–26 Homestead/Farmstead resolution (motion carried), and several finance and procurement items that were on the consent or action agenda.

Other approved finance and procurement items recorded during the meeting included:
- Renewal of the Aramark food service contract (Year 2 of a 5‑year contract) — approved.
- Approval of cafeteria/food price changes (no elementary/middle increase; some high‑school increases) — approved.
- Stipulation agreement affecting the Rite Aid property resulting in a $23,356 decrease in assessed tax revenue — approved.
- Purchase of gym equipment for Downingtown High School East (approximately $67,990) — approved.
- Purchase order to Degler‑Whiting for a bi‑parting panel partition at Bradford Heights Elementary (total $192,980) — approved.
- Approval of a not‑to‑exceed $42,500 for iPads with protective cases for students with special needs — approved.
- Approval of the SWIFT MD telemedicine agreement renewal (one‑year term; no cost increase) — approved.
- Approval of other action items on the agenda including purchase of instructional materials (listed as $25,719 under a structured literacy grant) and a contract for a high‑school behavioral health liaison ($80,000, budgeted from a PCCD grant) — approved.

The meeting transcript records motions as \"second\" and \"motion carries\" but does not provide a roll‑call tally for the budget vote in the public remarks. The board scheduled further committee and board meetings in late May and June, including a Committee of the Whole on May 28 and the next regular board meeting on June 11.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the board cited an unexpected increase in charter enrollments that added approximately $8 million in annual tuition obligations to the district budget (the school choice/charter impact was singled out repeatedly); reassessment losses for local businesses were reported at about $900,000 this year and roughly $3.8 million since early 2021; administration said the district paused further changes to its technology‑fee collection policy while reviewing options; families qualifying for free or reduced‑price meals are exempt from tech fees.

The board president adjourned the meeting after reporting that the district had met in executive session earlier in the month to discuss personnel, legal matters and real estate.","The Downingtown Area School District board approved the 2025-26 general fund budget and related tax measures on May 14, 2025, including a 3.9% tax rate increase the board said is needed to maintain programs such as full‑day kindergarten amid enrollment and revenue pressures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents urge Downingtown board to stop excluding students from events over unpaid technology fees; superintendent says policy on pause

Downingtown Area School District adopts 2025-26 budget, raises tax rate 3.9% to fund full-day kindergarten