[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6468959,"mediaKeyId","5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79","parentId",5781428,"title","Superintendent recognizes award-winning teachers; student representatives and committees report on start-of-year activities","audioSeconds",594,"startMs",1367000,"endMs",1961000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79&start=1367&end=1961","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79/thumbnail_1367000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6468959/Pennsylvania/Superintendent-recognizes-award-winning-teachers-student-representatives-and-committees-report-on-start-of-year-activities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468959-d3c3a4d0c8593c1786e63b570ee33636/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184337&Signature=LA9nCz8a27tUGfeCLsGIQde1meAfD9DMzTZo1KMSeR3MTl-z0GyeH15UT8y-WH24OKFqWTa8LSgiziLzIlv407e~CVUu2bCHT5S7y36NR8Ps4uDYd9aerJkMYZJotv0YS2kjLWc3aaNrSf8FQuOKSoxHAvuJLsdMO8vqUMipG0St~Dq0nAca1-~NAB3sAWZbLhqjLEgN-hCg-x36Ij-fIbI-ELl4dh346uvCkgsD7Vfi4WC7p3sJ~~7Wt8evQZcQJHBcQfy4bi2B9K1SQZZhpow-A7N~r9wN6Qu8b4x8mie8kKmbstSCSsr8VUxBJKUrdZLJjRPKzrKayerCCyUgCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Downingtown Area School District","date","2025-09-13T00:22:40Z","article","Superintendent Dr. O’Donnell recognized several teachers and the district’s language department at the Sept. 10 Downingtown Area School District board meeting, and student representatives reported start-of-year activities and events for their schools.

Dr. O’Donnell congratulated Mary Elvin, identified in the superintendent’s remarks as a teacher at Lionville Middle School, for being named a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, a national honor administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House. He also recognized Charlene Bigelow, a French teacher at Downingtown High School West, who was named the 2025 Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association Teacher of the Year and whose department received a Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association Golden Globe award designation.

Student representatives gave brief school reports. Shahira Aleem, representing Downingtown High School East, announced that more than a dozen East students were named National Merit semifinalists and recapped suicide-prevention outreach and band plans. Hannah Salim, representing the STEM Academy, noted the launch of the first STEM associate-degree cohort for eleventh graders and upcoming events including back-to-school night and college visits. Meghna Satyana Rayana, representing Downingtown High School West, reported on fall sports, film-student festival recognitions and an upcoming homecoming dance.

Committee reports previewed forthcoming work: Director Wisdom said the student life committee will resume in October and that this month’s discussions will focus on student cell phone use and potential policy considerations; Director Gerthe said the school climate and student engagement team will meet Oct. 20 and will host Scott Prendergast of Scotty P. Inspiration LLC to present on burnout prevention for education professionals. Vice President Houghton summarized a Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) meeting and said the Technical College High School expects total enrollment of 3,007 students across three campuses this year. The Downingtown Community Education Foundation reported recent fundraising and summer home visitations for incoming kindergartners.

Dr. O’Donnell also referenced district enrollment reports and noted the district is monitoring the state budget; he said there was no official state action to report at the meeting. Several brief recognitions and introductions — including invitations for the honored teachers and student representatives to come forward for photos — closed that portion of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Downingtown Area School District School Board Meeting September 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Dr. O’Donnell recognized local teachers for national and state honors. Student representatives from Downingtown East, West and the STEM Academy gave school updates. Committee reports previewed upcoming meetings on student cell phone policy, burnout training and regional education updates.","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},6468963,"Resident urges board to use 3.9% tax increase for a 'livable contract' for staff",74,2651000,2725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79&start=2651&end=2725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79/thumbnail_2651000.jpg","/articles/6468963/Pennsylvania/Resident-urges-board-to-use-39-tax-increase-for-a-livable-contract-for-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468963-cf4e4048dcbac8e461d2adfa266108da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184337&Signature=O0hQ977vgfI6diPAAG0jmiT5AsUxmmM1f2owd1Z44Mq-NaIaS6LexD9788TCFP5bXMUb6~JxZmHGDwMQJbF9NGezwRYCOLkzu~s6d7-6fSQr-47NMq7~5bN~VPEpaDCqmkERPWevTcowTvMhV7P0JokU-Q7aOcGD4m1BbHuO57Cxa13i1RsNF4kKmfORvgjwmi3qDja1liySSGTQxgKOizaI25-rp8rLxUIrcKKbdOEXsNkt8Nnp2uvdyCzvJo6KnG~jzwCAOudoyqDMvAiiG-V6yqLNQCsqin8l5cA9JQ2R7mnUMaNSfCYN9iHy21UnrIsbT4rxLDXixDkgc9QMLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident told the Downingtown Area School District board on Sept. 10 that the district’s public communications are insufficient and urged the board to use recent tax revenue increases to finalize a livable contract for school staff.

“Raising taxes by 3.9% and then not giving in school staff members a livable contract for 25 26,” the resident said, adding that the community receives “one veil flyer a year with very little information for community understanding.” The speaker said they were “part of the community, and I do not understand” the district’s stated priorities and asked the board to finalize — not leave tentative — contract agreements.

The board’s public-comment rules were read earlier in the meeting: members of the public are allowed up to two minutes, the board will listen but not engage in dialogue during the session, and personnel complaints should be directed to the superintendent and provided in writing to the board secretary.

The speaker’s remarks reflected frustration over district communications about the budget and staffing. The transcript records the speaker’s characterization that “72% of the budget goes to salaries” and that there is a “tentative” contract proposal for 2025–26; those statements were presented by the speaker and not expanded on in the public record during the meeting.","During public comment a resident criticized the district's communication and urged the board to finalize a livable contract for staff rather than delay while a 3.9% tax increase is in effect.",{"_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},6468968,"Downingtown Area School District approves curriculum contract, math materials and sousaphone purchase; names assistant principal",203,2495000,2698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79&start=2495&end=2698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781428-d6c3299172210dfc151e7fbcd644df79/thumbnail_2495000.jpg","/articles/6468968/Pennsylvania/Downingtown-Area-School-District-approves-curriculum-contract-math-materials-and-sousaphone-purchase-names-assistant-principal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468968-95e3a5d2dca40506e50c9f526d3500fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184337&Signature=Gy6LinD1LFXAKOS0fIz0K~z4qGfEjaH-Ro69onqN3gvb3KkydG69--wS9Zk-ki72qNecmk4T3-H47kGCEOxVCa8oJXLiPREC~i5Z9Q2CfI-VM1Dy0U~2QwawH29EmowPMvIi45IRgk-9xkaynRaoUGv3~F6zdq2iON3tgAG-KizNcGLE3Op9zcZhEC-4fUQF5j80EgczKQZXLBE2oqaMagYe6I1rd74to38CWr-MrRiuTzmNmQwtJH4zjfQb5hTEXRWgkXSEZT-2BmjRDjlTA1wTT0Jx~d-IZeihumNdpYK1kWRv8TxTR1zQqqobp2G54EVNWaKFGK9MEg0PLUblCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Downingtown Area School District Board of School Directors on Sept. 10 approved a renewal agreement with Junior Achievement and two purchases intended to support classroom instruction and the district’s marching bands, and the board announced an assistant principal appointment.

The board approved a one-year renewal agreement with Junior Achievement for $37,000, a purchase of K–5 math manipulatives for $68,757.20 to support I-Ready classroom mathematics, and a purchase of sousaphones for the high school marching bands for $46,697.20. Each item was moved and seconded on the consent-style curriculum report and “motion carries” was recorded for each purchase. The board also announced the appointment of Andrew Bridal as assistant principal at Marsh Creek.

Those approvals come as part of the curriculum report presented during the meeting; Director Grama introduced the three items and reported the dollar amounts for each. The board recorded no roll-call vote tallies for the individual curriculum items in the public segment of the transcript; minutes note that motions carried.

Superintendent Dr. O’Donnell and board members congratulated Andrew Bridal, who the board said is returning to the district from the Eastern Lancaster County School District and resides in Downingtown. The announcement included an invitation for Bridal to come forward for recognition.

The purchases follow routine budget and curriculum planning and the board did not record extended debate in the meeting transcript. The Junior Achievement agreement is described in the agenda as the district’s core resource for teaching the economic standards in grades 1–5. The math manipulatives are listed as supports for I‑Ready classroom mathematics, and the sousaphone purchase was described as replacement equipment for the high school bands.

The board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting with no items pulled for separate consideration.","At its Sept. 10 meeting the Downingtown Area School District board approved a renewal agreement with Junior Achievement, purchases for K–5 math manipulatives and sousaphones for high school marching bands, and announced the appointment of an assistant principal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent recognizes award-winning teachers; student representatives and committees report on start-of-year activities

Resident urges board to use 3.9% tax increase for a 'livable contract' for staff

Downingtown Area School District approves curriculum contract, math materials and sousaphone purchase; names assistant principal