Taxpayer concerns over middle‑school feasibility study and refinancing dominate public comment; board approves facilities bids, policies and contracts

A wave of public comment at the January meeting pressed the Unionville‑Chadds Ford School District Board for more detail about a feasibility study and the tax impact of options to renovate, replace or maintain Patton Middle School.

Deborah De Leon, identifying herself as representing Child Protective, presented a multi‑year funding review and asked for a written analysis of tax increases under each of the three design options in the feasibility study. "Homeowners, through their school taxes, pay approximately 75 to 77% of every annual school budget," she told the board and said taxpayers funded more than $501,805,203 of district budgets from 2018 to 2024. De Leon also cited district spending per student, superintendent compensation and the district’s recent rankings to underscore taxpayer questions about cost and outcomes.

Other community speakers urged due diligence and transparency. Eric Gardner raised concerns about a sole‑source selection for the feasibility study and questioned whether the vendor’s familiarity with district buildings could bias findings. Jordan Gushers and other residents supported building a new middle school while asking for clearer cost estimates and less disruption to students.

Board members responded that tax increases are governed by the Act 1 index and that refinancing or debt service choices would not, on their own, force a referendum; board members encouraged public review of prior budget presentations and FAQs and said the district would continue to respond to information requests raised during public comment.

The board also took a series of routine and facilities votes during the meeting. Votes at a glance (motions, vote tallies and key details follow):

Votes at a glance

- Construction award: public water connection at Chadds Ford Elementary School to Miller Soil Solutions — $362,819 (lowest of eight bids). Approved 8–0. - Wastewater treatment plant replacement (Night Tree/Chadds Ford site) to Jerston Company — $774,000. Approved 8–0. - Purchase of RTV for grounds from Specialist Farm Service, Inc. — net cost ~$15,892 after $6,500 trade‑in; list price $22,392. Approved 8–0. - Two replacement nine‑passenger vans to Aurora Enterprises — $721,990. Approved 8–0. - Act 1 index resolution adopted (finance process change). Approved 8–0. - Two‑year energy contract with WGL Energy at 5.622¢/kWh beginning July 2025. Approved 8–0. - Three‑year Unitrix contract for data analytics and financial forecasting — $9,940.15/year. Approved 8–0. - Authorization for Fox Rothschild to enter an assessment appeal agreement (item discussed in executive session). Approved 8–0. - Contract with Homes General Services for food service substitutes. Approved 8–0. - 2025‑26 district calendar approved. Approved 8–0. - Curriculum item: middle school music course title changes (voice singing → vocal performance; music keyboarding → music technology). Approved 8–0.

Several policy revisions and bundles were also approved during the meeting; some votes recorded minor discrepancies in the roll call and will be reflected in the official minutes.

The public comment portion of the meeting repeatedly requested a clear, written tax‑impact table for each Patton design option, including projected timing and who bears incremental costs (Chester County vs. Delaware County townships in the district). Several residents emphasized that, on the Delaware County (Chadds Ford) side of the district, school tax increases have been higher in recent years than on the Chester County side and urged the board and administration to provide county‑specific modelling.

Board members and administration said they would continue to post materials and FAQs and asked residents to review the work‑session budget presentations; no vote to require an immediate tax‑impact update was taken on the record during the meeting.