Colonial School District board approves budgets, tax relief, contracts and personnel items at May 15 meeting

The Colonial School District Board of Directors on May 15 approved a slate of budgets, contracts, policy changes and personnel actions, including a property tax-relief calculation under state law and a four-year contract for tax-collection services.

The approvals were presented and voted on during the board business meeting after an executive session. Board members moved and seconded each recommendation; each motion was called and the board chair asked "All in favor?" before the item was recorded as approved.

Key approvals included acceptance of $4,756,794.29 in property tax relief under Special Session Act 1 of 2006 and establishment of a $17,703 exclusion per eligible homestead and farmstead assessment to produce a maximum tax reduction of $469.04, approval of the Colonial School District real estate tax installment payment plan resolution, and appointment of Mark Didjian as district treasurer for a one-year term beginning July 1.

The board approved the Central Monaco Technical High School operating budget for the 2025–26 school year, the district's list of banking and investment institutions for fiscal year 2025–26, and a four-year contract with Elite Revenue Solutions to serve as the district's tax collector for Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029.

The board also approved several educational service contracts and renewals. Items called for approval included speech pathology services (Speech Pathology Consultants, Inc.), out-of-district services and ESY…