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

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.