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

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.