Board approves personnel changes, budget and capital projects; full roll call on proposed 2025–26 budget

The West Chester Area School District Board of School Directors approved a slate of personnel changes, several capital-project awards and the district's proposed final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 during its April 28 meeting.

Key votes taken by the full board included approval of a video-based applicant screening tool, the addition and salary ranges for new Act 93 administrative positions, adjustments to work-year agreements for several coordinators and specialists, adoption of the Teaching, Learning and Equity curriculum summary budget, multiple capital project contract awards and the district's proposed final 2025–26 general fund budget under the Act 1 timeline.

Notable outcomes

- Purchase of VidCruiter applicant-video platform (vendor name in minutes shown as Vidcruiter/Bidcruder): motion passed; board discussion said the annual cost after a 20% discount would be reduced from $10,000 to $8,000 per year and the tool will be used for prescreening a large number of applicants.

- Creation of two shared elementary assistant principal positions (Act 93) and approval of a salary range: motion passed. Board approved a salary range reported in discussion as approximately $110,173 to $139,371 for the elementary assistant principal position.

- Approval to move certain coordinator, behavior specialist, nursing services and social work positions from 10-month to 12-month (Act 93) and establishment of a salary range: motion passed; reported ranges were in discussion as approximately $103,852 to $134,002.

- Removal of several assistant-to-director and 195-day coordinator positions from the Act 93 agreement because of the move to 12-month assignments: motion passed.

- Approval of Fox Rothschild engagement letter for labor counsel for 2025–26 at a blended hourly rate noted in discussion: motion passed.

- Adoption of the 2025–26 Teaching, Learning and Equity curriculum summary budget: motion passed.

- Approval (roll call) of the resolution to adopt the proposed final 2025–26 general fund budget in accordance with the Act 1 timeline. The budget presentation cited a proposed Chester County millage increase of roughly 3.4% (under Act 1 limits) and noted the administration will continue to seek savings to reduce millage impact for the final budget. The committee reported a reduction in the projected 25–26 budget gap by $690,000 due to prior-year fund balance designations.

- Capital and procurement awards: the board approved multiple capital reserve projects and bid awards discussed in the property and finance committee, including district-wide stage rigging with Atkinson Drapery (~$70,003.20), facility conditioning assessments (Schrader Group ~$89,004.64), Exeter Elementary parking-lot seal coating (Unitix asphalt services ~$9,004.15), Rustin High School field house roof replacement (Beaver Home Improvement ~$89,002.40), a continuing district-wide building automation systems project (Trium Group, award amount discussed at ~$2,680,000), and approval to purchase food-service equipment from designated allotments.

- Approval to hire a capital program coordinator, to be funded from capital program funds (not general fund), to manage multiple renovation projects through the district's current plan.

How the votes were taken: many personnel items and routine approvals were moved in committee and then voted on by the full board with voice votes; the proposed final budget was approved by roll call (recorded as yes votes from board members during the meeting). Several motions passed unanimously by voice vote when asked "All those in favor, say aye." Where a formal, recorded roll call occurred it was noted in the minutes (the Act 1 proposed final budget adoption was recorded by roll call during the meeting notes).

The board also approved the minutes of the February 24, 2025 personnel committee meeting and set the next committee meeting dates.

Details and next steps: many of the approved capital projects will proceed to procurement and scheduling; some items referenced will require additional board action if costs or scope change. The budget adopted as the proposed final under Act 1 may be adjusted prior to final adoption next month, and administration noted changes can be made up to the time of final approval.