Unionville-Chadds Ford highlights elementary activities pilot, proposes $12 activity fee for 2025–26

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District officials on April 21 presented a midyear update on the district's pilot elementary activities program and proposed continuing the funding in the 2025'26 budget while adding a modest activity fee.

The update, presented by assistant director of student activities Patrick Crater and building leader Michael Light, summarized a yearlong pilot in which schools offered up to five eight-week activity sessions each season and many activities ran before the school day. "This program has benefited hundreds of kids," Crater said, and staff described programs ranging from pickleball and graphic design to sensory and service clubs.

Why it matters: the pilot was launched as a district goal following strategic planning in 2022'23 and aimed to increase student connection, participation, and access to nonacademic enrichment at the elementary level. Presenters said the program addresses equity by offering low- or no-cost options taught by district staff and by working to remove cost barriers for families in financial hardship.

Program details and findings - Schools offered up to five activities per eight-week session; many activities ultimately ran before school rather than after school because families and students preferred morning sessions. - Mr. Crater said one popular offering, a pickleball club run by a staff member, eventually enrolled 88 students across sessions after additional openings were added. - Parent survey results cited in the presentation gave the program an average satisfaction score of 4.86 on a 5-point scale. - Examples of offerings included a Husky Sensory Squad (outdoor), a graphic-design club that produced materials for the PTO, and community-service clubs. - At Hillandale Elementary, the Heart of a Husky program and associated incentives (ticket board with about 200 slots, monthly postcards) were highlighted as complementary behavior-support work aligned with MTSS goals.

Budget and next steps District staff recommended retaining the pilot'year funding in the 2025'26 budget and adding an activity fee at the district'wide lowest tier of $12 per activity to help offset roughly 10% of program costs. Crater said families with financial hardship could request fee waivers by email. The administration proposed including the fee in the upcoming budget cycle and continuing to evaluate participation and accessibility.

Board members asked for additional data before finalizing policy: Board member Josh Shartz asked for the number of unique participants across the year to understand whether the program reaches many different students or a smaller group who attend multiple activities; Mr. Crater said he would provide that number after follow-up analysis. Board members also discussed capacity: staff interest in running activities appears to be the limiting factor, and principals are working to create roster options and unlimited-roster activities (for example, running clubs) where feasible.

What's next The board did not vote on a final funding action at the April meeting; the administration asked that the pilot continue under 2025'26 funding with the proposed fee, and staff will return with additional participation data and proposed budget language during the district budget process.

Ending School and district leaders described the program as meeting student interest and building school community while they continue to refine access, staffing and fee policies for next year.