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Unionville-Chadds Ford builds staffing and furniture plan as full-day kindergarten begins
Summary
District reported updated staffing numbers, budget impacts and elementary furniture purchases tied to implementation of full-day kindergarten; administration said net ongoing cost is about $940,000 and invited board review before May budget hearings.
District finance and curriculum staff updated the board April 7 on staffing, projected costs and classroom furniture purchases tied to the launch of full-day kindergarten.
Finance director presented revised budget estimates that reflect current staffing needs: seven new full-time-equivalent positions are included in the 2025–26 budget (one new hire is a classroom-specific kindergarten hire, the others backfill reassignments). The administration now projects the recurring cost of full-day kindergarten at about $940,000 after state offsets. In the board presentation, the district said it had budgeted $600,000 earlier in the year and adjusted estimates as hiring and enrollment data became clearer.
Facilities and procurement staff presented a set of state-contract furniture purchases to outfit kindergarten classrooms this summer. The long-range facilities plan budgeted $35,000 per elementary building for replacement and supplemental kindergarten furnishings. The board packet showed individual purchase totals for Chadds Ford, Hillandale, McConnells and Unionville elementary schools totaling $102,141; administration said additional smaller purchases for indoor and outdoor learning supports may follow.
Why it matters: administration said the district’s recruitment process produced a larger-than-usual candidate pool (about 100 applicants for one full-day kindergarten opening) and that earlier posting aided hiring. Board members asked about timing and whether existing usable furniture would be repurposed; facilities staff confirmed schools will reuse existing furniture where appropriate and supplement as budgeted.
Budget context and schedule: Finance staff reiterated the 2025–26 proposed budget incorporates costs for kindergarten and showed the overall proposed expenditure increase at 2.44% year over year. The administration said the full proposed budget will be presented in more detail at the May 5 budget hearing and returned for board action during the May work session and June meeting.
Ending: No votes were taken. Administration said hiring and furniture procurement will continue through the summer and that orientation for kindergarten families is scheduled for May 19.
