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Board debates commissioning a 'state of the district' report and whether to reallocate an existing contract
Summary
Board members discussed a proposal to hire Chris DeFazio and Chester County Intermediate Unit support to create a multimedia “state of the district” report and whether to reassign approximately $10,000 remaining under a contract with consultant Beth Trapani; the board agreed to place the proposal on next week’s agenda for a vote.
Board members discussed whether to contract with consultant Chris DeFazio and the Chester County Intermediate Unit to produce a multimedia “state of the district” report intended to showcase district programs, including CTE and other signature offerings, and to use brief video to promote recruitment and community understanding.
A board member who proposed the idea said the district has not produced an annual report in two years and argued a high-quality, district-wide presentation could help families evaluate local options and highlight unique programs such as Career and Technical Education and the Physics Fight Club. The proponent said the district spends substantial funds when a student leaves for a charter school and that improved communications could help retain students.
Contracting and available funds School administrators said they have an existing contract with consultant Beth Trapani under which roughly $10,000 of paid work remains unused; the administrator said Trapani had attempted focus groups with mixed success and that Trapani and the district are discussing whether to reallocate that remaining balance toward work on CTE programming. Board members discussed whether to shift funds from the existing Trapani agreement or to proceed with a separate contract with DeFazio and the Chester County Intermediate Unit.
Next steps Board members asked for more clarity about the current Trapani contract and whether any unused funds could be repurposed. One board member asked for a presentation from Chris DeFazio; another said a presentation was not necessary and the board ultimately directed staff to put the DeFazio/IU proposal on the agenda for a vote next week.
Why it matters Board members framed the report as a tool to communicate the district’s strengths to current and prospective families, to raise awareness of successful programs and to provide a consolidated public-facing summary of district offerings. The board did not authorize spending during the meeting; the question of using the unused Trapani contract dollars, and any new contract value, will be decided at a future meeting.
