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District reports $5 million surplus for January as state budget signals potential teacher pay changes
Summary
Finance director reported revenues exceeded expenditures for January and outlined state budget proposals that could affect teacher pay schedules and provisos; trustees were briefed on anticipated timeline for state budget actions.
At the Feb. 24 Chester County School District Board of Trustees meeting, Mr. McDowell presented the financial report for the month ending Jan. 31, 2025, saying revenues for the period were $40,846,727 and expenditures totaled $35,824,069, producing a surplus of $5,022,658 for the period.
Why it matters: The district’s monthly surplus and the state’s proposed budget actions both affect planning for salaries, programs and one-time expenditures as the district prepares its local budget for the coming year.
State budget signals and proposals: Mr. McDowell summarized recent state-level budget activity he said the board should track. He described House proposals that included a $1,500 increase to the starting teacher salary schedule (moving an example starting figure the presenter referenced) and other earmarked allocations the presenter said included funding for transportation, facility safety, and pilot programs. He also said the House proposal would collapse salary schedule lanes—removing a "bachelor’s plus 18" lane that currently affects 26 district teachers and thousands statewide—creating an outstanding implementation question for districts.
Procurement and contracts: McDowell said the district has submitted an initial model procurement code and is preparing a district-specific version of the code intended to meet or exceed the 2021 model procurement code; the district is also recruiting a procurement coordinator and updating procedures to improve compliance.
Timeline and next steps: McDowell outlined the state budget calendar he summarized from the House and Senate schedules and the conference committee timeline leading to the governor’s desk in May. He told trustees the district will continue to monitor state guidance, particularly on teacher salary schedule implementation and proviso language that could affect district allocations.
Context and board requests: Trustees asked for additional details to inform budget planning; McDowell noted the district will share updated state guidance as it becomes available and will include changes in the local budget workshop schedule.
