Board approves contracts, budget resolution, calendar and facilities items; list of votes and motions

The Downingtown Area School District Board of Directors approved multiple action items at its Jan. 15, 2025 meeting. Most items passed with a motion, second and a call of "Motion carries." Where the transcript recorded additional detail, that information is listed below.

Votes at a glance

- Approval: Royer Greaves regular school-year agreement for Downingtown Area School District student no. 781-282-0718; amount: $69,300. (Curriculum action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Waiver agreement and release with parents of Downingtown Area School District student no. 817-908-8316; amount: $84,500. (Curriculum action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Act 1 budget resolution certifying the board will not increase the district's real estate tax or other tax by more than the Act 1 base index for the 2025-26 fiscal year (the board characterized the index as 4%). (Finance action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Three-year auditing services agreement with Withum for audit years 2024-25 through 2026-27; fees stated as $31,000 (year 1), $32,500 (year 2), $34,000 (year 3) with an option to extend. (Finance action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Contract with William T. Fortman for the chief security officer position for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. (Finance action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Two-year athletic training contract with ATI for athletic training services for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years; amount stated: $280,000. (Finance action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Contract amendment with Rockwell related to the purchase of the Siemens property; amendment restructures timing of due-diligence deposits because of court approval timing. The board discussion noted Rockwell's updated need for 12 to 14 acres for the Nanatarium rather than the earlier estimate of ~30 acres. One board member recorded an abstention on the vote ("I abstain"). (Finance action; motion seconded; motion carries with recorded abstention.)

- Approval: Change orders EC-3 and EC-4 for Hobbs & Company (electrical contract) at Beavercreek Elementary School for replacement of an electrical feeder and time/materials to install a breaker panel and breakers; amount: $42,782.20. (Facilities action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Purchase of Cisco wireless access points (including software, maintenance and 5 years of support) for all 16 schools plus central office, and authorization to sell/dispose of end-of-life Cisco Meraki access points. (Technology action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: Purchase of Cisco network switches (including software, maintenance and support for 5 years) and authorization to sell/dispose of end-of-life switches being replaced. (Technology action; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

- Approval: 2025-26 district calendar. (Board administration; motion seconded; "Motion carries.")

How votes were recorded in the transcript Most motions were moved and seconded during the meeting and recorded as "Motion carries." The only explicit roll-call detail captured in the public transcript was one abstention recorded during the Rockwell contract amendment vote (the speaker said "I abstain"). No other roll-call tallies (yes/no/abstain by individual directors) were provided in the accessible transcript excerpt.

Authorities referenced - Act 1 budget resolution (referenced by the finance director in relation to the Act 1 index). - Act 93 of 1998 (Sunshine Law) was cited in the meeting's executive-session notice and therefore appears in meeting housekeeping comments.

Notes and clarifications - Several agenda items included dollar amounts and contract periods as listed above; the transcript did not provide further invoice breakdowns or vendor contract numbers. - The Rockwell-Siemens property discussion included a factual clarification in the meeting that Rockwell now expects to need 12—to— acres for the Nanatarium, down from an earlier estimate of about 30 acres; the amendment restructures due-diligence deposit timing to fit the court approval process. - Items approving services for named students included student identifiers as read into the record; the transcript lists student numbers but no further educational details were provided publicly in the meeting.

If additional vote tallies or copies of the signed contracts are needed, the district's board office maintains official minutes and contract records.