Tredyffrin-Easttown board advances multiple policies on first reading, approves consent agenda; finance panel previews budget starting point

The Tredyffrin-Easttown School Board approved its consent agenda and advanced several policies on first reading at the Sept. 23 regular meeting at Conestoga High School.

The chair called for and received a motion to approve the consent agenda as printed on page 7 of the meeting packet; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Later the board considered a package of policies recommended for first reading and adoption at the next regular meeting, including Policy/Regulation 5455 (homeless students), revisions to Policy/Reg 5401 (student discipline), updates to Policy/Reg 5415 and Regulation 4035 (dress and appearance, with a planned definition/examples of protective hairstyles), and policies related to weapons and a drug-free workplace. Committee chair Susan Audrain summarized the policy committee’s review; the board moved, seconded and approved the items as ready for first reading.

Finance Committee Chair Dr. Roberta Hetinski reported on local revenues and expenditures from the Sept. 9 committee meeting. She said local revenues are higher by approximately $5.3 million (driven by real-estate tax collections, investment income and transfer taxes) while instructional expenses are higher by about $5.7 million (special programs, personnel and health/support services). She told the board that the district issued bonds this spring for capital projects, increasing debt service, and that property-tax appeals could reduce revenue by roughly $1 million annually pending further updates. Hetinski said the Act 1 index for the 2025–26 budget year will be 4%, down about 1.3 percentage points from the prior year; the district will begin its budget process in December with workshops next spring.

The finance report included transportation metrics: roughly 94 buses in service covering 409 routes that transport about 7,102 students daily and travel approximately 8,105 miles each day. The transportation supervisor reported hiring three new commercial driver's-license drivers and adding a few passenger vehicles to the fleet, which the committee said has improved operations but remains below pre-pandemic vehicle counts.

No final policy adoptions occurred; the policies were advanced on first reading and will return for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting. The board also announced an upcoming public auction Oct. 8–9 for surplus furniture connected to the new elementary school project and set future board meetings for Oct. 28 and Nov. 25 at Conestoga High School.