West Chester Area School District Home School Board School Board Meetings - Dates, Agendas, and Minutes School Board Meeting Information School Board Meetings Public Meetings are held in-person at the Spellman Education Center, 782 Springdale Drive, Exton, PA. Any changes will be duly advertised. She said she is a passionate believer in the strength of public education and attended public schools from kindergarten through college. First and foremost we need to change how our current board interacts with the parents and constituents it represents, she said. CallMs. Cherashore at 484-266-1018 if you wish to speak personally with a member of the School Board. As we move past the COVID-19 shutdown, West Chester needs to emerge stronger than ever. On Monday, the board voted, 8-1, during an impassioned four-hour meeting to keep Gender Queer: A Memoir on school libraries shelves. Ive shared it with people from around the state already, because all the [relevant] codes are Pennsylvania state codes, she said. Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip To Main Content. With the current shortage of teachers, an increase in the starting salary will allow the district to maintain its competitiveness to attract and retain new, highly qualified teachers, said Dr. Bob Sokolowski. Officials denied most of the sensitive information sought, but the demand raised concerns about infringing rights of students and families. West Chester Area School District is a school district in Pennsylvania. WEST CHESTER Nine candidates are seeking seats in three regions for the West Chester Area School District School Board. It is noted for its accessible coverage of business, economics and personal finance. As many of you who have emailed or spoken with me over this past year know, I strive to connect with each and every member of our community to answer questions and address concerns in a timely manner. Rev. Tech Support @Home / Soporte Tcnico en Casa, WCASD Counseling & Mental Health Services Guide, West Chester Area Education Foundation (WCAEF). A former Democrat, she also ran for West Chester mayor in 2021 as a Libertarian, finishing behind current Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste and former Borough Councilman Eric Lorgus. According to a very helpful breakdown of County positions and roles pulled together by the non-affiliated group Chester County Marching Forward, Borough Councils role is to: Make decisions on local police hiring, taxing, permits, zoning and building codes, local parks, open spaces and trails, pipelines, roads and bridges, trash and public works, and public safety.. In Chester County on Wednesday morning, just over 29,000 of 40,781 mail-in votes have been. The West Chester Area School District's Budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year was approved by the School Board on May 24 with a 0% increase for Chester County residents. Information in the chart was pulled from the candidates website or provided as an answer during a debate. In representing more than 1000 district educators, we must as a union balance the competing priorities of our members and understand what the Districts priorities are as well. Whats the connection in Chester County? She is also the paid executive director for Back to School PA, a political action committee funded by a Bucks County venture capitalist, Paul Merlino, who financially backed a number of school board candidates across the region and state in an effort to oppose future school closings because of the coronavirus pandemic. Editors note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the board members were four Democrats and one Republican, not five Democrats. One Region 1 seat, one Region 2 seat, and two Region 3 seats were on the ballot. On Monday, it approved two books associated with LGBTQ issues among young people for inclusion in the district high school libraries. The contribution toward healthcare for employees will increase from 9% to 11% over the span of the contract. *. Four of the nine seats on the West Chester Area School District school board were up for by-district general election on November 7, 2017. Justin Barbetta, of the Montgomery County law firm of Wisler Pearlstine, stated in a motion filed on Tuesday night that in accordance with a scheduling order Mahon signed on March 15, the district and the five board members named have until next month to meet Rosicas demand that they be removed. The agreement establishes two separate funds one for students ongoing education needs and another for damages. Last week they penned a letter to the editor. I understand the judges order better than the school district and their attorneys did.. She serves as executive director of Back to School PA, a PAC funded by a Bucks County venture capitalist that undertook a massive statewide spending campaign in 2021 in an effort to elect mostly conservative candidates to school boards. Pennsylvanias constitution says the legislature has to provide for a thorough and efficient system of schools. This contract provides a competitive salary structure while also maintaining fiscal integrity for the school district and its taxpayers., Negotiations require trust and an open dialogue, said Michele Curay-Cramer, President of the West Chester Area Education Association (WCAEA). Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? WEST CHESTER >> Nine candidates are seeking seats in three regions with the West Chester Area School District School Board. Fleming would promote safely maintaining in-person learning, close existing achievement gaps, and create a school environment where every student is accepted and every student can excel. That Right to Know Law request was largely denied by the district. I am heartened by Judge Mahons ruling to vacate his March 29thorder and retain these five WCASD school board members in office, Herrin said. In a letter released Sunday, the Republican Committee of Chester County in Pennsylvania called West Chester school board president Chris McCune's conduct "reprehensible," and accused him of. Equity policies: Free lunch, full day kindergarten, after school help? Its just, know your place., Bernice King addresses West Chester School District symposium about structural racism, connecting across party lines. We are extremely pleased to have come to this agreement through very amicable negotiations, said School Board President Chris McCune. WHYY news reached out to the district for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. 1:17 PHILADELPHIA A Chester County, Pennsylvania, judge has ordered the removal of five of the nine West Chester school board members, granting a petition from residents opposed to masking. Mushrooms and Meadowlarks? You believed that your interpretation was correct over mine?. Democrat Joyce Chester is seeking her third consecutive term on the school board in Region 1 and is opposed by Republican Ada M. Nestor. In Pennsylvania, voters, not judges, decide who sits on local school boards, Boyer said. Nine candidates sought seats in three regions. In recent months, the West Chester board has seen myriad debates over issues ranging from the COVID-19 restrictions, the alleged teaching of Critical Race Theory, and gender identifications in schools. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). He joined WHYY in November 2020. Chester County Marching Forward is working on candidate sheets for all those running for school board. *The WCASD is committed to ensuring that its website is accessible to people with disabilities. Five Democratic members of West Chester School Board in Pennsylvania were immediately removed on Tuesday by Chester County Judge William Mahon after they voted to make masking mandatory in the. During his tenure, 300,000 meals were served and 170 Wi-Fi hot spots for low income families were established to help ride out the pandemic and a return to normalcy. WCFC Free Food Program, Algebra, Literature, & Biology Summer Keystone. Were extremely fortunate to have such a talented, dedicated teaching staff in the classroom with our students every day.. This past week Chris McCune, one of our candidates for school board in the West Chester Area School District (WCASD), submitted an op-ed to the DLN on behalf of the district categorically. Despite the important issues raised in the petition, (the board) failed to comply with the Rules of Civil Procedure, Mahon wrote in his one-page order. Chester County sheriff deputy shortage forces courts into new phase, Heres what you need to know about Pennsylvanias fireworks law before the Fourth of July, 17th annual Rev Run announces record $70K donation for Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pottstown man charged in shooting death of Parkesburg man, Road construction on Route 322, West Chester Bypass, in Chester County scheduled to begin July 5, Penn Medicine working on deal to acquire Brandywine Hospital from Tower Health [Updated], Chester County man refuses to admit to porn addiction, draws state prison term for possessing child pornography, Postal Service hosting 22 job fairs during July, FAITH: What are the 7 deadly sins in the Bible, Penn Medicine inks deal to work with Coatesville VA hospital. "For the past 12 years, Mr. Seagers was a dynamic, energetic physics teacher at Downingtown West High School," she wrote. Contact the 2022 School Board By email: (all email addresses are the user name followed by @wcasd.net) Sue Tiernan, President, email: stiernan Gary Bevilacqua, Vice President, email: gbevilacqua Joyce Chester, email: jchester Alex Christy, email: achristy Dr. Laura Detre, email: ldetre Daryl Durnell, email: ddurnell1 Karen Fleming, email: kfleming At that time, he could vacate his order removing the board members, or uphold it. In a recent email Sheila described herself and her desire to run: I moved to West Chester Borough as an infant and love being a part of the close community we have. Teachers ratified the contract agreement on Monday, September 20 and the Board publicly approved it on Monday, September 27. In her petition virtually identical to others filed in the Downingtown Area School District and the Great Valley School District Rosica contends that board members had violated state law by imposing mask mandates on students in the West Chester Schools, thus harming the children there. A parent filed for their removal. Too many parent concerns go unanswered or unaddressed and we need to bring back community representation instead of the current pattern of acting as a shadow administrationor representatives for PSEA, and remove the gerrymandering currently in place due to the segmentation of our voters into three regions. Judge deems Pennsylvanias school funding system unconstitutional. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY). School Board Directors in Regions 1, 2 and 3 will be chosen by voters on . Equity and Inclusion Quick Facts Facilities Visitor's Guide Athletic Advisory Board (AAB) . The association believes the contract meets the needs of our members and provides security for the next several years. I guess our petition to remove the school board members who voted to mask our children wasnt so petty after all, said Nestor on her Facebook page. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. The district didnt respond. Both parties also will be represented by single candidates in Region 2. We dont believe they have the legal authority to (mask the kids)., In the filing, the petition states school directors are causing children permanent and irreparable harm due to their fabricating, feigning or intentionally exaggerating or including a medical symptom or disease which results in a potentially harmful medical evaluation or treatment to the child and as such, the (school directors) are to be held accountable.. Marketplace focuses on the latest business news both nationally and internationally, the global economy, and wider events linked to the financial markets. Not sure what Ward you are in? by Maddie Hanna Published Mar 30, 2022 A Chester County judge has ordered the removal of five of nine West Chester school board members, granting a petition from residents opposed to masking requirements. Stare is also running to capture a seat in Region 3. As I mentioned in the April district newsletter, even in the midst of uncertainty we have so much to be grateful for and I look forward to better and brighter things to come. Joyce is President and CEO of Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), Inc., a local non-profit entity that provides adult literacy and employment training to disadvantaged Chester County residents and a mother of two WCASD graduates. Comments (-1) This website contains links to third-party websites that are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement by WCASD of the content on such third-party websites or any affiliation or association with its operators. Im glad the residents of West Chester will keep the board they voted for., Bill Rettew is a 20 year veteran reporter who enjoys being the eyes and ears of the community. That slate of candidates was one of several dozen in school boards across Pennsylvania that got at least $10,000 from Back to School PA much more than is usually spent in school board races. He joined WHYY in November 2020. Education stories from across the Keystone State. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. West Chester Area School District School Board Approves Final Budget for 2023-24 School Year. WEST CHESTER A parent of a West Chester Area School District student petitioned Chester County Court to remove the school board members over the district's requirement for. The parent, Anita Edgarian, later mounted a write-in campaign for school board. ), School safety, gun violence and suicide prevention policies and programs, Prioritizing budget spending (Another guidance counselor or another security guard? Two term West Chester representative Joyce Chester is up for re-election. As a coalition of parents and community members who value public education, we know our community wont always see eye to eye on every issue, but we can all agree it is better to build our school community up instead of tearing it down, said Laura Patarcity. The board members voted in August to mandate masks after Pa.s state of emergency ended. The school boards counsel immediately filed a motion to reconsider, disputing the shot clock for a formal response and asserting that their true deadline for response was actually April 4. He acknowledged that he didnt have all the answers but would remain committed to education throughout the process. School Board Region 1 - Alex Christy School Board Region 1 - Katy Frey School Board Region 1 - Robert Rafetto School Board Region 1 - Nick Spangler Other races There are 12 candidates seeking five open seats on the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. Mahon has scheduled a hearing on the districts motion for reconsideration for Friday. You can see her full profile here. Wants to reduce the $8 million dollar overage we saw over the last two years to do this she supports reviewing all contract, administrative salaries and budgets for savings. West Chester Area School District Home School Board Meeting Schedule at a Glance Meeting Schedule at a Glance Board and Committee Meeting Schedule Meeting dates for School Board and Committee meetings are finalized annually at the December organization meeting. The Third District covers Thornbury. Roos said that the firm always intended to respect the order but interpreted it another way. Hundreds protest Moms for Liberty as weekend-long summit kicks off in Philadelphia, Pa. declares Code Red due to poor air quality from Canadian wildfires, In one of Montcos wealthiest areas, food pantries are seeing increasing food insecurity in the wake of SNAP benefit cuts. The mission of Back to Basics West Chester is to educate the public on school-related issues facing children and families in the WCASD, financially support and elect new school board members in 2023, and provide a framework for bringing educational excellence back to the WCASD. On Tuesday, Superintendent Bob Sokolowski sent an email message to members of the school community addressing Mahons ruling and saying that the districts attorneys were preparing a response. In the motion to reconsider filed with the court, a copy of which WHYY obtained Wednesday, the attorneys argued that the deadline for a response was actually April 4 and disputed the timeline used, which was based on the March 15 filing date of the petition to remove the school board members. Mayor Diane Herrin for example started the Opioid Task Force and was influential in getting Gay Street closed during the height of the pandemic. Rosica is the executive director of Back to School PA, a PAC funded by a Bucks County venture capitalist that engaged in a coordinated spending campaign in 2021 to elect mostly conservatives to Pennsylvanias school boards. The order stemmed from a petition a parent in the West Chester Area School District filed in February, asking the Chester County Court of Common Pleas to remove the school board members on the grounds that they had voted in August 2021 to make masks mandatory in the districts schools. Get ready for some new faces. WCASD is not responsible for the content on external sites, and if you decide to access linked third-party websites, you do so at your own risk. Judges havent ruled on them yet, but Shannon Grady, a Downingtown parent and the original drafter of the petition language, said she has high hopes. WEST CHESTER, PA Votes are being tallied in Pennsylvania's 2021 Municipal General Election. Rosica isa self-described advocate for educationally disadvantaged children, low-income and minority students. The recordings are not intended to be an official record. If the last year taught us anything, its that change, sometimes unexpected is inevitable; adapting sensibly will always keep this a place residents and visitors want to be., My life has been heavily influenced by a call to serve communities, he continued.
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