WEST CHESTER, PA — The West Chester Area School District (WCASD) School Board of Directors has given the green light to a final budget of $322,563,949 for the 2024-25 school year, a significant increment of $15.3 million (5.1%) over the current budget. This budget exhibits the district’s commitment to prioritize the enhancement of their educational delivery through the continued investment in their staff – an intended expenditure noteworthy of $5.0 million, geared towards the development of their elementary school renovation plan.
Foremost among the key elements in this budget are the salaries and benefits of the district’s 1,580 employees, recording an increased surge of a whopping $8.4 million (5.4%). This increment is essential in order to uphold the district’s focus on student growth and achievement, said WCASD Superintendent, Dr. David Christopher.
Additionally, the budget plan also includes an investment of $1.9 million in staffing costs which will enable the district to add more teaching roles and specialist positions. While tackling increases in costs, the district aims to strategically enhance personalized instruction, meet the diverse learning needs of the students, and uphold the reputation of WCASD as a high-quality education provider.
Karen Fleming, School Board President, stated that significant efforts and focus were put into maintaining low increase rates while prioritizing the educational needs of the students and staff. “As a board, our goal is to balance the educational needs of our students and staff with the interests of our community members. This budget aims to make prudent, cost-effective decisions,” she said.
“The board and district administration have worked diligently to keep any increases as low as possible. We believe the key areas outlined in this budget will allow for highly engaged learners and a strong community,” added Fleming.
However, the budget is not without its challenges. The district is grappling with an increase in state and federal mandates which would cost more than $4 million. These mandates include a $2.5 million increase in state-mandated pension expenses, a $689,000 increment in Contracted Special Education Services, and an $830,000 increase in transportation expenses.
To strike a balance in the 2024-25 budget, the district has approved a 1.3 percent tax increase for Chester County property owners and an 11.1 percent increase for Delaware County property owners. This decision is based on the latest property market value alluded by the PA State Equalization Board (STEB), which the district is bound to use as a basis for taxation.
Gary Bevilacqua, a school board member and chair of the Property & Finance Committee, attested that the higher tax increase in Delaware County is due to the significant rise in its market value – a hefty 17.5 percent increase over the previous year, compared to Chester County’s increase of 9.4 percent. He was keen to clarify that this tax difference was not due to the district treating the two counties differently, but a direct result from variable market values.
Despite the challenges presented by the budget, the district maintains that its focus remains steadfast in providing top-tier education services while being financially responsible and transparent. Their commitment is evident in the district’s undesignated fund balance of approximately $20.2 million, and the promising plans encapsulated in the 2024-25 budget.
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