CCIU announces expansion, new sites to better serve special needs students

Rendering of the CCIU’s Child & Career Development Center Great Valley Campus The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) is excited to announce a series of transformative initiatives aimed at enhancing educational services for children throughout Chester County and beyond. These projects signify a commitment to fostering innovative learning environments and expanding opportunities for students...

CCIU celebrates academic excellence and student achievement

Dr. Fiore welcomes students and families to the 2021-22 CCIU Champions Banquet. On Thursday, May 12, students gathered for the champions banquet at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville, PA, to celebrate an array of amazing accomplishments from the 2021-22 school year. The banquet began with opening remarks from special events coordinators Jay Della Ragione and Kathy Gurnee. CCIU Executive Director,...

County judge removes 5 from WCASD board over masking policy

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa The original petition filed in the West Chester Area School District case. A Chester County judge moved Tuesday to remove five members of the West Chester Area School District Board of Education on what he termed a procedural issue — saying that neither the school board members or school district responded in a timely manner to a petition seeking the...

DASD is visited by the voice of the Philadelphia Eagles, Merrill Reese

Philadelphia Eagles radio star, Merrill Reese, talks about mental health and diversity with DASD teachers and staff. DOWNINGTOWN — On November 2, Downingtown Area School District (DASD) was visited by famous Philadelphian, Merrill Reese, during its annual Learning Summit. Merrill Reese is the play-by-play radio host who has announced for the Philadelphia Eagles on SportsRadio 94.1 WIP-FM since 1977....

Ignore the anti maskers — masks are the best way to keep kids safe in school

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa All around the county local school boards have had to wrestle with the topic of requiring masks for students and staff. Honestly, with the Delta variant of COVID-19, it really shouldn’t have been a tough decision. Enter willfully misinformed (or just flat out lying) residents making any number of false claims about masks: they cut oxygen (they don’t...

The lies that kill

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa The lies are killing people. Thankfully, the open deception about COVID-19 has been of limited impact here in Chester County, save the odd spittle-flecked angry email or comment claiming the virus is fake, masking is a plot against freedom, the election was rigged and that Donald Trump would be reinstated on Aug. 13. None of that is true, of course, but...

New COVID testing system could help keep Chesco schools open this fall

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Scanning the QR code on this fast COVID antigen test, via an app, allows rapid data collection and the ability to forecast outbreaks. While virtually every adult (and most kids over age 12) will likely have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine if they (or their parents) want it, it seems increasingly likely that for kids 11 and under, vaccines will be few and...

Chesco schools to receive a total of $31M in COVID funds

WEST CHESTER — School districts and charter schools in Chester County are slated to receive more than $31 million in total federal COVID-19 pandemic support, according to estimated allocations released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The funds come as part of $2.2 billion in pandemic education relief that Pennsylvania is set to receive from the second federal stimulus plan passed by...

COVID-19 Update, Dec. 10: Gov. Wolf orders 3 week closure of indoor dining, gyms, school activities to slow virus surge

By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times @mikemcgannpa Gov. Tom Wolf announced a series of new restrictions Thursday afternoon for the three weeks starting at midnight Friday, including a band on indoor dining at restaurants, closure of gyms, music venues, museums, halting of extra-curricular activities and sports in schools and limiting indoor gatherings through Jan. 4, 2021, with the hope of stopping a...

COVID Update, Nov. 23: Wolf issues stay at home advisory, new limits on schools, gatherings

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa Gov. Tom Wolf warned Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic could worsen seriously in commonwealth with today’s peak cases that average more than 6,000 per day could spike to more than 22,000 per day by December and overwhelm the state’s hospital system, asking — but not ordering – residents to stay home as much as possible. Wolf did announce some...