Coatesville School Board approves $148.8M budget

District’s 2014-15 budget to break even; Taschner takes over as superintendent By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times CALN – The Coatesville Area School Board unanimously approved a general fund budget of $148,802,429 at Thursday night’s meeting. The budget perfectly aligns with the projected expenditures for 2014-15, leaving no surplus or deficit. During his presentation of the budget,...

Dutkiewicz new principal at Chadds Ford Elementary

Joins Unionville-Chadds Ford School District from Penn-Delco By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times Shawn Dutkiewicz was unanimously approved Monday night by the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education as the new principal at Chadds Ford Elementary School. POCOPSON — Chadds Ford Elementary School has a new leader. The Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education unanimously voted Monday to hire Shawn Dutkiewicz...

UCF board deadlocks on vacancy

2014-15 budget passed with 2.66% tax increase By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times POCOPSON — It could be as long as a month before the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education appoints a replacement for Eileen Bushelow, after the board deadlocked Monday night on a vote for a replacement. The board now plans to meet July 14 to vote on the matter after Robert Sage and Hsinte (James) Yen both got four...

Four make their case to join UCFSD board

Would replace Elieen Bushelow through December, 2015 By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Four candidates to join the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education made their case last night to be appointed for a seat from Region B, to placed Eileen Bushelow, who resigned last month. From left, Bennett Baird of Newlin, Arnie Klingenberg of Birmingham, Robert Sage of Pocopson and Hsinte (James) Yen of Birmingham. EAST...

Unionville likely to limit tax hike to 2.66%

Questions remain on use of reserve funds, revenue projections By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times EAST MARLBOROUGH — If the final number is all but set, how exactly to get there remains a bit up in the air, as consensus seemed to form amongst the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education Monday night around a blended tax rate increase of about 2.66% for the 2014-15 school year budget. But the big question...

Chadds Ford principal out after PSSA questions

Reputedly allowed extra time for some students on March tests By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Mark Ransford PENNSBURY — Chadds Ford Elementary School principal Mark Ransford was placed on administrative leave and will retire, following an investigation into issues regarding the recent PSSA tests administered at the school last month — reportedly he allowed some students to get extra time to complete...

UCF school board looks to narrow tax hike

Latest administration proposed budget calls for 2.66% increase By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times EAST MARLBOROUGH — With about 10 weeks to go in the annual school budget process, the likely range of the expected Unionville-Chadds Ford School District tax increase is beginning to narrow, and based on Monday night’s informal discussions by the Board of Education, the increase will fall somewhere...

CASD board emphatically denies D.A.’s accusations

It calls Hogan’s allegations of obstruction ‘blistering and inaccurate’ By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Following an executive session Friday night, the Coatesville Area School District (CASD) Board of Education emphatically denied “a blistering and inaccurate press statement” by the Chester County District Attorney that it has impeded his investigation into...

D.A. rips CASD, Ellison on investigation obstruction

Hogan suggests actions against Romaniello may ‘undermine’ him as witness By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Tensions between law enforcement officials and the Coatesville Area School District (CASD), its Board of Education and its solicitor are escalating, according to District Attorney Tom Hogan, who issued a statement Thursday that disputed the district’s contention...

CASD super candidates have vetting issues

Who looked into these folks and decided they were the best option? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times There are times when reality trumps fiction for the completely incredible. I had no plans to write again today about our pals at the Coatesville Area School District and frankly, would have been happy to work on the half-dozen other topics I have going elsewhere in the county. But, alas, sometimes you...