U-CF board passes budget, sports plan

Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors Monday night passed the district’s budget for next year, and a plan for athletes to get back into their sports. The budget passed unanimously, while votes for the sports plan were 6-3 in favor.

The 2020-2021 budget calls for appropriations of $90,625,615, with real estate taxes of 29.07 mills in Chester County — a decrease of 0.31 percent — and 25.99 mills for Chadds Ford Township property owners in Delaware County. That is an increase of 1.09 percent over last year.

(A mil is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. The millage rates approved translate to Chester County residents of the district paying $2,907 for every $100,000 of assessed value, while Chadds Ford property owner paying $2,599 per $100,000 of property value.)

The sports plan — Athletics Summer Health and Safety Plan — is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Tom Wolf’s recommendations. The plan is new and had not previously been discussed, according to Director Victoria Baratta.

“The governor five days ago gave the go-ahead for communities in the green and yellow to go proceed with summer athletics, as long as the districts put together a health and safety plan,” Baratta said.

The plan, found here, includes procedures for coaches and athletes. Among the recommendations for coaches are that they design activities for risk mitigation strategies such as social distancing and handwashing and sanitation; and that they should check with nurses and athletic trainers for education strategies for athletes and establish activities that would lead to a gradual increase in training to avoid injury and heat-related illnesses.

Athletes are advised to gradually increase their activity, discuss their health and fitness concerns with their coaches, and to avoid congregating with teammates before and after practice sessions.

Screening procedures will be established, and all athletes and coaches must participate in an educational session on COVID-19. And anyone, athlete, coach, or staff member must stay home if they feel sick.

The plan also has three phases, 1 and 2, depending on whether Chester County is in the yellow or green phases of the governor’s declaration. The county is currently in the yellow phase. Phase 2 would go into effect once Gov. Wolf decides the county may go to green. There is also a third phase of the plan for preparing teams when the governor and PIAA approve fall sports.

Even in that phase, however, there will still be some restrictions, depending on recommendations from the departments of health and education.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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