July 16, 2024 - ChaddsFordLive.com

New Principal at Pocopson

Gabriel Savage has been named the new principal at Pocopson Elementary School. The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board made that official during a brief July 15 meeting. He replaces Cliff Beaver who retired last month.

Savage will earn $169,900 for a 260-day school year, according to board Director Steve Simonson.

Gabriel Savage is the new principal at Pocopson Elementary School.

Superintendent of Schools John Sanville said more than 40 applicants were considered, but Savage stood out by doing “a fantastic job during the interview process.”

He continued by saying it was the “deepest and richest candidate pool” he’s seen during his tenure as superintendent, but through the entire interview process “Dr. Savage presented himself as our number one candidate,” adding that Savage puts the students first.

“He’s very good at developing a culture and climate and relationships in the community and among his staff. So, we’re thrilled being able to steal him from Wallingford-Swarthmore,” Sanville said. “I can’t tell you how happy we are to be welcoming Gabe to the team.”

Savage is also happy to be a part of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.

“It’s very humbling but thank you to the board and Dr. Sanville and the interview committee. It was a very thorough process, and I got a good feel for what the district was looking for…Thank you for trusting me with the responsibility to lead Pocopson Elementary School.”

Savage also thanked Beaver for making Pocopson “a very well-run school building with a great staff. That’s what I’m excited to do.”

“I so look forward to meeting the staff, meeting the kids, meeting the families, and to start building those relationships and finding out what makes Pocopson so great.”

Savage comes to Pocopson after serving as principal at Wallingford Elementary School. Before that, he served as an assistant principal and music teacher in the Radnor Township School District.

Savage earned an undergraduate degree in music education from West Chester University, a master’s in education media design & technology from Full Sail University, and a doctorate in education in K-12 school leadership from Wilkes University.

His official start date is Sept. 16. Pocopson Patriots are invited to meet Savage at a welcome party on Tuesday, July 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. for staff and 5 to 7 p.m. for staff, students, and families. Registration is requested.

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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Killer Conchester & Route 1 updates

Along the Ford

Traffic is something most people love to hate. There’s also a saying that things get worse before they get better. Both are coming into play and last until late 2025.

For those who use Route 322 in Delaware County, which is also known as the Conchester Highway and Killer Conchester, work to widen the lower sections to two lanes in each direction is still on the books. The upper portion, about 2.1 miles, from Route 1 south to Clayton Park was finished in 2020

Road widening projects on Routes 1 and 322 will continue well into 2025.

PennDOT spokesman Brad Rudolph said in an email that the stretch between Cherry Tree Road/Bethel Avenue through the Route 452 intersection is supposed to be advertised for construction on about Aug. 22, with the project awarded in September or October. Some construction preliminaries could begin later in the fall.

The middle section from Clayton Park Drive to just east of Chelsea Parkway/Bethel Avenue is still in the design phase. Rudolph said it’s scheduled to be advertised for construction in early November.

Another road project concern is the widening of Route 1 from the Kennett Bypass to Greenwood Road in Kennett and East Marlborough townships. That stretch will get another lane in both directions. Preliminary work — moving utilities — began last year, and the actual widening is about to start.

“We are close to being done with utility relocations, Rudolph said. “The contractor plans to start when the utility poles are pulled. Hopefully within the next month or two to start. Finish timeframe on the latest schedule shows fall 2025.”