As anticipated, directors of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board voted to approve changes for three elementary schools, changes deemed necessary for all-day kindergarten.
The board approved indoor building improvements to support the full-day kindergarten at Chadds Ford and Hillendale elementary schools for $25,425, and outdoor changes at CFES and Unionville Elementary for $33,215.
There was little discussion since the matter had been discussed several times during the last few months.
Director Rashi Akki said the changes should be made now so everything will be in place for full-day K at the beginning of the next school year. A science room and a music room will be added to Chadds Ford Elementary, while two rooms at Hillendale will be reconfigured into three rooms. She added that the money is already earmarked in the Long-Range Facilities Plan and capital budget sources.
For the outdoor work, Akki said that will be funded by Longwood Grants, adding that because it’s for outdoor classrooms, working with Longwood “is a natural fit.”
A covered pavilion will be added to CFES, Akki said, and an amphitheater will be added to UES.
“I think that [the amphitheater] will create a very nice outdoor space for learning which our young kids can really enjoy.”
In another facilities-related matter, the board approved spending $24,740 to approve the water heating system at Unionville High School. Akki said the current system is obsolete.
While a non-voting item at this point, the board continued a discussion on whether to move forward with electric or diesel school buses. The district is looking to get five new buses. A diesel bus would cost $151,000, while an electric bust would start at$380,000 but rebates and grants would bring that down to $78,000, according to board documents.
Director of Finance Joe Deady said there are concerns regarding the cost of installing charging stations for electric buses.
“We’re not 100 percent certain of the costs that range from $300,000 to $500,000,” Deady said.
The discussion also included speculation over how costs for electricity and diesel fuel might change during the next few years, and there is about the battery life of electric buses.
The district’s capital savings fund has $850,000 earmarked for bus purchases.
The board is expected to vote on the matter in November.
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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