May 13, 2025

In addition to voting to approve Tim Hoffman as the new superintendent of schools, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board will be voting on several facility upgrades next week. The board did, however, vote during its May 12 meeting to approve the proposed final budget for next school year.

The board was also updated on the status of the middle school project.

As previously reported, the proposed final budget calls for appropriations of $108,417,731. Proposed millage rates are 33.91 mills for property owners in the Chester County part of the district — an increase of 3.99 percent, and 19.25 mills in Chadds Ford Township, an increase of 3.66 percent. The weighted Average increase of 3.92 percent.

The cost for the facility upgrades totals $375,327. Director of Facilities James Whitesell said the proposed work will round out the summer work projects.

The breakdown is as follows: $40,830 to replace flooring in six of the high school classrooms (in LRFP); $60,909 for touch-free, low-flow, flushometers and faucets for Chadds Ford and Hillendale elementary schools. This will make all the toilet rooms at these schools touch-free operation and operate on 20-year lithium batteries; $27,815 for a variety of painting jobs at Hillendale and Unionville Elementary schools and at Unionville High School; and $102,858 for asphalt and concrete work at Hillendale Elementary and C.F. Patton Middle School.

Whitesel added that each of the projects is funded through the long-range facilities plan.

Additionally, another $142,915 is earmarked to install outdoor play areas to support Full-Day Kindergarten outdoor play.  The scope of work includes creating approximately 1,000 square feet of synthetic turf play areas that can be utilized throughout the school year without the concern of wet/mowed grass, muddy soil, or insects/bees.

That work, Whitesel said, will be funded by the Longwood Foundation.

Also, as part of the facilities report, Whitesel said six architectural firms have submitted proposals for the design of a new middle school. During the remainder of May, the evaluation team will hold interviews as necessary with the three highest-ranking proposers, and then late in the month, there will be negotiations and clarifications with the top proposer.

On June 9, the evaluation team will make a proposal, and the board is expected to vote on the matter during its June 16 meeting.

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board announced in an email that it will be voting next week, May 19, on whether to name Tim Hoffman as the new superintendent of schools.

“After a rigorous selection process that included a diverse and highly qualified pool of educators (47 candidates from 17 states) and multiple rounds of interviews, Dr. Hoffman emerged as the clear choice. His vision and leadership style perfectly align with the priorities you identified through the focus groups and surveys: delivering a top-tier education with continuous innovation, maintaining strong community connections while honoring our traditions and ensuring UCFSD remains an exceptional place to learn, live and work,” the May 12 email said.

Hoffman has been assistant superintendent since May of 2021, after former assistant Ken Batchelor was hired as the superintendent in the Radnor School District. Before that promotion, Hoffman was the district director of curriculum and instruction for grades K-12. Before that, he was named principal of C.F. Patton Middle School in 2012.

In a separate email, current Superintendent John Sanville said, “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the Board’s selection of Dr. Tim Hoffman as our next Superintendent,” noted Sanville. “Dr. Hoffman has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educational excellence and a deep understanding of our unique collaborative culture. As both an accomplished administrator and a parent with children in our schools, he brings a valuable perspective that balances professional expertise with personal investment in our community’s future.”

Hoffman also commented in that second email, saying, “I am so grateful to be able to lead the place that I love,” reflected Hoffman. “I want to thank the Board, staff, and greater community for their unwavering support over the years that I’ve been a part of UCFSD. I look forward to maintaining our time-honored traditions and processes while implementing new thoughts and ideas to meet the emerging needs of our current and future students and families.”

During the May 12 work session, Director Steve Simonson said Hoffman’s contract as superintendent will be for five years at a salary of $258,000 per year.

Sanville announced his retirement in January of this year, and his last day is July 31. Hoffman will assume the office on Aug. 1. The promotion won’t be official until the May 19 vote.