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Wallingford-Swarthmore School District board meeting, date not confirmed yet

1 h 56 min

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Wallingford-Swarthmore board approves final budget after 3.21% tax increase outlined 1:11:58

  • A district staff member gave a report on instructional technology, the budget and staffing, saying the proposed Act 1 tax increase for next year was 3.21%. 57:59
  • Several speakers at public comment spoke about reducing screen and device use in schools. 1:27:54
  • A package of 42 personnel items, including approval of a Director of Human Resources, passed 7 to 1. 1:42:10
  • The board approved nine finance and facilities items, including the final '26-'27 budget, by an 8 to 0 vote. 1:52:23

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Item by item (14)
  1. Opening and roll call 0:02
    • The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call. 0:02
    • A staff member reported 8 voting members present. 0:56
  2. Student representatives report 0:58
    • Student representatives gave the last student board report of the school year. 0:58
    • The report covered speech and debate results, the boys track and field team winning Delaware County and Central League titles, and spring performances at the high school. 1:35
    • The students also outlined upcoming events, including senior prom and graduation. 4:42
  3. Recognition of retiring staff 6:12
    • District staff members honored retiring employees as part of the superintendent's report. 6:12
    • A staff member said this year's class of 18 had contributed 335 and a half collective years to the district. 6:42
  4. Elementary math growth presentation 29:31
    • A presenter from Nether Providence reported state growth data showing all students in grade 4 and grade 5 well above the expected standard for growth in the first year of Reveal Math. 29:51
    • A staff member described a grade 2 data team that rotated students among teachers by skill, saying class averages rose from about 65% or below in Unit 4 to about 83⁠-⁠80% and above by Unit 9. 49:08
    • Board members thanked the presenters for the presentation. ~51:46
  5. Superintendent's report 56:25
    • The superintendent introduced an incoming HR director set to start July 1st and said 2 finalists for a principal post would interview June 1st. 57:59
    • The superintendent said expenses were reduced by $1.368 million since the preliminary budget, including $878,500 not planned for the capital plan next year, and that the district added 70 staff over a 5-year period. 57:59
    • The superintendent said the district had restricted AI mode and Google Lens, ended technology use during elementary indoor recess, and would eliminate technology during middle school indoor recess next year. 1:00:29
  6. Public comment on agenda items 1:25:30
    • A speaker who said they did not live in the district was not able to ask a question, as comment was limited to residents. 1:27:10
    • Several speakers at public comment called for reducing screens and device use in schools and for more use of printed materials. 1:27:54
  7. Approval of minutes 1:36:50
    • The chair called for a motion to approve the minutes from the April 27th, 2026 regular board meeting, and a motion and a second were made. 1:36:50
    • The motion passed 8⁠-⁠0. 1:37:34
  8. Board committee and liaison reports 1:37:35
    • Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith reported attending a May 4th advocacy day in Harrisburg where discussions included a timely state budget and unfunded mandates. 1:37:59
    • Rachel Holbert recognized students graduating from the technical school. 1:40:35
    • Christine Dollé reported that House Bill 2176 passed the House 115 to 85 and that Senate Bill 1014 would require a bell-to-bell policy on student personal mobile devices. 1:41:17
  9. Personnel items 1:42:10
    • The motion passed 7 to 1. 1:46:13
  10. Policy items 1:46:15
    • The items included Policy 606 on first reading and Policies 204, 246 and 605.1 on second reading. 1:46:37
    • A district staff member said a club sports policy had been pulled from the agenda because of questions, including how club sports are financed. 1:47:20
    • The motion passed 8 to 0. 1:48:37
  11. Curriculum agreements and trips 1:48:38
    • The board considered 10 curriculum items, including a Panorama Education agreement and trip approvals. 1:48:38
    • A speaker asked whether an AI chat application in the Panorama contract was for staff, and a staff member said it was only for staff. 1:49:32
    • The motion passed 8 to 0. 1:51:30
  12. Student services agreements 1:51:32
    • The board considered 3 student services items, including educational service agreements. 1:51:32
    • The motion passed 8 to 0. 1:52:20
  13. Finance and facilities items 1:52:23
    • The board considered 9 items, including bills, financial statements, a homestead and farmstead exclusion resolution and the final '26-'27 budget. 1:52:23
    • One board member said the overall budget increased by less than 1%, the tax increase was 3.21%, and the budget was a very good step in the correct direction in their opinion. 1:53:39
    • The motion passed 8 to 0. 1:55:36
  14. Public comment and adjournment 1:55:39
    • No one spoke during public comment on items not on the agenda, and the meeting was adjourned. ~1:56:11

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

Who spoke

Who spoke

We can’t yet tell who is speaking at this board’s meetings.

Video: posted by the district as “WSSD Board Meeting 5/28/2026”