PA COVID Relief Fund Boosts West Chester District Allocation 14.2%

WEST CHESTER, PA —The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lot of havoc for the last two years in local school districts in Chester County.

Schools closed and parents were called in to help their children attend virtual classes.

When the students returned in January, parents and students were protesting mask mandates.

Finally, some good news.

The money Pennsylvania received in COVID- relief funds for elementary and secondary education has recently been distributed to school districts.

The school districts received $7.6 billion, an increase of $525 million, or 7 %, over last year’s spending plan.

West Chester Area School District received 10 million, a 14.2% increase over last year’s allocation.

The West Chester Area school board Wednesday night adopted a $296.9 million school budget for the 2022-23 school year, amounting to a 6%, or $17.5 million, increase over last year's spending plan.

The budget calls for a 1.7% tax increase, estimated at $70 for Chester County property owners and a 4.4 % increase, estimated at $208 for Delaware County property owners.

The average assessed home value in Chester County is $189,850, which is approximately one-half of the home's market value.

The budget increase is primarily to fund $5 million in construction costs associated with the Glen Acres Elementary School renovation project as well as $500,000 for technology and distance learning initiatives.

Other increases include more than $3.3 million directly related to the state and federal mandates.