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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for Pennsbury SD and found 5 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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District to Hire Demographer for Boundary and Capacity Study
The board will award a $41,000 contract for a demographer to conduct an ‘enrollment, capacity and boundary optimization study.’ Such studies are often precursors to major, disruptive decisions like school closures, large-scale redistricting, or bond issues for new construction.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item 5.B initiates a process that could lead to school closures or a bond request. Identify the selected vendor and request the full RFP 2627-101 to understand the study’s scope and timeline.
Policy Lever: $41,000 Contract
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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District Begins Budget Process, Reviews 3.6% Tax Hike Cap
The committee will begin discussions on the 2027-2028 budget and review the state-mandated Act 1 Index, which caps property tax increases at 3.6% without voter approval. This marks the start of the budget cycle and signals the district may consider raising taxes to the maximum level allowed by the state.
Policy Use
WATCH: Items 3.A and 3.B kick off the budget process. Monitor committee discussion to determine if the district plans to tax up to the 3.6% limit or will seek exceptions to exceed it.
Policy Lever: State Tax Cap
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Intermediate Unit Report Details Ties to State Lobbying Group
A report from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), of which the district is a member, notes the BCIU board’s participation in electing 2027 officers for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA). The PSBA is a major lobbying organization that frequently opposes state legislation on school choice, parental rights, and fiscal restraint.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: The report under Item 6.A confirms the district’s link, via the BCIU, to the PSBA. Track the PSBA’s legislative platform to anticipate lobbying efforts that may run counter to AFPI’s state agenda.
Policy Lever: Lobbying Association Dues
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Policy Text Not Available – Pull Before Vote
The board will vote to accept a donation of three hardcover books from a community member. The titles of the books are not listed in the agenda or attached memo, preventing parental or public review of the materials being added to the district’s collection.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Before the vote on Item 5.G, request the titles of the three donated books from the district to ensure they are age-appropriate and ideologically neutral. Direct the request to the Superintendent’s office.
Policy Lever: Parental Review
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Public Comment Time Limits Set for Committee Meetings
The agenda specifies that public comment at committee meetings is limited to a total of 9 or 15 minutes, depending on meeting length, with a 3-minute limit per individual. This structural limit on public input can reduce accountability and transparency at the committee level where policy is often shaped.
Policy Use
WATCH: Note the district’s restrictive public comment policy for committee meetings under Item 2.A. Monitor for any further restrictions on public input at full board meetings.
Policy Lever: Public Comment Restrictions
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“America First, Always.”
AFPI exists to advance policies that put the American people first. Our guiding principles are liberty, free enterprise, national excellence, American military superiority, foreign-policy engagement in the American interest, and the primacy of American workers, families, and communities in all we do.
America First Policy Institute
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