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Heads up! Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for Downingtown Area SD. We found 8 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 9) |
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District Approving $118,800 for i-Ready Data Platform
The district plans to approve a $118,800 contract with Curriculum Associates for professional development tied to its ‘i-Ready’ platform. While presented as a tool for math, i-Ready is a comprehensive student data collection and assessment system that tracks performance to guide ‘intervention and differentiation,’ which are often gateways to SEL and MTSS frameworks.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘I demand Item H.4, the Curriculum Associates contract, be pulled for a separate discussion. Before you spend $118,800 on i-Ready, parents deserve to know exactly what student data is collected, who owns it, and how it will be used outside of math class.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $118,800 (Federal Strings Attached)
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| 🚨 HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Over $314,000 in Undisclosed Student Settlements
The agenda includes three separate ‘Settlement Agreement and Release’ items for unnamed students, totaling $314,570. The district has provided no attachments or explanation for these significant payouts from the Special Education budget, preventing any public oversight.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This lack of transparency is unacceptable. Sign up for public comment and email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding items G.4, H.5, and H.6, why is the district paying out over $314,000 in secret settlements? Taxpayers deserve to know what is happening in our schools that requires this level of financial secrecy.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $314,570
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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New Policy Normalizes ‘Non-Gender Specific Restrooms’
The board is reviewing a new policy to provide free menstrual products in restrooms. The policy explicitly states these products will be stocked in ‘female and non-gender specific restrooms,’ officially acknowledging and institutionalizing the presence of mixed-sex bathrooms in Middle and High Schools.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND CLARITY: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Policy 246.1, I am concerned about the safety and privacy implications of ‘non-gender specific restrooms’ in our schools. What specific steps is the district taking to protect female students in these spaces?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Student Privacy & Safety
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| ⚠️ NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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District Hires Title IX Legal Counsel Amid Federal Overreach
The district is paying $3,000 for a ‘Title IX Pool Counsel Membership’ with a law firm. With the federal government attempting to redefine ‘sex’ under Title IX to include ‘gender identity,’ this retainer could be used to import radical gender policies into the district under the guise of legal compliance, using model policies provided by the firm.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item E.1, will the board commit to rejecting any legal advice or model policies from its Title IX counsel that require schools to socially transition a child without parental consent or allow biological males in girls’ sports? Our policies must reflect our community’s values, not activist legal interpretations.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $3,000 Annually
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| 👀 MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Public Comment Limited to Two Minutes
The agenda states that each community member may speak for a period of no longer than two minutes. This restrictive time limit makes it difficult for parents to meaningfully address the board on complex issues, effectively limiting public input and oversight.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TO BE HEARD: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘A two-minute time limit on public comment is insufficient for parents to address important issues. I urge you to extend the speaking time to allow for meaningful public participation in the governance of our schools.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Reduced Parental Voice
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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WIN: District Bans Cell Phones to Boost Focus on Academics
The Superintendent is implementing a new guideline for a ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone ban for grades K-8 and a ‘classroom clear’ policy for grades 9-12. This is a huge win for academic excellence, student focus, and mental health, getting distractions out of the classroom so teachers can teach.
How to Lock It In
AMPLIFY THIS WIN: Show up or email the Board (contact info on district website) to thank them for Item B.1. ‘Thank you for taking decisive action to remove cell phone distractions from the classroom. This policy puts academics and student well-being first, and we fully support it.’
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| Major Win (LEVEL 8) |
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WIN: District Invests in Phonics-Based Literacy Training
Under item G.7, the district is spending $2,125 in Title II funds for professional development in the ‘Fundations’ program for 3rd-grade teachers. Fundations is a research-based, structured literacy program focused on phonics, which is a critical return to foundational, evidence-based reading instruction.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THE WIN: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘We strongly support the investment in Fundations training under Item G.7. Thank you for prioritizing proven, phonics-based reading instruction. We look forward to seeing this commitment to core academics expanded.’
✅ Why It Matters: $2,125 (Federal Funds)
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| Major Win (LEVEL 7) |
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WIN: New Personal Finance & ELA Curricula Focus on Basics
The board is set to approve revised ELA curriculum for grades 6-8 (Item G.8) and a new Personal Finance curriculum (Item G.10). Both focus on core academic and practical skills, such as evidence-based writing and financial literacy, without the ideological buzzwords often found in modern curricula.
How to Lock It In
ENCOURAGE & DEFEND: Email the Board (contact info on district website): ‘We applaud the new ELA and Personal Finance curricula on the consent agenda. This is exactly the kind of focus on essential academic and life skills that parents want to see. Please approve these items.’
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