Committee members and district staff reviewed building-level allocations, capital financing and procurement plans tied to the district's two new elementary schools.

On building allocations, staff explained the per-student base allocation is $186, increased this cycle by the Act 1 index (3.5%). Staff described weighting factors by grade level (elementary: 1.0; middle school grades 7-8 higher weight; high school higher still) and explained allocations for student supplies and a district-controlled copier lease. The district said most of the per-building allocation dollars do not carry over year to year; purchase orders are encumbered immediately and any over-expenditure is charged against the next year's allocation.

Staff said projected enrollment for the upcoming year is lower (committee referenced an October projection of 3,766 students), which reduced the net appropriation increase despite the per-student increase; the overall appropriation rose by a modest amount (approximately 0.9% in the presented schedule) because fewer students were projected.

On capital finance, staff reviewed the district's debt service schedules tied to recent elementary-school construction. The district described a level debt-service profile of roughly $7.6 million per year and noted the final Bancroft bond payment will be removed this year but that the overall debt load will remain near current levels through scheduled wrap-around payments. Staff also told the committee that historical state reimbursement for construction (PlanCon) had provided modest offsets (staff estimated about half a million dollars in the past), but those reimbursements are declining and the district anticipates covering future construction costs without state participation.

Staff reported that all deeds for four properties were filed with the Chester County Recorder of Deeds and that the New Garden deed was submitted to the RACP third-party administrator to address a $1.7 million RACP grant discrepancy; staff will retain official copies in district records.

Procurement matters discussed included a pre-bid furniture and moving meeting run through the Chester County Intermediate Unit. Staff said 14 companies attended the pre-bid meeting and that the public bid opening is scheduled for Nov. 14. The procurement covers classroom furnishings as a turnkey delivery and installation; office and special-area furnishings are excluded. Staff provided expected staging windows (one vendor delivery estimate included April for New Garden and late June/early July for the other site).

Staff also gave a first-look at medical and prescription renewal estimates that will inform upcoming compensation and benefits discussions. The preliminary renewal figures presented were medical +4.53% and prescription +9.16%, for a rough aggregate of about +5.2% in benefits cost; staff said employee contribution rates remain at approximately 15%.

Other budget items reviewed included a capital reserve estimated at about $28 million, an undesignated/unreserved general operating fund balance of approximately $8.8 million (about 8% of operating resources), and a seed allocation of $40,000 for the Pathways program. Committee members asked for a formal Pathways update after the holidays (targeted for January or February).

No formal votes were recorded on capital or allocation items at the meeting; staff were directed to proceed with procurement steps and to return with follow-up information as requested.