Audit shows PA cyber charter schools amassed excessive reserves
Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor’s office released the findings of a three-year audit of the state’s cyber charter schools. The audit shows five of Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools amassed excessive reserves following rapid enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online charter schools receive taxpayer funding from the school districts where their students live. The audit highlighted “uncommon” spending practices, such as purchasing gift cards, paying bonuses to teachers and the acquisition of 21 physical properties by Commonwealth Charter Academy. DeFoor said reserves are meant to assure there is no interruption in a child’s education — and not meant to sit in a bank account of a cyber charter school growing year after year. “These are your tax dollars,” DeFoor said. The audit reflects concerns raised by public school advocacy groups about cyber charter tuition and spending in recent years and makes recommendations to the governor’s office, the General Assembly and the Department of Education to review and reform the cyber charter school tuition formula. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal for the next budget calls for a statewide base cyber charter annual tuition rate of $8,000 per student, which would save school districts an estimated $378 million a year. Read more from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star; 2/21/2025 

All of PA’s federal funding is now unfrozen, Gov. Shapiro says
All of Pennsylvania’s frozen federal funds are accessible again, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced. Shapiro said President Donald Trump’s administration released more than $2.1 billion in federal funds that had been frozen or on temporary hold, most of which were for environmental and energy projects. The governor sued the Trump administration earlier this month over what he argued was an unconstitutional freeze of more than $2 billion in funds already approved by Congress to go to Pennsylvania for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut utility costs for low-income residents, and plug abandoned oil and gas wells that are leaking pollutants into Pennsylvania communities, among other things. “Those agreements are binding,” Shapiro said. “To put it simply, a deal is a deal. The Trump administration is legally required to provide these funds to Pennsylvania. That is why I took legal action to protect Pennsylvanians.”
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/19/2025

Staffing cuts at HUD could derail affordable housing mortgage insurance
Deep staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could derail a federal agency that issues mortgage insurance for hundreds of thousands of homebuyers. The Trump administration has recommended shedding more than 40% of the staff of HUD’s Office of Housing, whose largest agency is the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA provides mortgage insurance for single-family homes and other properties, and in fiscal year 2024 alone it insured more that 498,000 first-time homebuyers, many of whom would not be able to afford their mortgages otherwise. The FHA generates billions of dollars to the federal government each year through what is known as a negative credit subsidy. Guarantees for hundreds of billions of dollars in new home loans will put more than $4.4 billion back into the federal budget, not the other way around. Slashing nearly half the staff of the agency could impede its ability to effectively underwrite loans and result in diminishing returns for the FHA and consequences for buyers, lenders and tenants across the country.
Source: CityLab Daily; 2/19/2025

Lawyer charged with defrauding real estate clients
A lawyer with an office in Radnor has been charged with theft and forgery after he allegedly defrauded clients who had hired him to help with the closing of a Chester County property. James Vassallo allegedly pocketed funds from his clients that he claimed were transferred to the county, and did not respond when the Chester County Recorder of Deeds sent him a letter about a bounced check. He has been charged with stealing nearly $43,000 in closing costs. As Chester County prosecutors probed the case, a similar investigation took place in Delaware County involving the same lawyer. Read more in the Inquirer.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/24/2025 

Solebury to buy New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry
The Solebury Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the purchase of the site of the former New Hope Crushed Stone quarry, now 166 reclaimed acres of land with a 75-acre lake. The township plans to offset the $2.4 million purchase price by seeking outside funding. There is a 45-day review period, during which environmental testing will occur to determine that there are no significant defects. New Hope Crushed Stone ceased operating in 2019, after decades of formal environmental complaints and litigation resulted in a final determination that the quarry was a public nuisance, responsible for dangerous sinkholes, watershed depletion and dried-up wells, and the near eradication of Primrose Creek. The purchase of the land will ensure that the township will determine the future of the site, preserving the ecology of the lake, surrounding land and the restored Primrose Creek. Read more on the Solebury Township website.
Source: Solebury Township; 2/2025

Update on construction of Bucks County offices in Levittown
Bucks County officials broke ground on a larger Government Services Center for Lower Bucks County in September 2023. Since that time, heavy equipment has been parked at the site but there has been no recent activity. Jim O'Malley, spokesman for Bucks County, said the holdup is in obtaining construction and environmental permits from a variety of state, local and federal agencies. O’Malley reports that construction should begin soon. The new facility will house the following county departments: district attorney, sheriff, register of wills, probation, board of elections, children and youth, consumer protection, domestic relations, health, juvenile probation, prothonotary, veterans affairs, and workforce and economic development.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/21/2025

Pennridge School Board proposes full-day kindergarten
The Pennridge School Board curriculum committee recently unveiled a proposal for a full-day kindergarten program at all district elementary schools. The proposal would phase in the program over two years, with a lottery system to select students for the full-day program in the 2025-2026 school year, followed by a universal full-day program in the 2026-2027 school year. The district currently offers half-day a.m. and p.m. kindergarten programs in each elementary building with targeted full-day programs offered for students who require additional services. During public comment, parents and educators unanimously backed the full-day program, citing increased learning time for students and convenience for working parents.
Source: The Reporter; 2/14/2025

Middletown approves zoning modification for vacant Knights of Columbus property
Middletown Township supervisors recently approved a zoning modification for the vacant Knights of Columbus building on Woodbourne Road in Levittown. The plan for the property is to convert the building into a townhouse development that will provide several affordable units for working-class residents. Six of the 34 units built by W.B. Homes of North Wales will be sold to Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County. The six "attainable" units will look no different than the others. The board voted 3-1 in favor of the zoning tweak, which approves the arrangement between the builder and Habitat, in exchange for the builder placing more density on the land.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/22/2025

Work begins at housing project off Route 413 in Newtown
Work is underway on a 45-home development along Twining Bridge Road at Route 413 in Newtown Township. Approved over two years ago, Lyondale Meadows is being built by Toll Brothers. The homebuilder initially tried to develop 158 acres at the site, but the township did not approve the plans. The current design has single-family homes to be built closer together on about 22 acres on the northeastern corner of the property. The plan also includes the preservation of just under 100 acres of open space adjoining the Newtown Township municipal complex on Durham Road that will be donated to the township and a connection to a nearby trail.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/25/2025 

West Whiteland probably too late to limit housing at Exton Square site
West Whiteland supervisors unanimously voted recently to approve an ordinance that limits the number of units per acre, and the type of housing units allowed, at the 75-acre Exton Square property. But the new ordinance might be too late to prevent the plans of the equitable owner of the mall property, which call for the construction of 375 apartments and 243 multi-family units, along with commercial, restaurants, retail and professional office uses. “It is important to note that the master plan was submitted to the township on Feb. 10, before the effective date of the zoning ordinance amendment,” according to a township notice. “For that reason, Abrams’ plan is not subject to that amendment, but — as required by state law — it will be reviewed in accordance with the land development regulations in effect at the time of submission.” The dilapidated mall is located in a 643-acre Town Center zoning district (TC) and is slated for razing by the proposed builder. The new township ordinance forbids the size of such development. It calls for the construction of apartments only in TC districts, with life care facilities still permitted.
Source: Daily Local; 2/19/2025

20-acre site in Charlestown preserved as open space
A land conservation agreement to preserve a 20-acre property on Honeysuckle Lane was announced by the French and Pickering Creeks Preservation Trust. The land sits within the high-quality Pickering Creek watershed and features a mixture of homesteads, steep slopes, agricultural fields and woodlands. Under current zoning, three additional lots could be created, but the easement prohibits all future residential subdivision.
Source: Daily Local; 2/21/2025

Chester County Planning Commission offers ‘eTools’
The Chester County Planning Commission features a list of planning eTools for municipalities and other users to find information on a variety of topics. The eTools include a quick overview of each topic, an explanation of how it works, considerations for implementation and examples. New eTools are added regularly based on current trends, with the most recent being bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking facilities, and roadway connectivity. The list of nearly 100 eTools can be searched alphabetically or by topic. The tools range from large-scale topics, like infill development and zoning overlays, to smaller-scale topics, like backyard chicken-keeping and outdoor lighting.
Source: Chester County Planning Commission; 1/17/2025

Tredyffrin moves to seize former racquet club for new park
Tredyffrin Township proposes to take over Picket Post Swim Club’s former pool-and-racquet facility on Chase Road, a 4.8-acre eyesore, and turn it into a public park. How the park will be used is yet to be announced, but racquet sports seem likely because the property already has six pickleball courts and four tennis courts. At the same time, Tredyffrin appears to be nixing plans for pickleball courts in nearby Wilson Farm Park. Last Tuesday, Tredyffrin supervisors voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on March 17 on an ordinance that would authorize the seizure. Read more at Savvy Main Line.
Source: Savvy Main Line; 2/24/2025

Unionville-Chadds Ford votes to draft RFP on middle school replacement
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to replace C.F. Patton Middle School. The RFP is a solicitation of bids for the design of a new school. Board President Victoria Baratta said, “I do not believe we are rushing into this. We have been considering and have had a timetable for many months. We have had community input; we’ve had surveys; we’ve had committee meetings.” She continued by saying the district had a plan to determine whether to maintain, renovate or replace, and has followed that plan. She continued by saying the path forward keeps taxes below the Act 1 Index, allowing for the new school building, while keeping the debt service stable. The RFP will be issued to five or six architectural firms by late March. The proposals are expected to be in by late April, evaluated and scored in May, followed by a recommendation to award the proposal in June.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 2/19/2025

New Garden tables zoning ordinance amendment that would allow a sports facility
The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors tabled a proposed amendment that would have allowed a sports facility to be built at the White Clay Point property on Gap-Newport Pike. The township was considering a change to Chapter 200 in the township code relating to Unified Development Districts (UD) to include an open-air stadium or stadium with a fixed or retractable roof that would provide seating for more than 1,000 spectators in tiered seating for sport events, concerts, meetings and large group gatherings. The concept of expanding the township’s UD zone is to encourage economic development along the Route 41 and Route 7 corridors and potentially increase the township’s tax base. The Chester County Planning Commission voted in December 2024 to support the zoning ordinance with some modification to the original proposal. Several residents in Somerset Lake community — whose properties would closely border a sports facility if it were built at White Clay Point — expressed concerns about traffic, stormwater, and noise and light pollution. Board Chairman Ted Gallivan acknowledged the residents comments and tabled the ordinance until March.
Source: Chester County Press; 2/26/2025