Committee approves curriculum budget, professional development contract and calendar changes; votes 4‑0

The West Chester Area School District Teaching, Learning and Equity Committee approved several consent and action items in an unspecified April meeting, including the 2025‑26 curriculum budget, a professional development contract with AJ Giuliani, a revised 2024‑25 calendar and a holiday resolution. All items passed by voice vote, each recorded as 4‑0.

Dr. Brant presented the 2025‑26 curriculum budget proposal, which he described as a $2,500,000 request. "The majority of that money is grounded in our ELA elementary and ELA secondary curriculum for next year," the presenter said. The proposal also includes a significant allocation for science, and the district said continued curriculum decisions (for example, elementary ELA) could affect final allocations. The committee voted to approve the 2025‑26 curriculum budget by a 4‑0 voice vote.

The committee also approved a contract to engage AJ Giuliani for next school year to support professional development. Doctor Brown said the contract covers a kickoff session and eight additional sessions over the school year; the district reported an overall cost of $40,000 for nine official sessions. Giuliani will begin work in May with a group of accelerators and run a full kickoff in October; the district said some additional informal sessions have already occurred. The presenter said Giuliani’s work will focus on student engagement, student learning, evidence of learning and connections to the district’s portrait of a graduate. The meeting record notes the district intends Giuliani’s AI work primarily to help teachers plan lessons and performance tasks rather than to be a tool for students.

The committee approved a final revised 2024‑25 school calendar that shifts the last student and teacher days to half days on June 10, June 11 and June 12. The calendar will be sent for final board vote at the end of the month, committee members said.

Committee members also approved a holiday resolution that enumerates the district’s fixed holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving and an additional fixed date) and authorizes five additional days off (Labor Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day and the Friday attached to spring break on April 3 for the 2025‑26 year). The resolution passed 4‑0.

Earlier in the meeting the committee approved the March 17, 2025 teaching, learning and equity committee minutes by voice vote (4‑0).