CASD board approves scans of Reeceville roof

Change in high school graduation date discussed By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times CALN – The Coatesville Area School Board approved an infrared scan of Reeceville Elementary School’s roof in order to diagnose the extent of leakage problems at a special meeting April 14. Reeceville Principal Catherine Van Vooren said that the leaks have been an ongoing problem, sometimes rendering parts...

CASD expects to cap tax hike at 2.6%

School district won’t take exceptions to Act 1 By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times CALN — Coatesville Area School District taxpayers can likely expect a tax hike for the 2014-15 school year, but it appears that the increase will fall within the state’s Act 1 guidelines — a drop from last year’s increase of 3.6%, under the preliminary proposed budget adopted. The Board of Education will...

It is time for the CASD board to do the right thing

Appointment of new board member Saturday will have consequences By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times On Saturday, the Coatesville Area School District Board of Education will make a decision that will likely shape the manner in which the school district runs for years. At noon, the board will convene to vote on a replacement for the late Paul Johnson, after failing to do so, Tuesday night. Four members...

CASD board cannot agree on replacement member

Board split 4-4 between Beckershoff and abstention for Paul Johnson’s seat By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times Paul Draper speaks to the Education Committee about the JSMC as members present the colors behind him. CALN – With four members voting for Robert Beckershoff and four members abstaining, the Coatesville Area School Board could not agree on a replacement for Paul Johnson’s...

Rehiring Ellison begs a lot of questions

Why just tops the list of explanations needed by CASD board By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As you probably know, we do get our share of reader comments. Many are supportive, encouraging and enlightening. Some are nasty and pointless (we tend to remove those without editorial or commentary value) and some are humorous. Once in a great while, even when clearly wearing a troll hat, a commentator will...

School board approves purchase of $2.8M Citadel Building

Amidst shouting and name-calling, board passes motion for new admin building By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times Upset during public comment, Board Member Rick Fox turns his back to the speaker. CALN – The Coatesville Area School District Board of Education voted to purchase the Citadel Building at a special meeting held at the 9/10 Center Tuesday night.

Why is the CASD rushing to buy a building?

Special meeting just weeks before new board members take office has rightly angered community By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times CALN — Elections, they say, have consequences. That’s why it’s a little disturbing to see the Coatesville Area School District Board of Education in a seeming rush to buy a building for new administration offices. You see, in little more than a couple of weeks at least...

CASD board calls special meeting to buy admin building

$2.8 million Caln office building would offices, health clinic for employees The Coatesville Area School District Board of Education called a special meeting for Tuesday to purchase this $2.8 million office building to replace the Benner Administration building and house a new district health care center. By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times CALN — The Coatesville Area School District appears poised...

New school board members plan ahead as others await results

Deets, Thompson ready for action while Region III results yet to be tallied By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times COATESVILLE – Though voting took place on Tuesday, Coatesville residents may not know the final results of the 2013 school board elections for up to a month. In Region III, incumbent Laurie Knecht appears to have won reelection, getting 1,098 votes. However, 1,753 write-in votes have...

And…right back into campaign season

No rest for the weary, as Election 2014 kicks into high gear, already By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Now that we’ve gotten that pesky election out of the way, it’s time for the campaign to get started. Think I’m kidding? Then why is Gov. Tom Corbett in the county today, kicking off his 2014 campaign? And why has the jostling for state legislative and congressional seats already begun? Traditionally,...