Caryn McCleary Ghrayeb Questionnaire Response

1. Do you consider over-development to be an issue in Uwchlan Township and, if so, what would you do to minimize it?  

Residential development is something the district monitors closely as it will add students to many of our schools that are at or over capacity already. While municipal development impacts the school district greatly, development issues are within the purview of the Township’s Supervisors and its other boards and commissions. When appropriate, the District may weigh in on how development within our constituent municipalities would affect the interests of students, staff, and taxpayers within the district. As an example, a large high-density residential development may require additional capacity in school facilities which could impact further development and/or local property taxes.  

2. Do you believe that Uwchlan Township should require open space and, if so, how would you protect it?

Uwchlan Township has open space requirements and currently has over 800 acres of dedicated open space.  Open Space requirements are developed and the enforced by Uwchlan Township officials. As an example of our commitment to environmental stewardship on the properties we own, in partnership with Downingtown Community Education Foundation, we are working to develop outdoor public access and environmental education at The Narwhal Learning Center Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center located in Uwchlan Township that includes a trail with interdisciplinary learning stations and an outdoor amphitheater/classroom. We have outdoor classrooms at many of our elementary schools, as well as garden space. As the largest property owner in Uwchlan Township, DASD holds our stewardship of land under our purview in high regard.  

3. Do you believe that Uwchlan Township should protect its remaining farm land and, if so, how would you protect it? 

Uwchlan Township’s comprehensive plan sets out the Township’s views on the protection of open space and farm land. As a property owner, DASD currently owns the parcel at Lionville Station Rd., which is currently farm land, but is zoned by the township for planned industrial/commercial use. While the district has no jurisdiction over the future use of the land, as the current property owner, the District has maintained the land as farm land, contracting with a local farmer, over our 17 years of ownership and stewardship of the land.  

4. If the current Agreement of Sale for Lionville Station Farm is canceled, would you facilitate a referendum for Uwchlan Township to purchase the property? If so, how do you envision the property being preserved and/or used in a way that enhances the character of Uwchlan Township and Chester County?

School board directors have no authority or power to implement a Uwchlan Township referendum for the purposes of purchasing the property. Uwchlan Township has the authority to put on the ballot a referendum for an open space tax, the proceeds of which could be used to purchase property from landowners within the township for open space.  How that property would then be used would be within the discretion of the Township officials. 

The school district has determined that it has no future educational need/use of the land at Lionville Station Rd. and has offered the land for sale. I believe that liquidating this asset to support the educational needs and growth of the district before considering increases in local property taxes is the most responsible thing to do in my role as a school board director with a fiduciary responsibility to tax payers. The district has complied with all laws related to the liquidation of public assets, including attaining approvals from the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, where the public had standing to object. The district will continue to comply with the existing agreement of sale and the law governing the liquidation of public assets. If the property, for whatever reason, while in the ownership of DASD, would need to be relisted for sale, the district will entertain all serious offers for the land and as a school board director, my goal will be to achieve the highest public good. To me, this means recovering a reasonable return on investment for taxpayers, as well as ensuring my constituent concerns and proposals are heard. 

On background regarding the property located at Lionville Station Road, I feel it is important to point out that when the Board voted to approve the agreement of sale to Carvana, I was the sole no vote. The reason I voted no on that agreement was that I opposed the idea of selling this public asset to a large out-of-state corporation that planned to pave Lionville Station Farm to put in a parking lot and not care about the community it is joining. As someone who values this local community, someone who grew up here and who is raising my children here, maintaining the character of Chester County is important to me. When voting yes to the agreement of sale to Audubon Land Development, I did so in good faith, based on a two things:

1. Audubon is a local southeastern PA developer
2. The representative from Audubon seemed to demonstrate an investment in our local community - regularly attending school board meetings, committee meetings, township meetings and what seemed like a genuine interest in adding value to our community. 

At the time, with the information I had in front of me, I felt that is was the best offer on the table to achieve our goal of liquidating a no longer needed asset to support the school district’s growth, offsetting property tax increases, and selling to a local organization that would partner with the community to achieve a positive outcome. Since that time, several things have come to light: 

1. The Audubon group has acquired the necessary approvals on a warehouse complex at the property on Happy Days Farm and then flipped the property, selling it to a large out of state development corporation. 
2. A large public opposition to the sale of the land for the proposed use, which did not exist at the outset of this agreement, has become apparent. 
3. The Audubon group has withdrawn the sketch plan proposal for the Lionville Station Road property.

Several things could happen in the coming weeks and months, and I do not have a crystal ball. My original intent remains. I believe that DASD must diligently pursue the sale of this property to support the growth and educational needs of the school district. I will seek to do so in the most community minded way possible with the choices and information I have before me. 

Any proposal before the DASD Board on the future of Lionville Station Farm must be able to garner the support of at least 5 out of the 9 voting members of the school board in order to achieve success. Only 3 out of the 9 voting members of the Board represent Uwchlan Township residents. As such, any successful proposal must provide a public benefit that would compel enough support outside of Uwchlan Township to carry an affirmative vote by the majority of the Board. 

If being a school board director during a pandemic has taught me anything, it is that we have no idea what the future holds. We can do our best to forecast and share outcomes in “likelihoods” and “statistical probabilities”, but making a promise without a crystal ball is like making a pie-crust: easily made and easily broken. While I do not know what the future holds for the land at Lionville Station Road, you have my commitment that the decisions I make will be centered on achieving the highest public good with the decisions that are put before me, informed by our active and engaged constituency. 

5. What measures, if any, will you take to prioritize the general physical health and general well-being of the residents of Uwchlan Township and Chester County? 

I decided to run for school board because I wanted to give back to our community and to ensure that our children receive a high- quality education that sets them up for a successful future. This includes addressing their academic needs, physical needs, mental health and social and emotional well-being. 

As a School Board Director, I actively support the emotional and physical health of our students of the District through the District’s Wellness Policies and our Wellness Initiative.  You can read more about these at https://www.dasd.org/departments/pupil-services/wellness. I campaigned on improving mental health in our district and I am proud of what we have done during my time as a school board director, in spite of the many hours of work we had to spend on pandemic management. We have more dedicated mental health care professionals than ever before; we have adopted a Social and Emotional Learning curriculum to help our students become more resilient, overcome obstacles, and work together more productively; we participate in Safe2Say, a statewide program aimed at suicide prevention, and work closely with Communities That Care to bring mental health programs and learning opportunities to our community. As an avid runner, I fully appreciate the positive impact that exercise and being out in nature have on our mental health. Any district program that allows our children to move more and get more time outdoors is something that I will fully embrace.

6. What measures, if any, will you take to protect the environment and its effect on the residents of Uwchlan Township and Chester County? 

Downingtown Area School District has contracted an external consultant to conduct an Energy Study. I look forward to enacting changes that make the district better stewards of the environment and would like to continue to look for ways to ensure sustainable practice throughout the district. I also believe any new construction should be done in the most sustainable fashion that is feasible. 

7. What measures, if any, will you take to facilitate the proactive coordination of development between neighboring townships in Chester County? 

It is outside of the scope of a School Board Director to facilitate development, beyond school facilities. We do work closely with other Districts within our Intermediate Unit to promote development of educational facilities and have partnered with our constituent municipalities to enhance recreational opportunities and beneficial use to the public of school district properties. 

8. What local, state, and national Conservation Programs do you support that can benefit the general well-being of the residents of Uwchlan Township and Chester County?

The school district has curriculum that supports conservation and environmental stewardship, from outdoor learning areas, to science and health curriculum, as well as school-based garden and environmental club offerings. In partnership with Downingtown Community Education Foundation, we are working to develop outdoor access and environmental education at The Narwhal Learning Center Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center located in Uwchlan Township that includes a trail with interdisciplinary learning stations and an outdoor amphitheater/classroom.