Lower Merion School District public meetings in 2020
11 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Regular Business Board Meeting - 8 PM
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors will vote on routine approvals including meeting minutes, human resources actions, and financial reports. Major action items include awarding contracts for school buses, building repairs, and security services, plus several facility-related work orders. Public comment is taken via chat.
- Award contracts for 10 CNG and 8 gasoline school buses
- Approve $55,000 for interim school crossing guards (Jan 11–Jun 17, 2021)
- Approve $208,950 for network and security services (3 years)
- Approve $38,929 for card access in three elementary schools and $12,036 in four admin buildings
- Approve change orders for new middle school construction at 1860 W. Montgomery Ave.
Finance Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The Lower Merion School District Finance Committee is meeting publicly via Zoom to review the 2019-20 audit report presented by Tom Ronayne, CPA, of Rainer & Co. The meeting is primarily a discussion item, with no votes scheduled. Public comment is accepted via the chat feature.
- Review of 2019-20 Audit Report by Tom Ronayne, CPA, Rainer & Co.
- Public meeting held via Zoom with chat-based public comment
Facilities and Purchasing Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The Lower Merion School District Facilities and Purchasing Committee is meeting to review a list of bills, purchasing reports, and several contract proposals, including security systems, crossing guards, and bus driver services. They will also receive an update on the new middle school at 1860 W. Montgomery Avenue. All items are for discussion or information; no final votes are scheduled.
- List of Bills and Purchasing Report for review
- Presidio Network Solutions proposal (subject to solicitor review)
- i2 Security Solutions proposals for 3 elementary schools and 4 admin buildings
- Advanced Protection Company agreement amendment for crossing guards
- First Student Inc. amendment to student transportation contract for bus drivers
Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting - Equity & Anti-Racism - 7 PM
The Lower Merion School District's Ad-Hoc Committee on Equity & Anti-Racism is meeting to discuss updates on the equity state and audit, an overview of LMSD organizations, breakout sessions, and policy considerations. The meeting is held via Zoom and includes a polling question about awareness of involvement with the organizations. The next meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2021.
- Update on Equity State & Equity Audit
- Overview of LMSD Organizations with polling question
- Breakout/share-out sessions
- Policy considerations and Q&A presentations
- Next meeting: January 13, 2021 at 7 PM
Special Meeting of the Board - Immediately following the Re-Organization Meeting
The Lower Merion School District Board is holding a special meeting to hear public comment and receive a superintendent update on health and safety plans. The main action item is a vote to approve the amended PIAA Athletic Health and Safety Plan, which includes winter sports return-to-play protocols. The board will also authorize the superintendent to make minor revisions and submit the plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education if needed.
- Approve amended LMSD PIAA Athletic Health and Safety Plan
- Authorize superintendent to submit plan to PA Department of Education
- Winter Sports Return to Play Protocols attached
- Public comment via chat feature during audience recognition
Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Board of School Directors
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors is holding its annual reorganization meeting to elect a temporary president, board president, vice president, and assistant secretary, and to authorize new bank signatures. Public comment is limited to the election of officers. The agenda is procedural, with no policy or budget items.
- Election of Temporary President from hold-over members
- Election of Board President and Vice President
- Election of Vic Orlando as Assistant Secretary
- Authorization to file new signatures with depositories
Policy Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The Lower Merion School District Policy Committee is meeting to review and discuss several school policies. They will consider policies for first and second readings at the next business meeting, including repeals of policies on laptop monitoring and natatorium use. The committee will also discuss an equity policy and other administrative regulations.
- Equity Policy (Policy/AR #TBD) update
- Second readings: Policy 831/354/454/554 (boundaries with students), Policy 822 (screening employees/contractors), Policy 714 (natatorium) for repeal
- First readings: Policy 893 (remote access/tracking of laptops) for repeal, Policy 134 (district technology resources), Policy 137 (district-issued laptops), Policy 009 (laptop responsibility), Policy 001 (board operating procedures), Policy 002 (school board organization), Policy 004 (policy adoption), Policy 007 (board meetings)
- AR 213 Grading of Student Progress change
- Discussion: Policy 005 (conflict of interest), Policy 006 (civility), Policy 008 (orientation for new board members)
Curriculum Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The Lower Merion School District Curriculum Committee is meeting via Zoom to discuss and review course and textbook proposals, including a new Black Excellence course and a presentation on the book Stamped. They will also receive an update on the EDK program and set the next meeting date. The meeting is open to the public.
- Black Excellence: The Politics, Economics & Culture of an American People course proposal
- Presentation on Stamped by Leslie Pratt, Rachel Nichols, Kevin DiSantis
- EDK update from Jen Gaudioso
- Next meeting scheduled for January 6, 2021 at 8:30 AM
Communications Committee Meeting - 7:00 PM
The Lower Merion School District Communications Committee is holding a public Zoom meeting to discuss COVID-related communications and an equity infographic, and to discuss communications regarding the Legislative Committee. The next meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2021.
- COVID-related communications update
- Equity infographic discussion
- Communications regarding Legislative Committee
- Next meeting: January 20, 2021
Regular Business Board Meeting - 8 PM
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors will hold a regular business meeting, taking public comment via Zoom chat. The main action is approving an amended Athletics Health and Safety Plan for winter sports, along with routine approvals of minutes, HR actions, student services agreements, textbook purchases, and various financial and facilities items.
- Approve amended Athletics Health and Safety Plan for winter sports
- Purchase Psychology for the AP Course textbook and digital license for $34,594
- Purchase Thinking About Psychology textbook and digital license for $12,779
- Transfer $8,614,914 from General Fund to Capital Reserve Fund
- Approve $57,300 non-refundable deposit to PECO for New Middle School service connection
Facilities and Purchasing Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The Facilities and Purchasing Committee will discuss a list of bills, district contracts, and several renewal quotes for technology equipment. They will also review an amendment to the guaranteed energy savings contract with Reynolds Energy Service and consider change orders for WVMS. Updates will be provided on the new middle school at 1860 W. Montgomery Avenue and HVAC upgrades related to COVID-19.
- List of Bills (11-16-2020)
- District Contracts (Nov 2020)
- Presidio Cisco Smartnet Renewal Quote
- ePlus Barracuda hardware warranty and software subscription Renewal Quote
- Amendment to Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract with Reynolds Energy Service (SiteLogIQ)