Lower Merion School District public meetings in 2024
12 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Finance Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The Finance Committee of Lower Merion School District is meeting to review the draft 2023-24 audit report presented by Carl Hogan of Withum, Smith, Brown, PC, and to discuss the upcoming budget. No votes are scheduled; these are discussion items. The next meeting date is to be determined.
- Review of 2023-24 audit report draft (attached PDF)
- Budget discussion (no dollar amounts specified)
Regular Business Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors will vote on awarding contracts for eleven 72-passenger diesel school buses and a major roof replacement at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. The board also will consider routine approvals including meeting minutes, HR actions, student service subscriptions, overnight field trips, donations, and surplus equipment disposition.
- Award contracts for eleven 72-passenger diesel school buses (amount unspecified)
- Award contract for major roof replacement (Phase 1) at Bala Cynwyd Middle School (amount unspecified)
- Approve renewals of Everyday Speech subscription ($10,111.78) and texthelp subscription ($18,269.54)
- Accept donations: $23,676 for Cynwyd Elementary cafeteria tables, $1,800 for Penn Wynne Elementary assemblies, and an upright bass valued at $800 for Black Rock Middle School
- Approve 22 overnight field trips for multiple schools to destinations including Orlando, Boston, Chicago, and Nashville
Facilities and Purchasing Committee Meeting - 12:00 PM via Zoom
The Facilities and Purchasing Committee will discuss a list of bills, a purchasing report, and district contracts. The meeting includes a review of a specific annual contract for urgent care services.
- Erik Soiferman, DO and Liberty Urgent Care contract for $15,000 annually
- Presidio Cisco Smartnet Renewal
- Review of December 2024 Purchasing Report
- Review of District Contracts for December 2024
- Review of List of Bills
Reorganization Meeting of the Board of School Directors
The Board of School Directors will hold its annual reorganization meeting to elect a temporary president, a board president, and a vice president. Public comment is limited to the election of officers only. The board will also authorize filing new signature cards with depositories if needed.
- Nomination and election of a temporary president (president pro tem) from among board directors
- Election of board president
- Election of vice president
- Authorization to file new signature and facsimile signatures with depositories for newly elected officers
Curriculum Committee Meeting
The Lower Merion School District Curriculum Committee will meet on December 2, 2024, to discuss course and textbook proposals, review contracts, and hear presentations on professional learning communities for data practices and state assessment data. A superintendent's update is also scheduled. No specific proposals or contracts are listed in the agenda.
- Presentation: Professional Learning Communities to Support Data Practices for Learning
- Presentation: State Assessment Data – Our Focus on Continuous Improvement
- Superintendent's Update
- Next meeting scheduled for January 13, 2025
Regular Business Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors will vote on awarding a contract for major roof replacement at Penn Wynne Elementary School and consider intergovernmental agreements for a school bus stop-arm enforcement program with local police. Other actions include approving educational service purchases ($11,286 for World Book renewal and $22,250 for Flashlight 360), HR personnel changes, student services agreements, and a first reading of Policy 718 on service animals in schools. The board will also adopt Policy 101 on equity and approve the 2025 board meeting dates.
- Award contract for major roof replacement at Penn Wynne Elementary School (cafetorium wing)
- Approve BusPatrol agreement and intergovernmental agreements with Lower Merion and Narberth police for school bus stop-arm enforcement
- Renew World Book, Inc. subscription for grades K-12 at $11,286 for 2024-2025
- Purchase Flashlight 360 student license and Insight Premium ELD resource for $22,250
- Adopt Policy 101 Equity and hold first reading of Policy 718 Service Animals in Schools
Facilities and Purchasing Committee Meeting - 12:00 PM via Zoom
The Facilities and Purchasing Committee will review district bills, purchasing reports, and contracts. The body is also discussing intergovernmental agreements for school bus stop arm signal enforcement systems.
- Bus Patrol Agreement for School Bus Stop Arm Signal Enforcement Systems
- Intergovernmental Agreement between LMSD and the Township of Lower Merion Police Department
- Intergovernmental Agreement between LMSD and the Narberth Police Department
- Review of November 2024 Purchasing Report
- Review of District Contracts for November 2024
Equity & Anti-Racism Committee Meeting- 7 PM
The Equity and Anti-Racism Committee will meet to discuss equity in public schools, including federal and state mandates and local initiatives. The agenda also includes an update on Cultural Proficiency Teams and upcoming meetings of the CARE and Curriculum Committees. No votes or decisions are scheduled; all items are for discussion and information.
- Discussion of equity in public schools: federal and state mandates, local initiatives, and accountability measures
- Update on Cultural Proficiency Teams
- Preview of upcoming meetings: CARE (Nov 20) and Curriculum Committee (Dec 2)
Policy Committee Meeting - 9:00 AM
The Policy Committee will review a second reading of Policy/AR 101 Equity, proposed for adoption at a future business meeting, and a first reading of Policy/AR 718 Service Animals in Schools. The committee will also discuss policies on homeless students, implications of artificial intelligence, and a new student activities regulation. An administrative regulation on student assignment to maintain class size targets is presented for information.
- Second reading of Policy/AR 101 Equity (proposed for adoption at next business meeting)
- First reading of Policy/AR 718 Service Animals in Schools
- Discussion of Policy/AR 262 Homeless Students and Other Students Experiencing Educational Instability
- Discussion of policy implications relating to use of Artificial Intelligence
- Update on AR 206-4 Assignment of Students within the District – Superintendent Authorization to Assign Students to Maintain Class Size Targets
Regular Business Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
The Lower Merion Board of School Directors will vote on several action items at this regular business meeting. Key items include authorizing settlement of property tax assessment appeals for two commercial properties where taxes exceed $50,000 each, and approving a $25,381.41 agreement for electronic health records. The board will also approve HR actions, field trip requests, purchases, and various facilities contracts.
- Authorize settlement of property tax assessment appeal for 1 Presidential Blvd (parcels 40-00-47552-01-8, -02-7, -03-6) with taxes at issue over $50,000
- Authorize settlement of property tax assessment appeal for 1 Bala Avenue (parcel 40-00-03532-00-1) with taxes at issue over $50,000
- Approve $25,381.41 agreement with Frontline Ed for electronic health records and school nursing management system for 2024-25
- Approve $12,972.08 purchase of Studies Weekly for 2024-25 school year
- Approve overnight field trip requests for various sports and Science Olympiad
Regular Business Board Meeting - 7:00 PM
The board will review the final 2024-25 budget presentation and a superintendent's update. The agenda also includes recommendations to appoint Megan Shafer as Acting Superintendent effective July 1, 2024.
- Appointment of Megan Shafer as Acting Superintendent effective July 1, 2024
- Presentation of the final 2024-25 budget
- IXL Learning contract for $26,400
- Achieve3000 contract for $20,173.72
- Spanish curriculum purchase for Harriton High School for $9,374.26
Facilities and Purchasing Committee Meeting - 8:30 AM
The committee will review several service agreements, including squash and rowing facility leases for the 2024-25 year. Discussions also include IT software renewals and an amendment to a student transportation contract. Members will also review change orders for the GLES roof replacement project.
- Cynwyd Club HLM Squash Program Agreement 2024-25
- Whitemarsh Boat Club/Hines Rowing Facilities Lease Agreement 2024-25
- Amendment to Student Transportation Contract for 2024-25
- Change orders for GLES roof replacement
- IT service renewals including PowerSchool, Optiv, and iboss