The Upper Merion Area School Board’s Policy Review and Equity Committee will meet Monday evening with a 10-policy review on the agenda, including policies that govern Board meetings and public participation.
The committee is scheduled to discuss first readings of Policies 000, 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 011 and 903.
Among the policies are Policy 006, which covers Board meetings, and Policy 903, which addresses public participation in Board meetings.
The agenda does not summarize what changes are being proposed, so the significance of the revisions will depend on the language contained in the attached policy drafts and the discussion Monday night.
Other policies up for review deal with Board authority, functions, membership, organization and governance standards.
Five new instructional aide positions proposed
The personnel portion of the agenda includes a recommendation to create five new instructional aide positions because of student need related to enrollment.
Three of the positions would be at the elementary level and two at the secondary level.
The committee will also consider several other personnel appointments and changes.
Two administrative appointments are listed:
Moira Murphy, Supervisor of Humanities, at $145,000 per year.
Jennifer Thompson, Supervisor of STEM, at $150,000 per year.
Both salaries would be prorated based on the actual number of days worked.
Risk and threat-assessment training on agenda
The district is also proposing a professional-development contract with Dr. Terri Erbacher for Student Services staff.
According to the agenda, the training will cover research-based risk assessment protocols, the connection to threat assessments and tabletop exercises designed to apply best practices.
The cost is not to exceed $6,552.20 and would be paid from the Student Services budget.
Head Start transition agreement
The committee will also consider a memorandum of understanding with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit related to Head Start and other early-learning programs.
The agreement is intended to formalize how UMASD and early-childhood programs coordinate the transition of children into the district.
The required activities include communication between school and Head Start staff, transfer of records, parent meetings, joint staff training and coordination of educational services.
Title I services for non-public school students
Another item is a three-year agreement with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit to provide Title I reading and mathematics services to eligible UMASD students attending non-public schools.
The 2026-27 cost is not to exceed $30,517.40 and would be funded through the federal Title I grant.
Meeting details
The Policy Review and Equity Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 14.
The agenda includes public comment both near the beginning of the meeting and again before adjournment. Comments are limited to five minutes.
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