Dear Residents,
On behalf of the more than 7,000 students and 1,100 staff members in Lower Merion School District, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your continued support of our schools. The past year has been marked by extraordinary achievements and milestones for our district, made possible by you, the taxpayers. New schools, nationally-recognized programs and staff, championship teams, innovative uses of technology, unparalleled academic success and a soaring spirit of volunteerism and community partnership are the dividends of your significant investment in the children of Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough. LMSD continues to strengthen its position as one of the nation's most desirable school communities; recent municipal surveys show that our outstanding public schools and ideal location are the top reasons why families choose to live in Lower Merion and Narberth.
In September, we celebrated the opening of the new Harriton High School. The new Lower Merion High School will open next fall, marking the final milestone in a decade-long effort to modernize all ten LMSD school facilities. These developments serve to reinforce how well-positioned we are for the years ahead. In these challenging economic times, school districts across the country have been forced to reconsider or dramatically scale-back their own modernization plans. Thanks to a variety of factors, including fortunate timing, long-range planning, and our exceptionally strong bond rating, the 2009-10 school year will represent the final year of a higher than normal tax increase to finance the capital program in Lower Merion. Our buildings will serve us well for decades to come and we will realize ongoing benefits and cost-savings from energy-efficient designs and construction.
The District is also in the final stages of implementing a one-to-one laptop computer initiative at the high schools. Thanks in part to state and federal grants secured by our technology staff during the past few years, every high school student will have their own personal laptop -enabling an authentic, mobile, 21st century learning environment. The initiative, which was launched with great success at Harriton last year, enhances opportunities for ongoing collaboration, and ensures that all students have 24/7 access to school-based resources and the ability to seamlessly work on projects and research at school and at home. The result: more engaged, active learning and enhanced student achievement. While other districts are exploring ways to make these kinds of initiatives possible, our programs are already in place. It is no accident that we arrived ahead of the curve; in Lower Merion, our responsibility is to lead.
I encourage you to visit our listing of "2008-09 Points of Pride" and evidence of our continued commitment to leadership in public education. From new curricular offerings like a dual-credit program with Penn State to student achievements like the Harriton Science Olympiad team's record 13th consecutive state championship to District accomplishments like our recent recognition as one of the nation's "Best Communities for Music Education," this District - your District - is a truly remarkable place.
Thank you for your support of our schools and for your continued investment in our most important community resource - the children of Lower Merion and Narberth.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christopher W. McGinley
Superintendent
