Dear LMSD Families,  

During my visits to our schools this fall, I’ve been energized by the enthusiasm of our students and inspired by the dedication of our faculty, staff and families. Our collective efforts make the Lower Merion School District an exceptional place for children to learn and grow.

In addition, having the opportunity to meet with community members from diverse backgrounds across the District has provided me with important perspectives on both our strengths and our challenges. In these conversations, while there are varied opinions, one shared commitment shines through: we all want what’s best for our students. We also recognize that every student has unique needs to feel safe, connected and academically supported. Our Board, administration and staff are working together to ensure that our policies and practices reflect these needs and uphold accountability toward our shared goals.

We navigate all of this amid turbulent times, which makes our role in supporting students not only more complex but also more essential. Our team is dedicated to building a school community that honors and respects different perspectives, and we are continuously working to ensure that every student feels a sense of safety and belonging.

Upcoming Election

As we approach next week’s election, we’re mindful of the tensions it may create for students, just as it does in the larger community. Knowing this, we have continued to equip our faculty and staff with strategies to navigate sensitive topics in the classroom and to thoughtfully respond to unexpected challenges.  

 A key message is that while staff should remain politically neutral, they should reinforce messages about empathy, civility and respect. In short, we ask them to be politically ambiguous but morally clear, aligning with our ongoing work to build supportive and inclusive communities in each of our schools. 

 Superintendent Search

The application period for our Superintendent position closed in mid-October, and the Board of Directors has started reviewing candidates, with interviews scheduled for mid-November. We remain on track to announce a new Superintendent in December, as planned.

As always, we encourage community members to stay engaged by attending School Board and Committee meetings or by sharing thoughts with the Board via email at communitycomments@lmsd.org.

For those celebrating, I wish you a joyful Diwali, and as always, I am grateful for our community’s continued partnership in support of our students.

Sincerely, 

Megan E. Shafer
Acting Superintendent