March 9, 2023

Dear LMSD Families,

Start Times Update:

As you know, in recent weeks our Lower Merion Board of School Directors has been actively soliciting your feedback related to the proposal for changing our school start times. We appreciate hearing from all of the students, staff members, and parents and guardians who answered the survey, took part in the Listen and Learn sessions and sent emails to sleep@lmsd.org. A presentation on your feedback will be shared at the Education Committee/Supplemental Board Meeting on Monday, March 13, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., with a vote on the proposal expected to occur on March 20, 2023. You are invited to attend the meetings in person, or via the livestream or webinar (passcode: 143492).

Superintendent Search Update:

While the start times issue has been front and center, the Board has been moving forward with the search process for LMSD’s next Superintendent. Last month, the Board approved a contract with Hazard, Young Attea & Associates (HYA), an educational leadership search firm. HYA assisted us in the search that brought Dr. Mumin, current nominee for Pa. Secretary of Education, to our District.

HYA’s search process has four phases: engagement, recruitment, selection and transition. The information gathered will help the Board develop a leadership profile and selection criterion that match the priorities of our community and that meet the unique needs of LMSD students.

During the engagement phase, HYA will facilitate interviews and focus groups. We did extensive surveying during the search for Dr. Mumin less than two years ago (and thousands of you recently participated in the survey regarding start times), so we have opted to rely on the 2021 survey data for this search, rather than impose on your time once again. You can view the report on that survey data here. If you have comments or additional insight you would like to add after reviewing the survey results, I encourage you to email the Board at communitycomments@lmsd.org.

Students, staff members, administrators and members of school-related organizations (including HSAs, ISC, CSE, CARE, etc.) will be invited to participate (via Zoom) in specific focus groups. All other community members are encouraged and urged to join one of the open focus groups listed below:

March 16
6:30 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83618616637
Meeting ID: 836 1861 6637
Passcode: 813588

March 18
11:00 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81165004227
Meeting ID: 811 6500 4227
Passcode: 739423

March 20
4:00 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83494048313
Meeting ID: 834 9404 8313
Passcode: 834 9404 8313

March 21
6:30 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83877509900
Meeting ID: 851 7715 7517
Passcode: 313909

If you are unable to attend any of the sessions, but would still like to share your thoughts on important attributes for our next superintendent, you are welcome to send an email to communitycomments@lmsd.org. This is the email address for all School Board members. The board will continue to share updates on the superintendent search process via emails to families and on the Superintendent Search page of the District website. On behalf of the entire School Board, thank you for your participation on this important process.

Sincerely,

Lucy Klain
President, Lower Merion Board of School Directors