CURRICULUM

Co-Chairs: Shayna Kalish & Sarah Thomas

Members: Kimberly Garrison & Abby Lerner Rubin

Administrative Liaison: Scott Weinstein, Acting Assistant to the Superintendent

The Education Committee provides strategic input and feedback to the District’s leadership team about teaching, learning, assessment, and professional development. Further, the committee analyzes student data to evaluate the effectiveness of the District program for students, K-12, including academic, behavioral, and social/emotional efforts. The committee also reviews recommendations related to K-12 programming for students, including adopting textbooks.

• Review the effectiveness of K-12 programming based on student achievement and growth data presented by the District’s leadership team.
• Review recommended that support the continuous improvement of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development.
• Monitor and provide feedback on changes to curricula and instructional programming.
• Approve textbooks recommended by the District’s leadership team.
• Support innovations by allocating necessary resources to the K-12 instructional program.
• Consider the District leadership team’s recommendations to the full Board for approval to pursue the District’s mission and vision.

EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM

Co-Chairs: Shayna Kalish & Abby Lerner Rubin

Members: Anna Shurak & Sarah Thomas

Meetings of this Committee are currently on hold.

The Equity & Anti-Racism Committee was founded to provide strategic input and feedback to the District’s leadership team about processes enacted and steps taken to promote equitable experiences for all students. Further, the committee ensures that all students and staff are treated without bias based on race, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, religion, or disability because excellence can be achieved when diverse perspectives are engaged. 

• Review and provide feedback on efforts to create and sustain a sense of belonging among students and staff.
• Consider recommendations for improving cultural proficiency work across the District.
• Review the evaluation of related initiatives.
• Consider the District leadership team’s recommendations to the full Board for approval to pursue the District’s mission and vision.

FINANCE

Co-Chairs: Kimberly Garrison & Todd Ridky

Members: Melanie Schafmeister & Kerry Sautner

Administrative Liaison: Victor Orlando, Business Manager

The Finance Committee provides strategic input and feedback to the District’s leadership team about budgetary and financial matters, including the annual budget. Further, the committee reviews the needs of the District to allocate resources within the budget equitably as needed. By analyzing trends across budget years, the committee recommends appropriate funding levels and expenditures to the full Board for approval with the adoption of the annual budget.

• Review annual budgets for trends in revenues and expenditures.
• Participate in annual and long-range budget planning.
• Consider the District leadership team’s recommendations to the full Board for approval to pursue the District’s mission and vision.

POLICY

Co-Chairs: Melanie Schafmeister & Anna Shurak

Members: Abby Lerner Rubin & Kerry Sautner

Administrative Liaison: Megan Shafer, Assistant to the Superintendent for District Administration

The Policy Committee provides strategic input and feedback to the District’s leadership team on new policies on various topics, revises existing policies, and reviews existing and new policies. Further, the committee reviews policies for consistency in substance and legal compliance. The committee is apprised of and advises on the construction of administrative regulations.

• Review the evaluation of policy implementation.
• Review and revise existing policies as necessary.
• Compare new and existing policies for consistency in substance and format.
• Consider the District leadership team’s recommendations to the full Board for approval to pursue the District’s mission and vision.

FACILITIES & PURCHASING

Co-Chairs: Jason Herman & Melanie Shafmeister

Members: Kimberly Garrison & Shayna Kalish

Administrative Liaison: Vic Orlando, Business Manager

The Facilities and Purchasing Committee provides strategic input and feedback to the District’s leadership team on the ongoing operation of facilities, their maintenance, and use. Annual reviews of the capital plan occur and revisions are suggested as needed, as are strategies for funding projects. Further, the committee reviews the monthly list of bills and contracts needed to meet the operational and educational demands of the District.

• Review the facility, transportation, and operational needs of the District.
• Monitor the District’s ongoing capital plans and funding strategies.
• Consider facility upgrades, major restoration work, and equipment replacement.
• Monitor the condition and age of the school bus fleet.
• Consider vehicle purchases, replacements, costs, and timelines.
• Consider funding sources for construction work and other major expenditures.
• Monitor construction projects and facility upgrades - including, but not limited to, cost and schedule.
• Monitor construction and facility upgrade processes.
• Review District expenditures via monthly lists of bills.
• Consider the District leadership team’s recommendations to the full Board for approval to pursue the District’s mission and vision.

LEGISLATIVE

Co-Chairs: Kimberly Garrison & Todd Ridky

Members: Jason Herman & Sarah Thomas

The Legislative Committee provides strategic input and feedback to the District’s leadership team on legislative priorities affecting the District and the greater community. Further, the committee engages elected officials to offer perspectives about past, current, or pending legislation that affects Lower Merion.

• Engage with elected leaders to share information about the successes and challenges of the District.
• Provide opportunities for elected leaders to engage with the District.
• Share input and feedback on legislative matters affecting education and the Lower Merion community.
• Consider the District leadership team’s recommendations to the full Board for approval to pursue the District’s mission and vision.