Jenkintown School Board Brief

Dear Jenkintown Community:

As my term as Board President comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our entire district - our families, staff, students, and community member - who show their commitment to Jenkintown every single day. When I made the decision to run in 2017, I had no idea what the future would hold, but I knew I wanted to serve this community. Looking back, I am proud of the time, energy, and dedication I have devoted to this role and grateful for the opportunity to give back.

This past year has brought its share of challenges, but it has also revealed the strength, resilience, and deep sense of responsibility that define this community. I remain optimistic about the future of our district. When we work together collaboratively and productively, we create the conditions for our students and staff to thrive.

I also want to thank my fellow board members for their service and partnership. And I congratulate our incoming members, wishing them all the best as they begin their work on behalf of our students and schools.

Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me and for all you do to support our district. It has been an honor to serve. Wishing you and your families a warn and happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Dr. Megan O'Brien

At the Board meeting on Monday, November 10th, we discussed a proposal to begin the next school year on Monday, August 31st, 2026. Our district administrators realize this would be a change from past practice, and we would like to hear from our students' families. Please email Dr. Steven VanMater, Substitute Superintendent at vanmaters@jtowndrakes.org if you would like to provide some feedback on the earlier start date for next year. Thank you!

At the Board Finance Committee Meeting on Monday, November 10th, Ms. Lieu Kim, our Business Manager, introduced the resolution calling for the end of the PA State Budget Impasse and provided preliminary information about the 2026-27 district budget. Mr. Tim Mirra from Zelenkofske and Axelrod, LLC, presented on the 2024-25 audit report which will be on the December 15th meeting agenda for approval.

At the combined Board Work Session and Business Meeting on Monday, November 10th, Dr. Ortiz gave a presentation on our Elementary School AIMSweb (Achievement Improving Monitoring System) assessment data. In addition, the board reviewed and discussed the regular agenda items and reports in BoardDocs, including the following items:

• Discussion of the proposed school year calendar for 2026-27 with an earlier start date of Monday, August 31st.
• Discussion and approval of the Campus Planning Committee Charter
• Discussion and approval of engaging the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) to assist in our superintendent search process.
• Adoption of Resolution to end the PA State Budget Impasse
• Approval of resolutions of appreciation recognizing school board service for Megan O'Brien, Bridget Reilly-Beauchamp, and Nathan Bridge

All items can be reviewed in detail at Agenda - 250 West Avenue | Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046 | 215-885-3722 BoardDocs® LT

Monday, December 1st, 7:00pm - School Board Reorganization Meeting

Wednesday, December 3rd, 6:30pm - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Wednesday, December 10th, 7:00pm - Elementary School Choral Concert

Monday, December 15th, 7:00pm - Combined School Board Work Session and Business Meeting

Friday, December 19th - Early Dismissal

Monday, December 22nd - Friday, January 2nd - School District Closed for Winter Break

Please visit the Legacy Park website by clicking on the image to the left and sign up for the newsletter for updates on the progress of this important project. Thank you to Kelly Hudson for leading this effort and to everyone on the planning committee.

Please use the links below to access the Jenkintown School District Board webpage, which lists board members, meeting dates, and and board policies. You can also access the public BoardDocs site to review past and current meeting agendas and minutes.

The Jenkintown School Board uses BoardDocs to share all meeting information, agendas, and policies with the community. The link below will take you to the publicly available website where you can search through past and current informational items relating to the school district.