SB Monthly Update—Feb 2026

As a reminder, our updates reflect activity through the Board Committee meetings held in the prior month. We look forward to providing our March update following the March 24 Committee meetings.

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আপনার কি এই পৃষ্ঠাটি অন্য ভাষায় অনুবাদ করা দরকার? ডানদিকে পাওয়া অ্যাক্সেসিবিলিটি বোতামে (স্টিক-ফিগার) ক্লিক করুন এবং আপনার ভাষা নির্বাচন করুন।

کیا آپ کو اس صفحہ کا دوسری زبان میں ترجمہ درکار ہے؟ دائیں جانب موجود ایکسیسبیلٹی بٹن (اسٹک فگر) پر کلک کریں اور اپنی زبان منتخب کریں۔

هل تريد ترجمة هذه الصفحة إلى لغة أخرى؟ انقر فوق زر إمكانية الوصول (stick-figure) الموجود على اليمين وحدد لغتك.

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Dear Families,

February offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the values that guide our work as your School Board of Directors. This month’s theme, Serving Our Schools with Heart, speaks to the deep responsibility and care we bring to every decision we make on behalf of our students, their families, teachers and staff, and our community.

Serving with heart means placing students at the center of our governance and at the forefront of every discussion and action. It means listening thoughtfully, asking careful questions, and working collaboratively to ensure that every child has access to high-quality instruction, strong academic programs, safe and supportive learning environments, and meaningful opportunities to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. It also means supporting the educators and staff members who dedicate themselves to nurturing and challenging our students. They make a difference in our students; lives every day.

As Board members, we understand that our role is one of stewardship. You have entrusted us with your confidence and with the resources of this district. We honor that trust and approach that responsibility with integrity, transparency, and a shared commitment to what is best for children.

We deeply value our partnership with families and are grateful for the opportunity to work with you. Families are the foundation of strong schools, and your engagement, insights, feedback, and advocacy strengthen our district in countless ways. Together, when we lead and serve with heart, we build schools where students feel supported, inspired, and prepared for the future.

Thank you for the trust you place in us and for the care you show our schools each day. Together, as families and Board members, we lead with heart—united in our shared, unwavering commitment to caring for our beautiful children.

With appreciation,

The School Board of Directors

As part of the Board of School Directors' communication plan, the School Board of Directors sends monthly updates to the school community. Monthly updates include highlights of school board of directors' community engagement and advocacy efforts, important dates, upcoming school district and community events, updates on any new policies or changes in policies, financial updates, and information on district resources. These updates aim to keep everyone informed and engaged with the school community.

The information included in these briefs is not intended to be a complete recounting of Board meetings and do not replace official Board meeting minutes. Official meeting minutes, agendas, reports, and presentations are available at BoardDocs. Also, the Board meetings are live streamed to the District's Official UDSD Board & Board Committee Meetings YouTube Channel.

We welcome you to follow the issues the School Board is considering and to attend meetings to stay informed. Thank you for taking the time each month to read the School Board of Directors' Updates!

What is the Advocacy Corner? — The Upper Darby School District Board of School Directors believes that all students, regardless of background and economic status, should have a quality public education and an equal opportunity for success. The Advocacy Corner provides information and resources for parents/guardians with the goal of ensuring that every child has access to the resources and support they deserve through equitable public school funding. Upper Darby School District has historically faced state underfunding while seeing the cost of educating students in Pennsylvania's public schools increasing steadily and an increase in unfunded mandates.

Education Voters of Pennsylvania (EdVoters PA) offers a comprehensive platform for parents across the state to actively engage in advocating for equitable education funding. EdVoters PA (https://edvoterspa.org/) provides an extensive Advocacy Toolkit designed to empower and equip parents with the knowledge and resources needed to effectively influence education policy. Key features include:

• Step-by-Step Guides: Learn how to contact state legislators, organize community events, and utilize social media for advocacy.

• Budget Analysis: Access breakdowns of state education budgets to understand funding allocations and identify areas needing attention.

• Sample Communications: Use templates for emails, letters, and social media posts to communicate with lawmakers and the public.

The Upper Darby School District is preparing for several school reconfiguration changes that may impact the building your child will attend beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. These changes are designed to support long-term planning and ensure clear, consistent neighborhood school assignments for families. To help you understand how these updates may affect your family, we have created this resource outlining the neighborhood school assignments.

Connecting Our Community Through Engagement and Events

Board Director Damien Warsavage visited Mrs. Grossman’s class at the Kindergarten Center, where he spent time engaging with students and observing classroom activities. During his visit, he had the opportunity to see firsthand the learning environment, interact with students, and learn more about the instructional approaches supporting their early academic development.

Applications are now open for the PA House of Representatives Scholarship Program, administered by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Each year, the program awards two four-year scholarships to graduating Pennsylvania high school seniors. Each scholarship covers one semester of tuition per year at a State System of Higher Education institution. Recipients are required to maintain eligibility throughout all four years of their scholarship. Applications are due April 15. Requirements and the application form can be found at https://www.tfec.org/scholarships-archive/pahr/.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) application period for 2025–26 is open! Whether you rent or own your home, you could receive a cash grant from $200 to $1,000 based on your household size, income, and fuel type. Most importantly, this is a grant and does not have to be repaid. To find out if you qualify and for help applying, contact my office. You can also apply for LIHEAP online. Weatherize your home by sealing drafts and replacing your furnace filter, and explore other energy-saving tools. If you’re concerned about paying your heating bill, contact PECO now to ask about their assistance programs or payment plan options.

Empowering Families and Youth with Disabilities Across Pennsylvania

The PEAL Center helps Pennsylvania families who have children with disabilities and/or special health care needs from birth to age 26. PEAL also educates self-advocates and youth on self-advocacy, self-determination and leadership development.

PEAL, Pennsylvania’s Statewide Parent Training and Information Center, gives families and self-advocates safe and confidential support to help you through any situation. PEAL is an organization of parents of children with disabilities and/or special health care needs who bring knowledge and experience as a resource for education and special health care information and resources in Pennsylvania.

Services available at no cost to you:

• Connect with a Family Resource Specialists who provide individual assistance by phone, email or in-person. Individual assistance is available in both English and Spanish, as well as other languages as needed
• Attend an in-person training, conference or other event to connect with PEAL staff, other families or experts in the field
• Register for one of PEAL’s online trainings, which cover a broad range of topics
• Take part in an intensive leadership development courses for families and caregivers

Explaining the Diagnosis and Supporting Siblings

Friday, February 13, 2026: 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm

CLICK https://redcap.chop.edu/surveys/?s=PC8WPYCFMXDYL4K7

OR ON THE FLYER ABOVE TO REGISTER.

What is the Board Member Highlight? — Board members are passionate about serving our students and the Upper Darby School District families and regularly engage in ways that enrich our community. The Board Member Highlight showcases the contributions, experiences, achievements, and insights of individual board members and is an opportunity to get to know your elected Board members a little better.

According to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), School Board members are responsible for governing the school district by setting policy, overseeing strategic planning and fiscal matters, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, approving the curriculum and budget, and ensuring that resources are aligned with educational goals. They also act as advocates for public education, engage with the community, and maintain legislative awareness to support student achievement. We will explore various aspects of this work throughout the school year, starting with the Principles for Governance and Leadership — a pledge to school board effectiveness. This month we are featuring the following core competency essential for strong school board leadership:

Public education is the cornerstone of a strong and thriving commonwealth, and we are committed to promoting it at every level. By actively engaging the community, seeking input from families, educators, and stakeholders, and building support networks, we can generate meaningful action to strengthen schools. We also champion public education by connecting with local, state, and federal officials, advocating for policies and resources that ensure every student has access to high-quality learning opportunities. Through collaboration, advocacy, and community involvement, we work to protect and advance public education as a shared priority for all.

Click here to view the regular School Board Meeting & Work Session.

View the Board-approved reports here.

Congratulations to all of the students and staff who were recognized at this month’s Board meeting for their outstanding achievements.

Natalia Rahatt,11th Grade, 2nd Place, Category: Retail Management

Joshua Sharp, broke the PA state record in the 600 meters with a time of 1:18.96 at the 118th Millrose Games

View the School Board Committee Meetings here.

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1. District Re-Registration 2026-2027 School Year — Informational

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1. Report on Annual Water Testing — Informational

The Policy Report informs the public, staff, and stakeholders about key educational policies, initiatives, and decisions made by the school board. Proposed policies are first reviewed by the school board's Policy Committee, then presented to the Board for consideration through a 1st and 2nd reading before being put to a vote. The following policy revisions are up for consideration:

1st Readings

1. (Revised) Policy 827 Conflict of Interest

2nd Readings

1. NO REPORT

• Ms. Nelson for a donation of handmade scarves to the students of Upper Darby School District.

Click on the link(s) below for the January Donation(s) Reports:

• February 10, 2026 Donation Report

If you know a neighbor or community member who would like to sign up to receive these updates and other important messages from the District, please do the following:

• Click HERE to sign up

• share this link with a community member or neighbor to sign up: https://upperdarbysdorg.finalsite.com/departments12/communications-media-services/community12/sign-up-to-receive-district-emails.

The regular School Board meetings and the School Board Committee Meetings are held in-person in the board room at 8201 Lansdowne Avenue in Upper Darby and livestreamed to the UDSD Board & Board Committee Meetings YouTube Channel.

The Upper Darby School District calendar includes events, activities and important deadlines for the school year. Updates may be made to this calendar as the year progresses, so please visit the calendar often to stay up-to-date.

School buildings keep their own calendars of events on their webpages that include dates for school-level events. Please visit your school building website for more information. You can also access the district and school-level calendars on the Upper Darby School District mobile app. Visit your App Store to download it today!

Website Online Calendar

2025-2026 Year at a Glance Calendar

2025-2026 Summary of Calendar

2026-2027 One-Page Calendar

2026-2027 Summary of Calendar

The 2025-2026 Student Services Mental Health Services Guide is a resource that provides information about available mental health support options, including counseling, therapy, crisis intervention, and community programs. It helps individuals understand where and how to access professional help and what services are offered in the local area.

This resource, created by Pupil Services, offers information about nearby places in Upper Darby that provide assistance with housing, food, utilities, mental health, childcare, and after-school activities. Our team will continue to update this resource as new information becomes available. If you need help locating support services, please reach out to your school social worker.

to keep up with our official social media!

Members of the School Board of Directors are members are your neighbors and are public servants who make decisions that affect all students. Board members are volunteers and have a deep desire to serve children, a strong belief in the value of public education and a deep professional respect for the District staff who serve our children and their families every day. Serving as a School Board Director requires many dedicated hours of service to our community.

Click HERE or to learn more about how the Board of Directors serves the Upper Darby School District community.

Email: udsdschoolboard@upperdarbysd.org

School Board of Directors' Webpage:

https://upperdarbysdorg.finalsite.com/school-board12/about-the-board