Jenkintown School Board Brief
November - December 2023, Vol. 2 Issue 8
Message from Dr. Megan O'Brien, School Board President
Dear School Community:
It's hard to believe we are already approaching the winter break and moving closer to the halfway point of the school year. The fall athletic season is in the books, we've had some terrific musical concerts, and wonderful performances from our theatre arts students. We wish everyone in the community a peaceful, restful holiday season and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to picking back up in January!
Warmly,
Dr. Megan O'Brien, President
Summary of Board Action Items for November, 2023
At the combined Board work session and business meeting on November 13th, the Board approved only the agenda items and reports provided in BoardDocs, including:
- Approval of Freezer Refrigeration Replacement
Dr. Takacs provided an update on School District Goals, and Mr. Roller invited the High School Seniors attending programs at Eastern Center for Arts & Technology to discuss their learning experiences at Eastern.
All items can be reviewed in detail at Agenda - 250 West Avenue | Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046 | 215-885-3722 BoardDocs® LT
Summary of Board Action Items for December 2023
At the annual re-organization meeting held on Monday, December 4th at 7:00pm, Dr. Megan O'Brien was elected School Board President, and Ms. Carolyn Riley was elected School Board Vice President. The following committee and liaison appointments were made:
- Ms. Lisa Smith, JSD representative to the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Legislative Committee
- Ms. Carolyn Riley, JSD representative to Eastern Center for Arts & Technology Joint Operating Committee
- Ms. Bridget Reilly-Beauchamp, JSD representative to the Jenkintown Borough Council
- Ms. Nancy Campbell, JSD representative to the Jenkintown Education Foundation
- Mr. Nathan Bridge, JSD representative to the Jenkintown Home & School Association
- Ms. Katie Costandino, JSD representative to the Wellness Committee
- Ms. Nina Russakoff, JSD representative to the Safety Committee
At the combined Board work session and business meeting on Monday, December 11th, students from Ms. Askin's 6th grade social studies class shared their experiences with a hands-on economics project. The students were so excited to share what they had learned. It was wonderful to hear about the creative ideas that teachers are using to help students understand complex concepts.
The Board also approved only the agenda items and reports provided in BoardDocs, including:
- Approval of the Eastern Center for Arts & Technology Operating Budget
- Approval of the Annual Financial Report and Audit for 2022-23
- Adoption of the Resolution not to exceed the Act I Index for 2024-25
- Approval of a Snow Removal Contract
- Approval of the Alertus Service and Management Agreement with Integrated Security Systems, Inc.
INFORMATIONAL ITEM ONLY:
We would like to thank Mr. Jim Cummins for revamping the district calendar on the district webpage. Events | The School District of Jenkintown (jenkintowndrakes.org) Please take a moment to check it out!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, December 18th, 7:00pm - Holiday Side by Side Concert with the Garden Jazz Orchestra
Friday, December 22nd - School District Early Dismissal
Monday, December 25th - Monday, January 1st - Winter Break
Monday, January 8th, 7:00pm - School Board Work Session
Wednesday, January 17th, 7:00pm - High School Choir Concert
Monday, January 22nd, 7:00pm - ES/MS/HS Band Concert
Monday, January 22nd, 7:00pm - School Board Business Meeting