District Newsletter

Dr. Dennis H. Best Unveils Comprehensive Entry Plan

Lower Moreland Township School District is entering an exciting new chapter under Dr. Dennis H. Best's leadership. Dr. Best recently presented his comprehensive entry plan to chart the district's path forward. “I am deeply committed to ensuring that every student, without exception, receives the highest-quality education," Dr. Best states, setting the tone for his vision of educational excellence.

Building a Strong Foundation

The entry plan focused on three key phases:

Days 1-30: Immersion & Introductions Dr. Best dedicated his first month to building relationships through introductory meetings, school visits, and a comprehensive review of district operations. This phase emphasized understanding our district's unique culture and establishing strong connections with our school community.

Days 31-60: Discovering Each School's Uniqueness The second phase involved detailed school tours, meeting with students and teachers, and gathering valuable input from all stakeholders to identify strengths and opportunities within each school.

Days 61-90: The Lion's Share The final phase focused on developing strategic recommendations based on collected data and community input, and working closely with the School Board.

Key Initiatives Already Underway

Several significant changes are already being implemented to enhance our district's educational excellence:

1. Leadership Restructuring: The district has strategically reorganized its leadership team, introducing new positions, including:
   -Dr. Julie Henrich, as Assistant Superintendent
   -Mr. Scott Cole, as Director of Teaching, Learning, and Community Engagement

2. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): A comprehensive support framework is being planned for implementation across K-8 schools to address academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs through evidence-based practices.

3. Enhanced Data Systems: The district seeks to implement a new K-12 data warehouse to enable data-driven decision-making and improve student outcomes.
   
   

Community Engagement Initiatives

To strengthen our community partnerships, several new programs are being launched:

• Student and Parent Advisory Councils

• A district-wide Culture and Climate Survey

• A new district website designed for better accessibility and communication

• Excellence and Educational Equity Committee to promote inclusivity and address educational barriers
  
  

Looking Ahead

Dr. Best and his team are already working on long-term planning initiatives, including:

• Development of the 2025-2028 Comprehensive Plan

• Continued formulation of a 10-year Capital Plan

• Continued implementation of the new district policy committee to ensure effective governance

Dr. Best expresses sincere gratitude for the support and collaboration of the Board of School Directors, LMTEA, the administrative team, support staff, students, families, and community members throughout this transition process.

Stay Connected

We encourage all community members to stay informed about these exciting developments. Our website and district communications channels will provide updates.

Hello, Lower Moreland Community! We, the Student Representatives for the 2024-2025 school year, [Mia Dubin and Edona Selamaj], are excited to share with you the latest updates regarding the school climate at Pine Road, Murray Avenue, Lower Moreland Middle School, and Lower Moreland High School!

To begin, at Pine Road, although the annual Martin Luther King [MLK] Day of Service was cancelled due to snow, over 200 students and staff still participated in a variety of service projects throughout the week. These efforts included creating approximately 200 bookmarks and welcome cards for incoming kindergarten students and even 200 Valentine cards for veterans in the community. In addition, they made 200 placemats and hot chocolate cards for the elderly in the community and sorted hygiene donations for Face to Face. Several students and staff also donated their hair to Locks of Love. The school is incredibly proud of the positive impact their students and staff have made on the community.

Meanwhile, at Murray Avenue, the school hosted its first multicultural event, “Light Up the Night.” It was a fun evening filled with food, presentations, and cultural sharing. The following day, 100 Murray Avenue students participated in the “MLK Day of Service” by teaming up with “Rise Against Hunger” to package and provide a plethora of meals for those in need. How incredible!

At the Middle School, students in 8th grade recently had their 8th grade ski trip, where over one hundred students skied, snowboarded, or went tubing. It was an incredible trip that provided a great opportunity for students to enjoy the outdoors and socialize with their school friends, helping to bridge the student body together!

Lastly, at the High School, students spent time prepping for and taking their midterm exams. Although a hectic time, the students balanced studying with other activities, pushing through the stress to demonstrate what they have learned so far. It was a great chance for students to test their knowledge and see how much they have grown academically!

At the January 21 School Board Meeting, Mr. Prakash Patel was appointed as the district’s new Director of Technology. He replaces Dr. Jason Hilt, who will left the district to begin a new role with the Spring-Ford Area School District.

Mr. Patel is currently the Director of Innovation and Technology with the Upper Dublin School District. Before that, he was Director of Technology for the 21st Century Cyber Charter School. Mr. Patel also taught Math and Computer Science for 21 years. He has two Master’s degrees in Instructional Technology and Education Administration and will finish a Doctoral degree this spring.

The district welcomes Mr. Patel to the Lower Moreland community.

As the calendar advances to February the Office of Student Services would like to remind all parents to please update your School Nurse on any changes to your child’s medical condition, overall health information, changes in mental health status, and any injuries your child may have recently sustained. Most importantly, make sure to update the nurse on any changes to your child’s medication, including prescriptions that are administered while in school or at home. All of this information is important for the school nurse to have in order to ensure safety for students and to allow any appropriate accommodations to be provided. If you have any questions as to how to contact the School Nurse please reach out to the main office at your child’s school.