School Board Monthly Update
How to Change the Monthly Update Language
Do you need this page translated to another language? Click the accessibility button (stick-figure) found on the right and select your language.
¿Necesita esta página traducida a otro idioma? Haga clic en el botón de accesibilidad (figura de palo) que se encuentra a la derecha y seleccione su idioma.
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.
Bạn có cần dịch trang này sang ngôn ngữ khác không? Nhấp vào nút trợ năng (hình que) ở bên phải và chọn ngôn ngữ của bạn.
What is the Advocacy Corner?
The Upper Darby School District Board of School Directors believes that all students, regardless of background, economic 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.
Pennsylvania Principals Association — Trump’s Education Department nixes DEI initiatives and guidance
The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that it is eliminating its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, a move tied to President Donald Trump’s directives to purge DEI from the federal government. Click here for full article.
Public Hearing on Performance-based Funding Formulas for State-Related Universities
A Pennsylvania General Assembly public hearing was held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, to hear testimony related to Performance-based Funding Formulas for State-Related Universities. The bill, SB 1154, establishes the Performance-based Funding Council, which will be tasked with developing recommendations for a new process that utilizes performance-based metrics to distribute funding to Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University. Performance-based funding is intended to increase degree attainment, encourage affordability in higher education, meet workforce needs and grow the economy, according to the legislation. You can find the video recording of the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts7I_vcGZOU.
Subscribe to the House Committee Meetings
If you want to learn more about how to subscribe to the House Committee Meetings, please visit https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CMS/index.cfm?Chamber=H.
PA residents lose access to Medicaid, CareerLink, Head Start, and Veterans
The Office of Management and Budget issued a two-page memo late on Monday instructing all federal agencies to halt federal spending in order to perform a comprehensive analysis to make sure all grant and loan programs are in line with Trump’s executive orders that rollback diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) protections and environmental standards. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s funding freeze until 5 p.m. on Monday. Read more at https://keystonenewsroom.com/2025/01/28/pa-residents-lose-access-to-medicaid-careerlink-and-head-start-portal-amid-trump-chaos/ and https://www.va.gov/wilmington-health-care/news-releases/va-ends-dei-stops-millions-in-spending-on-dei/.
What They Are Saying: U.S. Department of Education Dismantles DEI in Week One
Last week, following President Trump’s Executive Order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” the U.S. Department of Education took several steps to dismantle its Biden-era DEI programs and practices. Read more about what they are saying about the Department’s week one actions: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/what-they-are-saying-us-department-of-education-dismantles-dei-week-one.
PHEAA: Advance Planning for Financing Higher Education
The thought of Higher Education costs can be overwhelming, however planning and identifying what you can do to help lessen those costs is an important step. It’s never too early or too late to start understanding what those costs are and what is available to help maintain, plan and help you make affordable decisions. Join Daniel Wray, Suzanne Sparrow, and William McGinley of PHEAA’s PA Forward and Keystone Student Loan programs in a one-hour webinar to begin that process and become prepared. Register through the link here.
This Month's Board Member Highlight:
______________________________________
DESIREE' MURPHY MORRISSEY
______________________________________
Desiree' Murphy Morrissey was elected to the Upper Darby School District Board of School Directors in 2022 and currently serves as Vice President on the Board. She has resided in Upper Darby with her family since 2013. Mrs. Morrissey is the proud mother of five daughters, four of whom attended Upper Darby School District. She was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System, graduating from Overbrook High School in 1995. She' furthered her education by obtaining a Bachelor of Education from Temple University with a Dual Certification in Special Education, Masters of Education from Cabrini University. She is further enhancing her education and is in pursuit of an administrative certification from Holy Family University. She currently works for the School District of Philadelphia as a Special Needs Coordinator.
Mrs. Morrissey is the Founder and CEO of Murphy's Giving Market (MGM), a Community Resource Center located in Upper Darby. MGM was founded in an effort to stomp out food insecurities and to help community members lift themselves out of poverty. She is a change agent that believes wholeheartedly that everyone must be treated with dignity and respect.
Mrs. Morrissey is very passionate about special education and works hard to ensure that students receive the proper supports and services that help them achieve and grow to be independent, productive members of society. She believes that everyone has the right to learn in a safe, healthy environment and if students cannot learn the way that we teach them, then we must teach them the way that they learn best.
Find out more about Mrs. Morrissey at https://www.upperdarbysd.org/Page/9777.
Virtual Parent Information Nights with Dr. Eran Magen
——————————————
TOPIC: Foundations of Goodwill: Less Conflict, More Cooperation
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Session Description: Tired of feeling like you’re battling your child to do the right thing? In this highly interactive 90-minute workshop, you will learn and practice conflict-free techniques for boosting your child’s motivation and cooperation. Reduce your own parenting stress while enjoying a stronger, more cooperative relationship with your child.
CLICK TO REGISTER:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsdeCuqTMtHtZEtd8t8B0fTHry5Q8t8gNs#/registration
TOPIC: Helping Your Child Build Good Habits
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Session Description: Good habits are quite possibly the most valuable asset a child can have. But how can you help your child build good habits, without nagging or preaching, in a way that keeps you relaxed and strengthens your relationship? In this interactive session, we will go over setting effective and realistic goals, ensuring motivation and self-efficacy, and making the entire process enjoyable for both you and your child. Click here to learn more.
CLICK TO REGISTER:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvf-GtrTouGN08D-Rre4K7SxLQUfFndRhA#/registration
Virtual Parent Information Night with Lakeside Neurologic
——————————————
TOPIC: Talking to Your Kids so They Will Hear You with Lakeside Neurologic
Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Session Description: Join us for an informative evening where Lakeside Neurologic will share effective strategies for communicating with your child in ways that encourage listening and understanding. Learn how to strengthen your connection with your child, manage challenging conversations, and foster healthy dialogue through neuroscience-based techniques. Whether you’re facing everyday challenges or tackling tough topics, this session will equip you with practical tools to improve communication and strengthen your relationship with your child. Click here to learn more.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO REGISTER:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uJ00SR0qTnGmL8n7sOOGDw#/registration
Parent Volunteer Workshop
——————————————
EVENT: Annual Volunteer Workshop (2nd Session)
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Time: 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: Administration Building, 8201 Lansdowne Ave, Upper Darby 19802
Event Description: Come out to learn how to complete the process of becoming a Parent Volunteer in the Upper Darby School District!
Additional Information: Visit our website for information about requirements for Parent Volunteers and the steps for completing the application process: https://pa02209738.schoolwires.net/Page/2637.
Virtual Winter Community Read Series
——————————————
Join us for virtual read-alouds of select short picture books. REGISTER JUST ONCE! Sign up once to gain access to all sessions.
Upcoming Sessions
Wednesday, February 12th
Wednesday, February 19th
Wednesday, February 26th
Registration Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/eKMhi498St-MMC-PRUuqLA#/registration
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.
Do you have a question or comment? Click HERE to learn how to participate.
Click HERE to review the meeting agendas 24 hours prior to the meetings.
Click HERE to view the 2024-2025 Regular School Board Meetings schedule.
Click HERE to view the 2024-2025 School Board Committee Meetings schedule. School Board Committee Meetings consist of the Education and Pupil Services meeting and the Finance and Operations meeting.
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 this page often to stay up-to-date. School buildings keep their own calendars of events on their webpages that include dates for school-related 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!
Click on the image to the left to access the master calendar or click HERE.
For general calendar questions, please contact Aaronda Q. Beauford, Director of Communications, at abeauford@upperdarbysd.org.
X (Formerly Twitter)
Upper Darby School District
School Board & School Board Committee Meetings
UDSD Athletics
UDSD Public Access Channel
Comcast Channel 08, RCN Channel 51, Verizon FIOS Channel 20