Superintendent Newsletter Aug'26
August 26th, 2026
As we begin a new school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of our students, families, and staff. The year is off to a great start, with students already participating in activities that showcase the many opportunities available throughout our district.
Over the past several weeks, many of our high school students have been returning to campus for athletic practices, band camp, and our annual Panther Press and Haven Yearbook journalism camp. I'm excited to share that this year, we have 472 student-athletes preparing for competition, 351 students participating in band, and approximately 40 students who attended the journalism and yearbook workshop. These numbers represent more than participation; they reflect students who are willing to try something new, commit to a goal, work with others, and challenge themselves to grow.
One of our district’s greatest strengths is the wide variety of opportunities available to students. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, on the field, or through our many clubs, activities, and service opportunities, students have numerous ways to discover their interests, develop their talents, and build long-lasting connections with others.
As we start another school year together, I am grateful for the partnership and support of our staff, families, board members, and students. The collective commitment of the WSSD community makes our district such a special place to learn and grow.
Welcome back, and let's make it a great school year!
Russell Johnston, PhD
Superintendent of Schools
Strategic Priorities Set for the 2026-27 School Year
We are excited to share the strategic priorities that will guide our work at the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District throughout the 2026-27 school year. These priorities build on our district's existing strategic plan and help focus our efforts on providing every student with an outstanding educational experience while strengthening our schools for the future.
This year, our work will center on four key priorities:
- Elevated Human Capital: Supporting and developing our staff through strong recruitment, professional growth, and effective systems that help every employee succeed.
- Integrated Academic and Social-Emotional Supports: Strengthening the academic, behavioral, and emotional supports available to students while continuing to enhance curriculum, instruction, and the thoughtful use of technology.
- Fiscal Responsibility: Making responsible financial decisions that support long-term sustainability, maintaining our facilities, and planning carefully for the future needs of our schools.
- Safe and Inclusive School Environments: Continuing to foster schools where every student feels welcomed, supported, and safe while strengthening inclusive practices and emergency preparedness.
Our goal with these priorities is for students and families to experience the results through high-quality instruction, valuable student support, safe and welcoming schools, responsible stewardship of district resources, and continuous improvement. Developed through our ongoing strategic planning process in collaboration with the Board of School Directors, district leadership, and our broader school community, these priorities will guide our work in the coming school year.
You can learn more about the district’s strategic plan on our website. We appreciate your continued partnership as we bring these priorities to life for our students!
WSSD Provides Update on Capital Plan
Maintaining and improving our school facilities requires thoughtful long-term planning and regular reassessment. Our construction management partner, CHA, works closely with the district to update our long-term capital plan and help prioritize investments across our school buildings. The plan was last updated in spring 2025, and this ongoing work ensures that our priorities continue to reflect the district's most pressing facility needs.
During the facilities committee meeting on August 18, representatives from CHA presented an updated analysis of our buildings and recommended project priorities. Based on that analysis, the Board of School Directors voted on August 24 to approve an updated 10-year capital plan totaling $132 million.
The renovation of our high school remains the district's highest capital priority. Throughout the summer, our architectural partner, KCBA, continued advancing the design work for this important project. KCBA will present updated plans to the Board and the community during the facilities committee meeting on September 15.
Additional information about our updated capital plan priorities is available on the district website.
Wallingford-Swarthmore Awarded State Grant for Transportation Safety
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District has been awarded $47,084 through Pennsylvania's Automated School Bus Enforcement Grant Program (ASBEGP) to address the ongoing shortage of certified school bus drivers being felt across the commonwealth. WSSD is the only district in Delaware County and one of just 26 organizations statewide to receive funding through this competitive grant.
The grant will support the recruitment and training of new CDL-certified school bus drivers. This investment will build upon WSSD's already strong transportation program by improving operational reliability and supporting the district's continued commitment to providing safe and dependable transportation for students.