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Policy committee agrees to suspend and pursue repeal of longstanding Education Advisory Committee policy, seeks alternatives
Summary
The committee discussed the role and relevance of the Education Advisory Committee (EAC), debated alternatives such as ad hoc community advisory groups, and reached a consensus to suspend the existing EAC policy and pursue a repeal process while asking administration to propose replacement engagement structures.
The Upper Dublin SD policy committee discussed whether the Education Advisory Committee (EAC) — a citizen advisory group the district has used for decades — remains the most effective structure for community engagement and research support.
Committee members described the EAC’s long history, praised past contributions, and agreed the group has struggled in recent years to produce work that the board used. Several members favored replacing the standing EAC with more flexible, ad hoc community committees or a maintained roster of community volunteers who can be called upon for topical work, such as curriculum or comprehensive planning.
Board members said the EAC formerly produced lengthy research reports and recommendations, but those reports too often “went on a shelf” rather than directly informing district decisions. One member said, “I don’t think the EAC, as it stands, is the answer and I think the right answer from a policy standpoint is to repeal the existing policy.” Another emphasized preserving opportunities for community involvement and suggested maintaining an umbrella policy or a list of volunteers who are available for ad hoc work.
Discussion addressed process: several members proposed a near-term approach that would suspend the existing policy so current volunteers would not need to meet to comply with policy-prescribed deadlines and then initiate first reading of repeal. A procedural suggestion was to bring related policies — specifically policy 9-05 (citizen advisory committees) and policy 9-10 (community engagement) — back to committee together so the board can decide whether to create a new vehicle for community involvement in policy or in administrative regulations (ARs).
Administration offered examples of existing and recent engagement work (comprehensive plan, “Cardinal Conversations,” curriculum review) and proposed creating a searchable database of community members and their expertise that the district could use to staff ad hoc panels. A board member asked administration to return with a formal proposal for alternatives and to coordinate review of policies 9-05 and 9-10 together.
The committee agreed by consensus to suspend the EAC policy (so current EAC members would not be required to meet impending technical deadlines) and to begin the repeal process, with administration to present options for replacement engagement structures. No formal roll-call vote was recorded; the action was handled as a committee directive.
