Student representatives Tasnim Yasmin and Timothy Bijou told the Upper Darby School District board on Oct. 8 that transportation and arrival/dismissal logistics at the district kindergarten center are causing difficulties for families and staff, and they summarized student views on recent safety and phone-policy changes at Upper Darby High School.

Why it matters: parents and staff at the kindergarten center raised complaints about crowded buses and limited parking that affect student arrival and dismissal, and high-school students reported mixed reactions to weapons-detection systems and new phone restrictions—both topics that influence daily operations and student experience.

What the students reported: "It has been a busy start to the 2024–25 school year," Tasnim Yasmin said as she presented the student report. She described visits to the kindergarten center (referred to in the transcript as the "case center") where staff said the center serves the entire district and relies heavily on bus transportation. The report said some buses are overcrowded and some stops are not serviced, requiring parents to walk to alternate stops. Students and staff also told the representatives that the kindergarten center operates with two arrival and two dismissal times for AM and PM classes, which strains a limited parking lot and complicates drop-off and pickup.

Student recommendations and concerns: the student representatives said the kindergarten principal proposed a program for high-school volunteers or "buddies" to visit regularly; Tasnim and Timothy described this as a way to benefit kindergarten students and provide high-school students with service opportunities. Regarding high-school safety measures, the representatives said many students support the new weapons-detection systems but that awareness of the systems varies; students who favor the systems worried about longer lines and getting to class on time. On phone policies, students reported mixed reactions—some find the restriction helpful for focus, while others rely on phones when Wi-Fi or online systems fail.

Context and communications: the student report noted ongoing communication efforts, including the district’s use of an app (referred to in the transcript as Bridal Go) and ParentLink emails to notify families during incidents; the students urged families and staff to subscribe to district communications. The report also reiterated districtwide issues with bus driver shortages that affect punctuality.

What was decided: the student report was received by the board; no formal action was taken. Several board members and administrators present asked for continued attention to transportation and communication concerns.