Upper Dublin board approves staffing changes amid parent concerns over class size and counselor roles

At its April 2025 legislative meeting, the Upper Dublin School District Board of School Directors approved a set of personnel actions that restructured some administrative roles while parents and community members pressed the board about classroom sizes and where student services staff will be based.

The board approved six personnel items after a motion by Ms. Redding and a second from Mr. Sirota; the vote passed on the unanimous voice vote called by the chair. The approved items included recommending Megan Smith for a data reporting specialist role and abolishing the current 10‑month supervisor of guidance position in favor of a proposed 12‑month supervisor of student services.

The personnel changes drew public comment. Jenny Vitello Ambler, a resident, said, “My concern basically comes down to the fact of losing 2 elementary schools to pay for it so that we're at a break even,” and warned that moving some positions out of school buildings could reduce on‑site adult support for students. She also described specific class sizes at Fort Washington Elementary, saying third grade had three classes of 24 and one of 25 and that another grade was projected to move to 26 students.

Superintendent Dr. Smith told the board the supervisor of guidance is currently a K‑12 administrative position housed at the high school but supporting K‑12, and that the new supervisor of student services would be a 12‑month administrative position “and would continue to support K to 12 across the district.” Dr. Smith also clarified that the current supervisor role is not an individual student counselor: “the current position is not a counselor. They do not counsel students individually. The counseling staff at the high school does do that.”

Dr. Smith said the culinary coordinator position is funded through the food services budget and not the general fund, and she highlighted that the reduction of two elementary teaching positions reflected natural attrition (retirements/resignations) rather than layoffs. She offered to provide research on class size impacts, noting that available studies show a significant reduction in class size is required before measurable changes in student achievement are typical.

Board members moved and approved the personnel slate after discussion. Ms. Redding made the motion; Mr. Sirota seconded. The board minutes show the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

What happened next: Dr. Smith offered to provide additional class‑size research to the board on request; the board did not reverse any part of the personnel action at the meeting. Community members and board members signaled intent to continue monitoring enrollment projections and staffing placement in coming months.

For parents and staff: the district said the new supervisor of student services will be based primarily in district offices but “will certainly have space and be out in buildings a lot, as they should be,” according to Dr. Smith, and the planned director of safety (a title change from the existing safety coordinator role) is intended to remain based at the high school to oversee school security staff.

The board also approved routine finance and education committee items during the same meeting, and Dr. Smith thanked community partners for a $3,755 donation from Giant Company that will be placed in the district’s food service fund.