Upper Dublin SD projects staffing shifts; preliminary budget requests include safety and academic coach positions

An administrator presented preliminary enrollment and staffing projections at the March 5 Education Committee meeting and outlined a set of staffing requests that district leaders are reviewing for the 2025–26 budget.

The presenter explained that the projections roll current enrollments forward and that kindergarten numbers are the most variable; based on the early projections shown to the committee, the district could see the need for two fewer general-education elementary teachers next year, although the presenter emphasized that this does not mean layoffs and that retirements, resignations and internal reallocations commonly absorb such shifts.

“This means that there could be some shifting around or some of those positions maybe we're gonna be asking for, we're able to create that position and shift somebody internally into that position,” the presenter said, emphasizing staff will work to place certified employees where appropriate.

The preliminary request list the administrator presented included: student-services staffing tied to the special-education proposals discussed earlier; secondary instructional coaches in humanities and STEM (positions currently in K–5 but not at the secondary level); a high-school instructional-assistance model to provide on-demand academic support during school hours; and operations requests that include possible additional school security officer coverage for the middle school and a culinary coordinator position in food services (the presenter said that food-service requests could be financed from the food-service budget). The committee also heard that several positions added in the prior budget year — kindergarten assistants, a math interventionist at one elementary, an in-house social worker and district-employed school security officers — are operational and staff reported early positive results.

Board members asked how the projections will be refined; the presenter said staff will update enrollment numbers monthly, watch kindergarten registration closely, and refine staffing requests through March and April before formal budget recommendations are presented. The presenter also said some positions — notably a math interventionist — have been funded through Title I this year and may continue on that basis, subject to federal funding levels.

Ending: Administrators said they will continue to narrow priorities and present refined budget requests in April and May for board consideration.