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Upper Darby board asks administration to seek lease extension and consider keeping Charles Kelley open for 2025–26
Summary
Superintendent Daniel McGarry said the board has asked the administration and solicitor to negotiate a lease extension for Charles Kelley Elementary and to consider keeping the school open for the 2025–26 year; the board will vote on whether to close the school at the April 29, 2025 public meeting.
Superintendent Daniel McGarry said the Upper Darby School District board has asked the administration and the district solicitor to negotiate a lease extension for Charles Kelley Elementary School and to consider keeping the building open for the 2025–26 school year.
McGarry told the board on Feb. 11 that the administration continues to meet with staff and home-and-school associations about a possible closure and related redistricting that would include Highland Park, Hillcrest, “Aramaic,” and Stonehurst. He said the board asked the administration and solicitor to pursue a lease extension and that the full board will vote on the potential closure at the April 29, 2025 public meeting; the vote would consider whether to close Charles Kelley at the conclusion of the 2025–26 school year, not during 2024–25.
The superintendent said the board has asked the administration to continue meetings with staff and families to answer questions and to provide updates in the district’s regular communications. McGarry thanked families, staff and board members for ongoing engagement and urged continued public comment as the district develops next steps.
This discussion was presented as an update rather than a formal motion. The board’s direction to negotiate a lease extension and to evaluate keeping Charles Kelley open are assignments to administration and the solicitor; no final closure vote occurred at the Feb. 11 meeting. The board’s stated timeline sets the April 29 public meeting as the next formal decision point.
Members of the public were told the district will continue to provide updates in its Wednesday folders and Friday communications and that administrators will hold meetings with affected families and staff to answer questions as redistricting work continues.
Context: The district has previously discussed redistricting and school consolidations; at Feb. 11 the board limited its action to directing administrators to pursue lease negotiations and to continue engagement with staff and families. A formal board vote to close Charles Kelley is scheduled for the April 29, 2025 public meeting.
