Upper Darby holds public hearing on possible closure of Charles Kelley Elementary School

The Upper Darby School District held a public hearing Jan. 28 to gather community feedback on a proposal to close Charles Kelley Elementary School and reassign its students to district-owned schools.

The hearing, presided over by Kyle Berman, the district—s general solicitor, was convened under Section 780 of the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949, as amended, and is part of a process that requires the Board to allow a comment period of at least three months before any final decision. Berman said the board will not take a final vote at the hearing and that written comments will be accepted through April 29, 2025; potential board action is scheduled for a publicly advertised meeting on or after that date.

District administrators presented the administration—s rationale for "sunsetting" Charles Kelley, saying the building is leased (the lease expires June 30, 2025), not owned by the district, and was opened in 2007 to ease overcrowding. The administration listed five factors driving the proposal: the building—s leased status, limits on improving physical space, anticipated lease expiration, the…