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 opportunity to assign students to schools closer to home, and funding uncertainties for public education. The administration proposed reassigning grades 1—6 students from Charles Kelley to Highland Park and Stoner—s Hill elementary schools (with kindergarten pupils remaining at the kindergarten center) and outlined related changes to elementary and kindergarten catchment areas, feeder patterns and contingency plans tied to the planned opening of Clifton Heights Middle School.

Administrators described transportation and facilities impacts. The district estimated a net reduction of about 55 transportation-eligible students, which could free capacity for special-education transportation but did not characterize that as an immediate financial savings. The district estimated roughly $460,000 in annual savings from eliminating the lease payment and related costs (insurance, cleaning contract, repair and maintenance). Officials said all Charles Kelley students currently are bused and that stop-arm violations have been detected at above 20% in the Charles Kelley catchment area; the district said it may need additional crossing guards if students shift to neighborhood schools.

Administrators also described transition activities they would consider: virtual meet-and-greets, joint home-and-school association meetings, in-person tours and social events, and a timeline that begins with the hearing (Jan. 28), a written comment period through April 29, potential board action on April 29, staff meetings beginning April 30, and building-level transition planning from April 30 through August 2025 if the board directs implementation.

Members of the public spoke during a scheduled public-comment period. Linda Fox, president of the Upper Darby Education Association, read a statement from Charles Kelley faculty asking the board to "consider merging Charles Kelley versus redistricting and closing the community" and urged that any closure be planned for the 2026-27 school year to reduce disruption. Mary Jane Durso, a Clifton Heights resident and longtime district employee, said the plan was "rushed," described Charles Kelley as providing smaller class sizes and strong staff continuity, and urged the district to complete current capital projects before closing any elementary school. Parent and resident Feefe Guyan said the school community learned of the proposal with inadequate notice, warned that students with high needs would be moved into larger classes without additional support, and asked that, if students are relocated, they move as a group to preserve relationships with staff. Other residents raised concerns about walking distance and safety to reassigned schools, bus routing, potential conflicts between neighborhoods, and the absence of a new elementary school that some speakers said the district previously promised.

Berman reiterated that the board will review the record, including written comments submitted through April 29, before any decision and that no final action can be taken until that time. The hearing record includes a Board resolution (Exhibit A) authorizing steps including this hearing (adopted Dec. 17, 2024), proof of publication of the hearing notice (published Jan. 6, 2025; Exhibit B), and certified notice to planning commissions (Jan. 21, 2025; Exhibit C). The hearing concluded with an adjournment after public comment.