Board reviews education contracts, exchange-student application and residency-verification removals ahead of Aug. 21 action meeting

At the Aug. 7, 2025 work session, Haverford Township School District administrators briefed the board on multiple academic and student-services items the board will consider for action at the Aug. 21 meeting: educational services agreements for three students and out-of-district placements, contract renewals with TherapySource and LearnWell for specialized services and tutoring, an international exchange-student application for a twelfth grader from Germany, a residency-verification process that may remove 11 students from active enrollment if residency cannot be verified, a Title I agreement with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU), a district dentist contract renewal, and a reading-tutoring program funded with carryover Title I dollars.

Miss Saxe (Pupil Services) and Dr. Parker (student services lead) said the district is proposing educational-services contracts and out-of-district placements (for example, Devereaux and Martin Luther School ESY) and will bring formal motions on Aug. 21. Miss Saxe explained that one psychologist position converted to an assistant-principal role, creating a vacancy that the district will temporarily fill with a provider it has previously used; the provider would start the school year until a permanent hire is made.

Dr. Parker presented details on the exchange-student request: if approved on Aug. 21 the district would enroll a twelfth-grade student from Germany hosted by a local Heimerffer family; the student has completed requirements in the home country and would not receive a Haverford diploma while enrolled here. The board was told the district’s administrative regulation (AR 2.0.21) governs exchange-student participation and that the program is not a frequent occurrence (staff said the district last approved an exchange student about two years ago).

On residency verification, staff said the policy requires students entering sixth and ninth grade to re-register and provide residency documentation. The district launched the process in March, and through outreach — email, principal communications, texts and calls — the list has been whittled to 11 students who, as of the work session, had not demonstrated residency. Staff described an internal escalation that includes a hearing process after June 30: a hearing officer adjudicates unresolved cases and staff bring any remaining removal recommendations to the board for action on Aug. 21. Staff emphasized additional outreach and supports for McKinney-Vento (homeless) families and said language-line interpretation is used when needed; identified English-learner families receive extra proactive contact.

Other items being routed to Aug. 21 action include: a renewal contract for district dentist Dr. Stohlman to provide services to students without private dental care; a Title I service agreement with the DCIU (staff said the DCIU acts as a vendor for nonpublic-school services and that Title I does not carry an administrative fee); and an Institute of Reading Development tutoring program for Manoa funded by a one-time Title I rollover that must begin in September. Staff said the tutoring vendor was selected as a sole-source match to the building’s needs and that participation will be optional for eligible families; staff will monitor progress and report student growth midyear and at year-end.

Board members asked about program access, use of federal funds and how the district monitors service delivery. Staff said the district will return with finalized contracts and oversight language for the Aug. 21 meeting and that tutoring usage reports and student-progress metrics will be supplied once services begin. No formal votes on these items occurred at the Aug. 7 work session; all were presented for discussion and will be taken up at the Aug. 21 action meeting.