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Education committee supports adding reading specialists and funds short‑term elementary mental‑health specialist
Summary
The education committee recommended adding two reading specialists to the 2025–26 budget and reported a one‑year grant to fund an additional elementary mental‑health specialist; the district’s comprehensive plan will be posted for public comment before board approval in March.
The Tredyffrin‑Easttown education committee recommended that the district include two additional reading specialists in the 2025–26 budget and reported approval of a one‑year grant to fund an extra elementary mental‑health specialist.
At the Feb. 24 board meeting, the committee’s report, delivered by Sue Tidi, summarized a presentation by Dr. Patrick Gately, supervisor of language arts. The administration proposed adding two reading specialists for 2025–26 to increase targeted reading interventions: under the proposal, four elementary schools would have 1.5 reading specialists and Valley Forge Middle School’s associated elementary would have two reading specialists for the coming year. The committee supported retaining those positions in the budget at this time.
Dr. Groppi, director of safety and student services, reported that the district currently has six mental‑health specialists who provide clinical interviews, counseling services, hospitalization placement support and attendance improvement plans; one mental‑health specialist serves all five elementary schools. The district applied for and received a grant to fund an additional elementary mental‑health specialist for 2025–26; the administration said it will apply for a second‑year extension if the funding becomes available.
Dr. Oscar Torres presented the district’s required comprehensive plan to the committee; the plan will be posted on the district website for public review for more than a month and will be presented to the full board for approval at the March meeting.
