Upper Dublin board hears plan to expand North Hills academic supports; administration recommends YMCA for before/after care

Superintendent Dr. Smith presented an administrative plan to expand academic programming for the North Hills community during the Upper Dublin School District board meeting on June 22, recommending the Greater Philadelphia YMCA as the district’s before- and after-school childcare partner for the coming school year.

Dr. Smith said the district ran two community collaboration meetings in April and a March meeting with the North Hills Collective and other partners to inventory needs. "We identified strategic priorities for youth programming including after-school care with academic help, mentorship and certified academic support," he said, describing transportation, facility and communication barriers raised by participants.

As proposed, the district would run a before-school reading intervention at Thomas Fitzwater Elementary using small groups (1:1 up to 1:3) staffed by district personnel, provide breakfast and transportation for invited students, and offer after-school homework assistance at the North Hills community center in partnership with the site’s childcare provider. Assistant Superintendent Ms. Drennan described the intervention goal as focused reading support for students "where the adult would serve as a mentor and also an interventionist." She said the district would identify eligible students by academic criteria and invite families to participate.

Dr. Smith told the board the staffing plan is budgeted (staffing equivalent to the district’s prior $45,000 contribution to the North Hills Collective) and that the board would be asked in August to approve creation of the positions; the programs would begin mid-September or October after recruitment. "There is no action this evening," Dr. Smith said; the administration asked for feedback and additional community collaboration as next steps.

Several board members expressed support for continued community engagement and urged care in implementation. Board member Mister Held said he attended the community sessions and called the proposal a "positive direction," while Mister Schroeder cautioned the plan depends on several parties working together beyond the district’s control.

Parents and community members asked operational questions: whether Title I funds would restrict participation (Dr. Smith said district funds would cover the before-school intervention and Title I would not be used), how transportation would be handled and how families who already registered with the current provider would be transitioned. Dr. Smith said the YMCA has provided sample communications, would assist with registration and that refunds and transitions have been used in prior provider changes.

Dr. Smith emphasized the district’s role would be academic intervention and coordination, not ownership of the community center: "Who provides childcare in the community center is the township’s decision," he said. The board will consider staffing approvals in August and continue community outreach over the summer.