Superintendent's Newsletter

It is my pleasure to present the April edition of the Lower Moreland Township School District Superintendent’s Newsletter. I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and well.

On April 14, and 15, the Lower Moreland High School Drama Club presents its production of The Wizard of Oz. Tickets for reserved seating are now on sale, and regular general admission tickets are available at the box office for each performance. Please click here for showtimes and ticket information.

As we move into Tax Season, I invite you to learn more on how you can decrease your Tax Liability while investing in our school district. If you own a business or work for a company in the state of Pennsylvania, now is the time to act. Through the Education Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), businesses can donate up to $750,000 each year to EITC-eligible organizations, and then claim 75 percent of that donation as a credit that offsets their state tax bill. For more information, please visit the LMTSD Foundation website: www.lmtsdfoundation.org . You can also email representatives of this LM High School student-run organization at flms@lmtsd.org. The Foundation for Lower Moreland Schools is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to improving public education in the Lower Moreland Township School District. Originally established in 2009, the Foundation's mission is to raise major gift funds from the private sector to expand and enhance current school programs, all for the benefit of our students and faculty. Invest in us to file these donations with your taxes by April 18, 2023. Follow us: Instagram: @foundationforlmschools and on Twitter: @LMTSD_FLMS.

Scott Davidheiser, Ed.D.

Superintendent

In December of 2022, the Lower Moreland Township School District entered into an agreement for transportation with FirstAlt, a subsidiary for First Student, as another way to provide transportation services for students who reside in Lower Moreland Township. FirstAlt was launched in Pennsylvania as a means to try to alleviate both the needs of districts and reduce costs in some cases for transportation of students that were usually transported through other alternative means (i.e. small vans, and other non-CDL vehicles). The Lower Moreland Township School District has traditionally contracted with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and through their array of contractors provided this type of service.

The Lower Moreland Township School District reviewed costs, distances and other aspects of the service and signed on for the service on a trial basis. The District selected 2 out-of-the district runs to start in order to ensure the quality of service for our students was being met. That said, drivers and vehicles were obtained, vetted, and communication was made with our parents for the upcoming change. In addition, representatives from FirstAlt were on-site for the first pickup to meet and greet the parents and they also communicated with the schools. To date, the District has now moved 11 separate runs to FirstAlt, with projected savings to the District approaching $150,000 and the service is being provided with no interruptions or concerns.

The Lower Moreland Township School District endeavors to provide comprehensive transportation services for all of our students. This includes our 3 public schools, the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, as well as the 32 non-public/private schools that we are currently providing transportation to by law as well as out-of-district special education placements. The District continues to explore all options and modes of transportation while being cognizant of the economic factors that are affecting the workplace for these types of services.

Local History

Pine Road teachers Jody Bell and Glen DeGeorge have made a video for the annual second-grade Social Studies unit on local government and the history of Huntingdon Valley.

The video highlights many of the local historical buildings that make up the Bethayres Historical District between Murray Avenue, Huntingdon Pike, and Red Lion Road.

Retired teacher Rachel Brandt started this historical tour when she was a third-grade teacher at Pine Road Elementary. Mr. DeGeorge, who is married to Mrs. Brandt's granddaughter, is pleased to continue this tradition of sharing local history.

World Language Award

Lower Moreland High School's World Language Department, chaired by Dr. Jamie Lincow, has received the prestigious Globe Award for 2023 and 2024 from The Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. This award is given to "schools that provide evidence of high quality, standards-based, proficiency-oriented foreign language instruction." Congratulations to the World Language Department!

The Technology Department supports information technology systems and instructional technology programs and practices in the district. Each month, we highlight how our students and teachers engage in 21st Century learning activities. We also share updates on new initiatives and tips and tricks related to devices and technology tools used in the district.

Students in Mr. Miller’s high school video production course produced a day in the life of a Lower Moreland High School student video blog (vlog). Students completed a storyboard to plan their scenes, action, places, and audio. Next, they imported content into WeVideo to create their timeline, make edits, add text and transitions, and complete the narration. WeVideo is an online, cloud-based video editing platform that works in web browsers and on mobile devices. You can see examples of the student projects and gain some insight into the life of 2 high school students here: https://youtu.be/rp_TPf6HWlQ

Superintendent

Email: sdavidheiser@lmtsd.org
Website: www.lmtsd.org
Location: 2551 Murray Avenue, Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA
Phone: 215-928-0272
Twitter: @LMTSD