This was the question that parent Mandy Ubele asked the WSSD School Board during the regular school board meeting on Tuesday, May 28. 

Ubule was one of multiple parents at the meeting who criticized the District’s reading curriculum and transparency in dealing with the issue.

The reading curriculum at the elementary level has been a topic of debate in the district for some time now, and some parents strongly believe it is time for a change.

One of the main demands from parents such as Ubele is that the curricular materials for reading be posted on the district website. 

Earlier in May, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an article on the debate within the District. Ubele criticized the District, even comparing the District to a mischievous child for failing to act after this article and numerous requests for information by parents.

“We know that you’ve read the Swarthmorean, know about the Philadelphia Inquirer article. … The district and school board have acted in a disrespectful manner and are intentionally withholding information,” Ubele said. 

Parent Sara Levinson, who also spoke at the meeting, referred to how some parents have been forced towards private tutors to help their kids learn to read, and asked the board to change this.

“Part of leadership is being able to acknowledge when something isn’t working and pivoting,” Levinson said.

Another notable event during the meeting was the honoring of District retirees. This included High School teachers Mr. John Shankweiler and Mrs. Lisa Sweeney.

Board Secretary Ms. DeJuana Mosley presented the District’s preliminary budget for the 2024-2025 school year, which includes a 3.51% tax increase.

According to Mosley, there remain issues that could impact the budget, including the District’s negotiations with WSEA, the teachers union.

Another topic on the agenda was the attendance policy and its revision, including the addition of Social-Emotional Wellness Days as excused absences.

The proposed policy revision would allow for four wellness days a year in order to help improve student mental health.

The board voted 8-1 to move the policy to a second read at the June 12 Policy Committee meeting, board member Nanette Whitsett being the lone dissenter.

Whitsett expressed support for tabling the policy despite voting for it at the May 8 Policy Committee meeting, citing her “emotional response” to the students who gave the presentation.

Other board members, like Mrs. Rachel Holbert, felt that the need for this policy indicated a larger problem. Holbert cited the idea of changing school start times as an example of “holistically” thinking about improving the mental health of students.

“I’m a board member, and I want students to go to school,” Holbert said. “If our students feel like they can’t be in school and they need to take a break from school, what does that say about us?”