Development News for Radnor, Pennsylvania

Gulum Committee Meeting Addresses Student Well-being, Instructional Calendar, and Substance Use Data

The Gulum committee meeting included a recognition for Jackson for his service to the committee, and a public comment from Art Sherry addressing creativity and protecting children's time. The meeting also covered student trips, approval of donations, and contracts for the Radner Virtual Academy. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a social emotional learning (SEL) audit and a presentation on the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) results concerning substance use and mental health among students. Discussions also included changes to the 26-27 instructional calendar and textbook adoptions for math and world languages. The PAYS results indicated areas of concern regarding alcohol and nicotine pouch use, particularly among 10th and 12th graders, while also highlighting decreased overall substance use in some categories and positive perceptions of harm for risky behaviors. The SEL audit emphasized the importance of social-emotional learning for academic success and well-being, with a vision statement and focus on the five core competencies. Recommendations included strengthening parent education, continuing curriculum support, and addressing executive functioning. The PAYS presentation detailed substance use trends, risk and protective factors, and social-emotional health indicators, including concerning rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation in some grade levels. Discussions around the PAYS data involved clarifying survey methodology, the impact of timing, and the need for better parent engagement and student awareness of the results. Recommendations for the district included continued education, targeted interventions, and improved communication of best practices and survey findings.