Upper Darby school board ponders future with management firm
UPPER DARBY >> Upper Darby School District’s $260,000 contract with a Boston-based management firm may be out the door with the superintendent who brought it here.
The school board Tuesday night discussed how to move forward with the District Management Council, a firm former superintendent Rick Dunlap Jr. sought services from to implement best management practices with focuses in three areas — operational efficiency, resource allocation and student outcomes.
The district is currently in the second year of a three-year contract with the DMC at a cost of $87,500 a year.
Directors were optioned with how to proceed for the year with the firm, whether in a laid-out plan already established for the second year of the contract, or not all.
“One of the things we would need to know if we are actually considering not moving forward with a contract that we already have is what the cost would be,” said director Heather Boyd. “I’d like to learn what those figures would look like and what the cost would be for the district.”
District Chief Financial Officer Pat Grant did not put a figure on any possible contract termination, but said district Solicitor Frank Catania has been in touch with the DMC to speak of any revisions that can be made to the contract.
Director Rachel Mitchell asked Acting Superintendent Dan Nerelli to get more specifics of what DMC has lined up for the district this year and what other services the district could procure.
An update will be given at the board’s Sept. 27 committee meetings. There was no word on whether an added-on service with the DMC to create schedules for the elementary schools at $30,000 a year would still be valid. That addendum is also starting its second year in a three-year contract.
Involvement with the DMC was one of Dunlap’s major initiatives during his short tenure with the district, costing $352,500 in total over three years that started with the 2015-16 school year. After being placed on paid leave in midJuly, Dunlap’s retirement was announced by the board on Aug. 16 with an effective date of Sept. 7.