New Jenkintown School Board President Delivers Message

JENKINTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Jenkintown School Board has a new president and vice president for 2026.

At its annual school board reorganization meeting on Dec. 1, Carolyn Riley was elected president and Nina Russakoff was named vice president.

"If you had told me 25 years ago when we moved to Jenkintown that I'd be writing as the school board president, I'd have said you were crazy," Riley said. "It's been an honor serving the district in so many volunteer positions over those 25 years, and I know this board remains committed to moving the district forward into the new year and beyond."

At the combined Board Work Session and Business Meeting on Dec. 15, chemistry instructor Jackie Gartner presented on the addition of a project-based engineering course for the high school science curriculum next year.

The high school science instructors are planning to develop the course over the next several months and have it ready to go as an elective in September 2026.

Updates were also provided on the progress of the Legacy Park playground project, and proposed improvements sponsored by Jenkintown Youth Athletics for the softball field on West Avenue.

In addition, the board reviewed and discussed the regular agenda items and reports in BoardDocs, including the following items:

• Discussion of the proposed school year calendar for 2026-27 with an earlier start date of Monday, Aug. 31.
• Approval of the resolution not to exceed the Act I Index of 3.5%.
• Approval of the 2024-25 Annual Financial Audit Report.
• Approval of the Integrated Security Systems Service and Preventative Maintenance Agreement.
• Approval of the new social studies course in Financial Literacy
• Approval of the development of a new project-based engineering course.
• Approval of the School Board meeting schedule for 2026.

Committee and liaison appointments were also approved as follows:

• Katie Costandino - Borough Council Liaison
• Nancy Campbell - Jenkintown Education Foundation
• Lisa Smith - Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Legislative Committee
• Nina Russakoff - Home and School Liaison
• Carolyn Riley - Eastern Center for Arts and Technology Joint Operating Committee
• Jason Tucker - Campus Planning Committee
• Laura Igoe - Safety and Wellness Committee
• Patrick Wicks - Pennsylvania School Boards Association Liaison