'Not A Good Match For Me': Lower Merion School Superintendent To Resign

LOWER MERION, PA — Dr. Frank Ranelli, superintendent of the Lower Merion School District, announced he will resign at the end of April.

"I am sure people will question why," Ranelli said in a letter to the district community, "and simply, this position is just not a good match for me."

Ranelli took the position in April 2025 after serving as superintendent of schools in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Lower Merion has cycled through several permanent and interim superintendents over the past few years, with none of them lasting longer than a year since 2023.

During Ranelli's tenure, district leadership has faced heavy scrutiny from parents over updated policies requiring students in certain grade levels to use district-issued technology — such as iPads and Chromebooks — for class and homework.

Many local parents have expressed concerns about the effects of additional screen time for their children, especially on internet-connected devices.

The School Board voted 7-2 in favor of these policies in August. The meeting was held virtually due to disruptions that caused recesses at prior meetings, and alleged online threats against school leadership, including Ranelli.

Members of the public could not be seen or heard during the meeting. They could type out comments on Zoom, which were read aloud by school officials. But the messages weren't available in the publicly viewable Zoom chat.

"Over the past several months, Lower Merion School Board members and our district superintendent have been subject to threats," Board President Dr. Kerry Sautner said at the meeting. "Our meetings have been disrupted over and over, and we have witnessed harassment during our public meetings. And our school team has had their homes and families also harassed. This is unacceptable."

Several local parents are suing the district over the tech policies.

Regarding Ranelli's resignation, Sautner said "While we are deeply saddened by Dr. Ranelli’s choice to move on from the District, we are extremely grateful for his time, dedication and willingness to support LMSD through the upcoming leadership transition."

Sautner said the School Board will begin discussing the search process and timeline for selecting a new superintendent at the board's October meeting.

The board is set to convene at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Lower Merion High School auditorium.