The Bulletin Board Newsletter |
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A monthly e-newsletter highlighting the discussions, decisions and business of the North Penn School District Board of School Directors. |
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The North Penn School Board (NPSB) welcomes questions and feedback from the community. To that end, community members may email the entire board at _npschoolboard@npenn.org.
If you would like to contact a specific board member via email or phone, please visit our website to find contact information. |
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Board Members
Tina Stoll, President
Christian D. Fusco, Vice President
Dr. Elisha K. Gee
Jonathan M. Kassa
Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell
Timothy MacBain
Juliane Ramić
Al Roesch
Cathy Wesley
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Juliane Ramić
Term Expiration: 2023
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Dear Community,
I once had a dear friend who shared this sage advice with me - “You only have 18 summers with your kids. Make the most of each moment.”
As we transitioned from summer to the start of the school year, I often reflected on the time I was able to spend with my kids and how these moments, I hope, have also prepared them for the upcoming school year and beyond. Like the courageous conversations we had in the car on the way to swim practice where they asked tough questions and pondered big issues. The brief moments we spent laughing in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner before they rushed off to go FaceTime with friends knowing now how much we all value that social interaction for them. And of course, the outings, events and road trips we took when the COVID-19 transmission rates were low, where at times, things felt a little more normal.
As we got closer to the start of the school year, my conversations with my kids have centered on seizing each moment, not holding back and diving into learning, while also being mindful of the need to be hyper-focused on the role they play as students in supporting health and safety measures, not only for their personal safety and well-being but also for the good of our community.
We started the school year recognizing that it will take us all making every effort to keep our students and staff as safe as we possibly can. But I have faith in our community and in our collective value for the well-being and educational experience of our students. We can all agree that we want the best for our students.
Whereas we had all hoped that this school year would be and feel more like “normal”, we know that basic mitigation efforts must remain in place for the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Our students, staff and community are resilient. We have been inspired by efforts to be adaptive and flexible and we know those skills will be on full display this year as well. Despite what may be viewed as two opposing views, we can all agree that we have much that unites us. Our district's mission, vision and value statements help to serve as the foundation of what unites us in our shared goals and helps to serve as a tool to quiet the noise of division.
Our Vision:
The North Penn School District seeks to develop students who embody its universal values of achievement, kindness, collaboration, respect, responsibility, resilience, and integrity. Through an education that develops students both academically and emotionally, equitable opportunities, and a respect for human differences, members of the North Penn community will contribute to their local and global communities.
Our community needs us to be united and working to contribute towards the health and safety of all. Let us unite to support our students by working to fulfill our common vision.
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Juliane Ramić
NPSD Board of School Directors
Term Expiration: 2023
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School Board Meeting Information |
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Meetings of the whole (Finance Committee; Worksession; Action) will be held in person at the Educational Services Center (ESC) located at 401 E. Hancock Street Lansdale, PA 19446 unless otherwise noted. Those who wish to make public comment at these in-person meetings must be present in person to do so. For residents who would like to pre-register to speak during the audience of citizens, please email the school board secretary at skrocksb@npenn.org. These meetings will be televised live and added to the library for later viewing on North Penn Television's (NPTV) YouTube Channel.
Effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021, all students, staff, and visitors in both public and private schools must wear masks while in school buildings per a state order mandated by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's administration. The state order can be found here.
Committee meetings (Safe Schools; Facilities and Operations; Policy; and Education, Curriculum and Instruction) will be held virtually in an online format using Zoom, televised live and added to the library for later viewing on NPTV's YouTube Channel. |
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How to Watch Meetings
A recording of this meeting will be available on the district website, the NPTV YouTube Channel, and will air on North Penn Television Comcast Cable Channel 28 and Verizon FIOS-TV Channel 29 for the next three business days at 12:30 pm and 7:30 pm.
How to View Meeting Agendas
Meeting agendas are published the week of the meeting and can be viewed online on BoardDocs. To view meeting agendas, visit BoardDocs and select the "Meetings" tab in the top right corner. From there, find and select the meeting, and then click "view agenda".
How to Participate in Virtual Meetings
Public comment will be available using Zoom. A link to make public comment will be available on our website prior to the start of the meeting.
When it is time for public comment, please use the “raise your hand” feature in the zoom webinar. We will take public comment in order that hands were raised. Please listen for your name when called upon for comment and unmute your microphone.
If you do not have access to zoom, please email your comments to _npschoolboard@npenn.org and it will be included in the board minutes. |
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Meetings in Review
Worksession
August 10, 7:00 pm
Action
August 19, 7:00 pm
August 26, 6:00 pm
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Upcoming Meetings
Worksession
September 8, 7:00 pm, Cancelled
Action
September 15, 7:00 pm, Location Change: North Penn High School Auditorium
ECI Committee
September 14, 6:00 pm, Virtual
Facilities & Operations Committee
September 27, 7:00 pm, Virtual
Finance Committee
September 8, 6:00 pm, Location Change: Virtual
Policy Committee
September 8, 5:00 pm, Virtual
Safe Schools Committee
September 27, 5:45 pm, Virtual
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You Could Save Up to $585 through NPSD Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program |
Are you eligible? Do you know someone who is? Learn more and help us spread the word about this program! |
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North Penn School District & Employee Associations Reach Labor Agreements |
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North Penn School District and its two labor unions have agreed to new contracts. The NPSD Board of School Directors approved both contracts at an action meeting on August 26, 2021. |
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Education/Curriculum/Instruction (ECI) Committee |
The ECI Committee met on August 3, 2021.
The committee presented and discussed informational items, including:
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Middle school math placement 2021-2022 - Dr. Sean Arney & Ms. Donna Dome presented pre-pandemic contextual background regarding the factors that are considered when determining the math placement for rising seventh grade students. Those key indicators were PSSA scores, Keystone proficiency projections and Algebra prognostic scores. A new placement rubric was developed due to the lack of Keystone proficiency projections and sufficient PSSA data as a result of the pandemic. The Renaissance Star 360 assessments and teacher recommendations were utilized instead this year. Seventh grade students will be monitored in their math placements. The Star 360 assessment will be administered to seventh and eighth graders to identify students needing intervention or more rigor. Also, there will be several math coaches supporting math students and teachers at the elementary and secondary levels.
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Post-pandemic academic supports for students - Ms. Donna Dome & Ms. Nina Fenstermaker presented information regarding the summer programs that were conducted to provide supports and enrichment to participating students. Approximately 850 students participated in the summer programs this year. Transportation was provided for students who attended the SPARK program at Hatfield. In addition, more than 1600 students were enrolled in the Virtual Enrichment Camp that was offered. For the 2021-22 school year there will be a re-focus on Teaching and Learning as well as Differentiation Strategies. Additional support will be provided by a secondary Reading Coach for grades 7-12 and a Fundations Coaching for all teachers in grades K-1.
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The next ECI Committee meeting will be held on September 14, 2021 at 6:00 pm in a virtual format. |
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Chair:
Dr. Elisha K. Gee
Members:
Christian Fusco, Tim MacBain
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Facilities and Operations Committee |
The Facilities and Operations Committee met on July 26, 2021.
The Committee reviewed change order requests for the Knapp Elementary School project
The Committee was presented and discussed informational items, including:
- An in-depth update of the Knapp Elementary and Crawford Stadium projects
- A draft outline of an Athletic Field Assessment and Cost Matrix that will help determine the condition and potential improvements to the secondary school’s athletic fields.
- A draft outline of an Elementary School Playground Equipment Assessment and Cost Matrix that will help determine the condition and potential improvements to the elementary playground equipment.
- The Committee was provided an energy update for the upcoming fiscal year and information regarding the energy consumption from last year.
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The next Facilities and Operations Committee meeting will be held on September 27, 2021 at 7:00 pm in a virtual format |
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Chair:
Jonathan Kassa
Vice Chair:
Cathy Wesley
Members:
Juliane Ramić,
Tina Stoll
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The Finance Committee did not meet in August. |
The next Finance Committee meeting will be held on September 8, 2021 at 6:00 pm in a virtual format. |
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Chair:
Christian Fusco
Vice Chair:
Al Roesch
Members:
Committee of the Whole
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NPSD Educational Foundation |
The North Penn Educational Foundation Committee met on August 11th, in an online format.
A meeting schedule for the 2021-2022 school year was approved and we will begin the year remaining in a virtual setting. We began the meeting with a virtual tour of the newly renovated North Penn Television Studio. Mr. Bob Gillmer showed us around the new set and showed Trustees some of its new components. It looks beautiful and we cannot wait to see it in person and for our students to begin their year working with it. We are proud that the Educational Foundation could fund this $40,000-plus renovation with use of Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program funds.
The Trustees approved moving forward with a partnership with the Cultural Proficiency and Equity Student Ambassador Program and a possible grant from the VNA of North Penn to fund a research project implemented by this student group. The year-long project would look at inequities among students that may be related to mental health issues. We will have more to report on this in the upcoming months.
The Foundation just ended its Build A Bag Backpack Drive and will be assembling and distributing hundreds of filled backpacks to our schools next week. I am extremely grateful for the individuals, businesses and groups who donated to this wonderful cause.
Up next we have our 20th annual Golf Classic being held Tuesday, October 5th at Talamore Country Club. We are looking for players, sponsors and volunteers for this popular event which fills up quickly. You can find out more on the golf outing and all things Foundation related at www.npennedfoundation.org or by contacting Christine Liberaski at the ESC.
The next NPSD Educational Foundation Board of Trustees meeting will be held on September 8, 2021 at 8:00 am.
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Board of Trustees Member:
Juliane Ramić
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The Policy Committee met on August 10, 2021.
This month the committee reviewed policies in the 200 series that were updated by PSBA to incorporate language regarding threat assessment. These policies are 218.1 - Weapons, 218.2 - Terroristic Threats, 247 - Hazing, 249 - Bullying/Cyberbullying, and 252 - Dating Violence. In addition, a new policy in this series - Policy 236.1 - focusing on threat assessment was also discussed.
Mr. Chris Doerr provided background information about the district's threat assessment procedure in order to inform the discussion of the policies. All of these policies are on the agenda for a first reading this evening.
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The next Policy Committee meeting will be held on September 8, 2021, at 5:00 pm and will be held in a virtual format. |
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Chair:
Christian Fusco
Members:
Al Roesch,
Tina Stoll
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The Safe Schools Committee met on July 26, 2021.
Dr. Jami Young from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia presented to the committee about the "School Adolescent Mood" (SAM) project. This opt-in research study is grant funded and aims to reduce symptoms of depression in 9th grade students through the use of specific interventions delivered via a virtual platform. CHOP is seeking to partner with local school districts such as North Penn to offer this opportunity to students. After the presentation and subsequent discussion the committee approved advancing this item for full board consideration on this evening's agenda.
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The next Safe Schools Committee meeting will be held on September 27, 2021, at 5:45 pm and will be held in a virtual format. |
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Chair:
Jonathan Kassa
Members:
Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell,
Cathy Wesley
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