Citing facility and infrastructure needs at multiple locations throughout the school district, the North Penn School Board engaged in preliminary discussions about a possible grade reconfiguration during Tuesday night’s work session.
Among the discussions was the possibility of removing ninth-grade from the district’s three middle schools, pooling them together, and building a ninth-grade center on the North Penn High School (NPHS) campus. That conversation also included the possibility of moving sixth-grade to the middle schools, and how doing so would impact future work at Knapp Elementary as well as what effect such a decision would have on the school district’s need for modular classrooms.
“The conversation truly centered on what is best for students,” said Curt Dietrich, North Penn School District Superintendent, in a letter sent out to parents. “Moving ninth-graders to the North Penn High School campus would provide more opportunities for them to participate in specialized and advanced classes, co-curricular programs, athletics and extracurricular activities. It could also improve guidance services to these students, and provide better access to the North Montco Technical Career Center. Moving sixth-graders to the middle schools also would come with certain advantages including improved teaming of students, which research shows is effective in the instruction of students this age.”
According to Dietrich, the school district is facing major facility needs that are impacting the education of the district’s students. Those include needed infrastructure improvements at North Penn High School, Knapp Elementary School, removing modular classrooms throughout the district and consideration of adding air conditioning to the middle schools.
“Reconfiguring grades and building a ninth-grade center would come with multiple challenges,” said Dietrich. “We understand that bussing, traffic, utility issues, school safety and much more would be huge factors in building on the NPHS campus. As we study all sides of a potential relocation of grades six and nine, we seek the input of staff, parents, students and community members.”
Dietrich urged parents and community members to view the meeting and discussion online (click here to view the meeting), and provided a feedback form which can be viewed here.
“As you will see after watching the video, the idea is in the preliminary stages and we do not have a lot of details as of yet,” said Dietrich. “NPSD’s architectural firm has been tasked with developing some preliminary options that we will make public when available.”
Further discussions about the potential grade reconfiguration will be held during the school board’s support services committee meetings, which are held at 6 p.m. monthly at the Educational Services Center on East Hancock Street in Lansdale. The next meeting will be held on Jan. 28, and the meeting dates for the rest of the school year can be found by clicking here.
See also:
North Penn Parent Forum Takes Aim at 'Vaping Trend'
North Penn School District Earns Meritorious Budget Award
NPSD to Hold Symposium on Race and Ethnicity
NPSD Hosting Community Forum on Building and Renovation Needs
All-Day Kindergarten Motion Passed by North Penn School Board
