North Penn Superintendent Addresses Standardized Test Cancellations, Online Learning

North Penn School District•

North Penn School District Superintendent Curt Dietrich.

(The following is a statement from North Penn School District Superintendent Curt Dietrich.)

Hello North Penn,

I hope that this message finds you and your family well. These are emotionally and physically challenging times and no one is immune to the stress caused by coronavirus, its impact on our society and how we live our lives.

First and foremost, I want you to know that NPSD is working (online) virtually around the clock to have a contingency plan in place for online learning if schools are closed beyond March 27th. And I know you all have questions regarding what this plan will look like, but specifics are still being decided and finalized by teams including curriculum supervisors, department chairs, teachers, and principals. I promise you that the plan will be shared as soon as possible. In preparation for the plan’s implementation, you will be hearing from us shortly about our plan to make technology available for our kindergarten through 5th-grade students who do not have access to a computer at home.

As you can imagine, making such plans is complicated, but we are diligently working on all aspects of our plan. The dedication and expertise of North Penn staff members have always impressed me, but now,
under such trying conditions, I could not be prouder. We are a coordinated team working for what is best for the children of North Penn.

I also wanted to share news just provided by the state. This year's Keystone, PSSA and PASA exams will not be administered. This is an example of a question that we have been getting since schools closed but
have been waiting for direction from the Department of Education.

The current situation is a first for all of us. We encourage your feedback and also appreciate your patience as we navigate all of these new challenges. We must all band together to make this work for our children. I know this community will do just that. We always have and always will.

Please adhere to social distancing and help to stop the spread of this virus. Do it for our children, they need us now more than ever.

Thank you, and please take care. We will continue to update you regularly.

Curt Dietrich