(The following submission is part of a monthly series of editorials, courtesy of our partnership with North Penn School District and the North Penn Board of School Directors.)
Dear Community:
Parent and community engagement remains a top priority of the North Penn School Board of Directors. We believe “when you see something, you say something.” With 13,000 students, 2,000 staff and 18 schools, we need everyone to look out for the greater good.
School board meetings are designed to address the district’s business and, in turn, the community’s business. Over the past four months, constructive community engagement has at times been replaced with shouting matches, conspiracy theories, unsubstantiated accusations and vulgarity.
In some cases, legitimate district concerns in need of attention are being weaponized to make political theater.
The job of a school board is to provide oversight and set a strategic course for the district's policies and finances. This occurs through reasonable communication which allows the administration and staff to address the details of questions raised. Local government is designed precisely to foster this process via civil discourse, consensus and compromise.
Concerns about books, lesson plans or damages to our facilities should be addressed to the people most closely linked to the problem itself. If you see a problem, tell the teacher, principal or administration and see if they can solve the issue. If your concern still isn’t resolved, then please reach out to the school board.
We have committees for just this type of exchange: Education, Facilities, Safe Schools, Policy and Finance. All are welcome to participate in these meetings, held in virtual format for the convenience of the community. It’s local government at its finest, working to make progress alongside the community we serve
No matter your perspective, it is in the interest of the entire North Penn community for us to recommit to the idea that the business of the public is best addressed by practicing common sense and civility, not anger and divisiveness. Now, more than ever, we owe it to our children and the students of North Penn to set that example.
Signed,
Jonathan M. Kassa
NPSD Board of School Directors
Term Expiration: 2021
See also:
Editorial: Uniting Around Student Health and Safety
Editorial: Reflecting On The Class Of 2021 And Beyond
Editorial: Challenging Times Call For Collaborative Solutions
Editorial: Recognizing The Opportunities Presented By North Montco For Students, Community At Large
