Dear Community,
Prior to last week’s Board Action Meeting, members of the Knapp Elementary School Student Council shared handwritten letters with members of the board in honor of School Director Recognition Month. The letters that we received were well-written, thoughtful notes of gratitude that myself and my fellow school board members were delighted to receive. The students also shared their thoughts on the Knapp renovations and what they love about the new Knapp.
As you may recall, the Knapp renovation was completed in several phases over a 2-1/2 year period where construction crews worked with teachers and staff to ensure that the educational experience of Knapp students was not disrupted while also keeping construction progress on-time. The Knapp student council members who wrote letters got to see the Knapp renovation from the first phase to the ribbon cutting and now are reaping the benefits of our community’s investment. From the sentiments they shared, the Knapp students are grateful and excited about their new school, making our investment, effort, and sacrifices all worth it!
With the Knapp renovation complete and
a 10 year capital plan developed and under continuous review and action, we are keenly aware of critical needs at the secondary level. The Board is moving forward with a transparent and responsible planning process as we lay the groundwork for a renovation of our secondary schools. This includes a plan to construct a ninth grade center on the grounds of the high school, which may require a referendum vote, while also working to renovate the high school, updating the 1971 and 1999 systems. Our educational spaces need to support a 21st century education, and beginning with the high school and ninth grade center is the most efficient and cost-effective way to bring these spaces to the entire district.
Superintendent Todd Bauer and the dedicated administrative team have outlined a thorough plan for preparing the Board and informing our North Penn community using Work Session meetings. In January,
the board heard presentations from the Montgomery County Planning Commission that shared findings from an enrollment study and a traffic study from Heinrich & Klein Associates, Inc. who discussed roadway improvements around the high school to accommodate potential increased traffic.
Through all of the upcoming planned meetings and discussions in the coming months, we invite you to join us and share your input as the discussion phase turns to earnest planning and action. These projects will not be easy. We will need to make difficult decisions and call on our community to support this investment, but in the end, we know that if we keep our students at the center of each decision, it will all be worth the effort, the struggle, and the wait.
Sincerely,
Juliane Ramić
NPSD Board of School Directors
Term Expiration: 2023
