LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letter: Safe Schools Committee looks forward to enhancing resources in 2025

"NPSD continues to focus resources on assessing threats, providing care, and preventing violence."

Jonathan Kassa. (Submitted photo)

"NPSD continues to focus resources on assessing threats, providing care, and preventing violence."

  • Opinion

 (The following is a Letter to the Editor from North Penn School Board Director Jonathan Kassa. The views expressed within are his own.)

Dear North Penn Community,

As we look forward to 2025, the Safe Schools Committee (SSC) remains dedicated to ensuring safety and well-being in our schools. A safe school environment requires year-round planning, training, and the implementation of proven strategies. A successful approach includes community-wide programs and initiatives involving parents, students, staff, school administrators, law enforcement, mental health professionals, social services, and elected officials. Reflecting this approach is the successful anonymous reporting Safe2Say Something reporting system that has increased meaningful interventions for North Penn students in crisis.

The U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education found that 93% of school shooters planned an attack in advance and their behavior provided evidence prior to an attack. When people see the warning signs and have the confidence to report, they help to prevent school shootings. Equally important to making a report is what happens to properly review and act on such info. This is why NPSD continues to focus resources on assessing threats, providing care, and preventing violence.

Dr. Nicholson, NPSD Administrator of Secondary Education and Renovations, recently presented insights and quarterly discipline data at our November 25 Safe Schools Committee. At the same meeting, as a result of the board’s request for an independent investigation following a violent incident earlier in the year, Dr. Bauer and Mr. Somers presented to the community a summary and recommendations. It is well worth the time to hear and view so many details, along with the knowledgeable context provided in both of the presentations.

Here’s what else we’ve been up to these past few months regarding school safety across North Penn School District:

  • Cell Phone Policy Update: A new cell phone use policy has been enacted this school year, and while detentions are up for misuse of phones, we have heard promising feedback from staff regarding student engagement.
  • School Safety Community Advisory Committee: This group of NPSD community members has dedicated their time since May to exploring the strengths and areas of improvements regarding school safety. The final report and next steps will be coming soon.
  • Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): PBIS is an evidence-based framework of practices shown to improve student accountability and outcomes. PBIS is now implemented in all elementary schools and will soon be expanded to middle schools, with Pennbrook already started.
  • Youth Aid Panel Training (YAP): Training for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office YAP program at the middle school level has begun, following last school year’s successful pilot at NPHS. The program offers more efficient and effective options with the goal to hold certain low-level offenders accountable and reduce recidivism.
  • Bus Patrol Success: The program, at no cost to district taxpayers and with camera technology improvements across all district buses, issued over 1,400 tickets for school bus stop arm violations in less than two full months of the school year.
  • School Climate Survey: Thanks to all who participated in this best practice in school and campus safety. The results help us improve by identifying district-wide, as well as school-level, strengths and areas of improvement. Results will be presented to the community following analysis.


On behalf of my fellow directors on the school board, thank you for your continued support in keeping our schools safe. Have a joyous holiday season and a peaceful New Year!

Jonathan M. Kassa, MPA
North Penn School District Board of Directors
Term Expiration: 2025




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