E-Matters February 2025

Dear North Penn,

The winter weather has set in and so far we have had two virtual days and one delayed opening. I want to take a moment to explain how we make decisions about school closures, delays, and early dismissals when weather conditions threaten our area. The safety of our students, staff, and families is always our top priority and we recognize that any decision to remain open or closed has an impact on everyone in our school community.

How We Make the Decision

When winter weather is forecasted I begin monitoring conditions well in advance along with our Director of Facilities & Operations. There are several key factors taken into account when making a decision:

• Road Conditions: If roads are hazardous due to ice or snow, this can make travel unsafe for buses, student drivers, staff and parents. We also consider if major roads have been treated and if residential areas and side streets are passable.

• Timing: The timing of snow or ice plays a critical role in our decision. If a storm is expected to hit during the morning commute, it may be safer to close or delay the start of school. If conditions are predicted to worsen throughout the day, an early dismissal may be necessary.

• Facilities, Building and Bus Readiness: Our dedicated maintenance and custodial teams work hard to clear parking lots, sidewalks, and entryways, but this takes time. If conditions prevent our staff from making school grounds safe before arrival time, we may need to delay or cancel school. Additionally, buses need to be cleared of snow and drivers onsite to begin bus runs by 6 am. And it is important to note that NPSD also transports private school students.

• Bus Stops & Student Safety: If sidewalks or bus stops are covered in snow and ice, this poses a serious safety concern and must be considered when making a decision. This is why I always encourage our families and community members to clear their sidewalks as soon as possible.

• Staffing Challenges: Many of our staff members have children in other school districts, and if those districts close while we remain open, this can create significant staffing shortages. We evaluate whether we can adequately staff our schools to ensure students have a safe and productive learning environment.

• Virtual Learning vs. Traditional Snow Days: Believe me, I want to call a traditional snow day when computers are off and families are enjoying a day of sledding, building snowmen, etc. This will happen if and when our area experiences a significant snowfall. However, there will be times when virtual days are called. For example, unexpected snow or ice during inconvenient times might lead to school closures. On such days, we may hold classes virtually in an asynchronous format.

  
  

When & How We Communicate the Decision

We aim to make closure or delay decisions as early as possible and by 6 pm the evening before the weather event when possible to allow families and staff time to adjust their schedules. In some situations we may change a delayed opening to a school closure in the morning if conditions become more dangerous than expected. Notifications are sent via automated calls, texts, emails, npenn.org, our social media channels and local news stations.

Safety Always Comes First

We understand that weather conditions can vary across the district, and every family's situation is unique. If we remain open and you feel it is unsafe for your children to travel to school, we respect your decision to keep them home.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these tough decisions throughout the winter months. Thank you for your support in keeping our students, staff and families safe.

Sincerely,

Todd Bauer

Superintendent
North Penn School District

February is Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate the invaluable contributions of African Americans to the fabric of American society. This year’s theme, "African Americans and Labor," highlights the vital role African Americans have played in shaping the American labor movement, despite facing systemic racism and economic exploitation. From the Great Migration, where over six million African Americans moved from the rural South to urban centers in the North and West between 1916 and 1970, seeking better job opportunities and escaping Jim Crow laws, to the fight for fair wages and better working conditions, their journey has been a cornerstone of the civil rights struggle. The migration led to a shift in the labor landscape, as African Americans took up industrial and unionized work, laying the foundation for significant change in American labor practices. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, which called for economic justice and equal employment opportunities, is one of the most iconic events in this fight, with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech highlighting the intersection of civil rights and the struggle for decent jobs.

Did you know?

• A. Philip Randolph fought for labor rights and was a key figure in the creation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porter

• Ella Baker worked tirelessly to empower workers and advocated for civil rights

• Bayard Rustin was instrumental in organizing the March on Washington

• Fannie Lou Hamer helped shape labor activism in the Mississippi Delta

Our schools are celebrating Black History in a variety of ways: