001Alrighty, our webinar is live. Our YouTube feed is also live. Mr. Ka, the meeting is yours. Thank you, Mr. Gilner. This calls uh this month's uh May 2025 safe schools committee meeting to order and we will begin as always with a pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We'll move on to the approval of the minutes and that will be from April 28th, 2025. Do we have a motion? So moved. Second. Okay. Any comments or questions regarding the minutes? No. All right. All those in favor raise your hand or say I. I. Uh none opposed. The minutes are approved unanimously. There are no action items this evening, though
002I know that Safe Schools uh the team is very busy at this time of year. So we'll uh go on to number fourformational items. Mr. Ran, floor is yours. Thank you Mr. Cass. Good evening committee. Good evening North P community as we are approaching the end of the school year. Umformational items for this month's meeting. And we will start with um the commencement preparation. And so as always, uh, commencement at North Penn is a, uh, very proud moment, um, but also comes with, um, some, uh, challenges and expectations. Uh, obviously when you put, uh, anywhere between 7 and 8,000 or 8,500 people, uh, one space, uh, from a security management, um, it's always, you know, um, a task that requires a lot of assistance, a lot of resources, uh, manpower and and intelligence. So, um
003we have a very very robust plan um that includes uh networking and partnerships with our local police departments. Um we've already had a uh we've had several pre um commencement meetings uh with uh internally and externally. So, internally with senior class uh leadership uh from um Mrs. Shopppee and Mr. Mr. boy, the senior class administrators um and the administrative team at the high school. Uh and then also I've met with our external uh partners from our uh Talmenson Police Department, VMSC um and the likes to make sure that um our coordinated efforts are all on the same page. Um so I can assure the community um and the families and the the graduates of the 2025 class of 2025 um that they will have a evening uh to celebrate um and leave the concerns of
004operations uh up to us uh here within the organization. So, um, as I mentioned, we we partner with a number of our law enforcement agencies, uh, a number of the emergency managers, um, and also with the VMSC, um, and and our own internal security staff. Um, we have, uh, staff deployed throughout the entire campus to handle parking. Uh, as you can imagine, bringing, you know, 8,000ish people to the campus, uh, parking is going to be a challenge. So, uh, parking has been mapped out. There's a detail for that. We have uh parking specifically for handicap. We have uh shuttle services running from uh two locations off-site locations uh just to make sure we can get everybody into the campus. Uh we also will be providing um shuttle service on the campus uh for our handicap
005through uh the g the use of rental golf carts to get folks from the parking area uh into the into the Crawford. Uh so there is a lot of moving parts. Uh folks when they come on campus they will see uh a number of folks doing a number of different things. Um but but just uh please know that we have taken uh every step uh that we we can possibly take to make sure that uh it is a safe and enjoyable environment for uh the entire class. And so you'll see uniform officers um uh you you may see a drone in the air. Uh you may see uh uniform officers with a canine uh depending on uh what officers were going to be available for the detail. Um and then uh as we started what
006has been customary uh last year uh those attending will be uh have to come through our evolved weapons detection system coming into uh the campus. Uh Mrs. Shoppy and Mr. Boy have done a wonderful job. Uh we've collaborated in sending out communications of expectations uh so folks are aware of the parking where they can park um how parking is going to work when they get here the weapons detection uh large bags those things of that nature. So that information has been communicated and will be communicated again uh before graduation. So um all those moving parts will happen uh and out of a unified command which I will uh oversee uh be myself there will be uh administrative lieutenant from Talminson uh and an administrative deputy chief or assistant chief from VMSC and uh we will
007um open up and run a unified command post where all of the moving parts of the operation flow through one channel um and so that we always have connectivity as to what what is happening. Um, and obviously we'll be we'll be using different radios uh systems uh to be able to make sure everybody can communicate and what their needs are. Um, but all of those different uh ways of communication are monitored through the unified command post. Uh, so I'll pause there. I I know I said a lot um in in a small window of time and some may say it's like drinking through a fire hose. Um, but if there are any any questions, uh, obviously for security and safety reasons, um, we're obviously not going to get into specific details about things, um, but,
008uh, if there are questions from, uh, committee members that I can answer at a high level, I certainly will do that. Thank you, Mr. Ron. Uh, does the committee have any questions? No questions that fall within the restrictions I've been given. So I will hold my questions and and u actually and even this is type of thing you know we try to communicate uh as transparently when it comes to school safety issues and and sunshine as well um walking that line. But Mr. Ron, I would ask that um uh confidentially if the EOP the emergency operations plan could be shared with this committee internally. Um I know that we've we have reviewed this in the past, but I think for our elected board officials on the committee, um it doesn't hurt to to have a
009peak into that extensive plan as part of the oversight role. Um if if you don't have any problem sharing that with us. Sure. Um, Miss McMerry. Thanks, Mr. Kasa. Thank Mr. Rune. Just curious if um any of the initial work for phase one of the high school project KOD and the Nitorium have had any change to what your plan is in terms of enhancement for security um for graduation. um it has not uh changed it uh drastically. Obviously, we know that there is um some fencing and some things around um the the pool and the entrance and those things that were not there in previous years and so we certainly have have taken those into account um and there there are not barriers or obstacles that we can't work around. Uh so, uh we'll be
010able to work around those things um as we move forward. So, um, and I understand what Mr. Casa was saying regarding, um, protecting your plan, which totally makes sense. Regarding folks that may have some physical limitations, disabilities, um, with this renovation, I have not been to the site since the actual work has started. Is there any um additional information regarding that type of entrance assistance that has to be communicated and in advance? Uh there is not. So fortunately um none of the fencing is impeding the um the access uh roadway uh between um the the main parking area getting to the campus or getting to Crawford. Uh but again for the handicap parking area that's all going to be on the tech school side and so that is away from the uh the current construction
011zone. Thanks a lot. And I also appreciate that um as well as I'm sure on behalf of the community and the board there's a ramp up. We have the international spring festival. There was just Iron Knights right and now this opportunity. So, as we get to graduation, we always appreciate this time of year and the extra effort and extra time that the Safe Schools team and administration puts into to this type of planning. And we're very grateful, of course, for our um other jurisdictions and their emergency first responders and and those who support, you know, this effort. It's been very successful. I just want to thank you, uh, Mr. own you talking shop in a good way but uh unified command uh two tabletops I I had facilitated in the last two weeks for a
012university and they have less people in their hockey arena right than we deal with at a typical Crawford stadium event let alone this and unified command is really important so just want to make sure that the community understands that's part of the IC incident command structure something that the federal government and in conjunction with f um state and local authorities. It's a way to ensure that uh communications um those communications and roles and relationships that hopefully occur proactively um you know during an event and if there is a crisis that there's a hierarchy and a methodology in to how the different types of responders may respond u may react in their given roles. right? Police chief, fire chief, security chief. And so it's it's really important to understand um that that that's something which only
013happens because of a concerted effort. There's at times we've seen in the news uh during uh tragic situations when unified command isn't established and uh ICS isn't understood. And I I just want to um make sure that I get a little bit, you know, wonky here, but it's really important in in this business of safe schools and security um to to highlight the type of professionalism that we have uh with Mr. Ran and his team. Thank you. I I have a follow-up thought. It's not quite a question, but it links to uh Miss McMatry's uh question that with the construction um like if I were to think about my place of work, with any new construction, we get new direction on muster points, etc. during um safety events, right? It might, you know, just it
014might just be, you know, who we're calling if somebody has a heart attack all the way to there's a fire or whatever the safety event is. So with the construction that we have now, I'm assuming that we have new routes planned out and have been communicated to all the right people for safety events and and in the new year school year for the students who may be used to one path for their exit, but we have to make sure we start socializing new path for them with the construction in Yeah. So fortunately in this phase um there is no real impact to uh staging areas and exit routes. Okay. However, as we start moving into phases two and three, we will see some of that impact and those necessary changes will be made. Okay. Excellent.
015Good. Thank you. Mr. My my last question uh which which uh really was inspired by your description again for years we've discussed in facilities and operations and safe schools and even during budget presentations I think maybe it was two years ago uh with Mr. Gilmer as well. We discussed the interoperability of radio systems and the investment in redundancy um in terms of repeaters and how all the different communications work together with other jurisdictions. Is that an investment that we're we're seeing in real time when events happen at Crawford and the high school um with some of those systems? Uh it is. So I I will say and um you know shout out and thank you to to Mr. Gilmer as you mentioned um you know our our system is certainly equipped to be able to
016handle uh an event of this size. Uh we we have certainly the appropriate number of channels we need for folks to operate uh on separate channels. Um but also we can then in the event of an emergency um and if we need to with you know probably two or three keystrokes Mr. Gilmer could merge or what's called patching uh emergency patch all of us together. So nobody really has to turn the channel switch on their radio again with a you know a conversation with Mr. Go say hey can you patch us uh and then that will happen. Uh so it does allow us to work independent but also collectively but in the event that we need to mass communicate again with a couple keystrokes all of those channels are now patched to one channel um
017and then everybody is hearing the same thing at the exact same time. Uh so certainly uh you know the work that has been done over the last couple years and you know certainly we will need to continue to do work um but we are certainly in a good spot where we are capable to have functioning process and systems in place uh to be able to uh hold a event of this size with the amount of resources it takes to run an event of this size. Thank you. Even I I was learning u I hadn't heard about that with the patch right is one of those outcomes but thank you for explaining that. uh right in layman's uh and lay women's terms for us that the u this is and Mr. Gilmer can correct me or
018feel free to also Mr. Ran this is hundreds of thousands of dollars over multiple years going back to your predecessor even uh Mr. Durr and working with all of these stakeholders to ensure that this type of communication exists. This is not something that just happens overnight or if someone just decides to spend money. It takes real strategy and funding and the technical expertise to ensure that this is sustained and it's something that isn't just for emergencies but right for uh for typical communications but that it's there when it's needed. And often times and afteraction reports after um significant incidents whatever they might be all hazards from weather to to um s significant um uh crises that that are man-made. It's the communication systems uh often times that are part of the obstacles um that that
019may not help as much. And so this is an important investment made over many years and something that uh taxpayers may not know about um but you know why this project was earmarked is so that we have these type of efficiencies and effectiveness going forward. Yeah, I will have to say um you know I I have certainly have been the beneficiary of of coming into this role with with a a serious robust system already in place. Um, and if it's not daily, it is probably multiple times a week. I see Mr. Gilmer smirking because he already knows what I'm getting ready to say. Uh, it is multiple times a week that I will come in his office and we will we will conversate about uh our radio system and communications and um you know what
020our needs are um versus our needs currently and moving forward. Uh so this this conversation about communication in our system is is a again if it's not daily it is multiple times a week. Um Mr. Gilmer I'll turn it over to you if there's anything you want to add. No no I just I appreciate all that it is I was thinking here it's not your grandfather's radio system right it's just a bunch of walkie-talkies with an antenna. Uh so yeah we're very well integrated within all our buildings and repeaters throughout all of our buildings so we have full coverage. Um, and the key is, you know, I should go check this. I believe we have the most frequencies here in Montgomery County. We have we have a lot of radio frequencies to to make all
021of this happen. And uh, you know, we we got on board with getting involved with the radio system back when they narrowanded everything in like 200910 and the FCC required you to change how we we used our radio system and we went from probably somewhere around 115 radios to almost a thousand right now. So that's been a commitment over since that time, you know, over 15 years. Mr. Cassa, as you said, and u we have built and built and built to make sure we continue to have the capacity we need to uh make sure everybody can communicate uh particularly in emergencies, but frankly, it's every day all the time. Uh if you if you do want to lose your mind a little bit, you could sit there at the at the console and listen to
022all radio broadcasts at one time across all buildings, all the transportation, all the security, all the uh driver lines and and recess and all the things going on at one time. Uh there is a lot of communication on that two-way radio system every single day. Wow. Thank you. Yeah, maybe one day I need to do that uh before my time is up. Thank you. It's good for about 10 minutes and then you're like, I'm good. Yeah. Yeah. I just need five. Wonderful. Uh, Miss McMarry. Thanks, Mr. Casa. Thanks, Mr. Gilmer. And you said radio. So, I thought of the radio antennas that are the four that are coming down and the one that's remaining. Does the one that is the one that is remaining have any? Um, is it part of this uh repeater system
023that we use now? It is not currently. Uh but in the transition of moving our bus garage and replacing the bus garage, our current main repeater is at that site on the transportation site and we will be moving uh part of our repeater system to that last tower that's on the WNPB property. Okay. Thank you. And and this is also part of you know we're talking about this is North Penn's Super Bowl or one of them in a sense but where everyone comes together for Crawford. It's truly a communitywide event and celebration where right this is the nexus of all things that a district is able to provide and what we celebrate with families, students and staff and many years ago even I think it was probably six seven I know that there was a
024full audit and really a an investment in further amplifying outside of North Penn High School and of course with the renovation of Crawford. It's how all of this starts to to come together. And it's uh really important. I I I believe there'll be some really interesting developments uh down the road also as we continue to fulfill that uh 10-year strategic uh plan for facilities. But that also obviously h it dovetales with the safe schools committee. Mr. Gilmer. Yeah. I just wanted to say uh you know I I really appreciate Mr. drones uh planning and the document that gets put together for all of the security look at this, but our team, our facilities team really does a pretty good job. I I'm really proud of the work that the entire team does and it's it's
025a huge team to to make commencement happen as flawlessly as as it does every single year. Uh I won't say which school, but I just attended my daughter's graduation. Uh and I was this is the things I noticed and I was really surprised at the lack of planning on some items and the lack of security and the lack of the the thought of you know if there was an emergency what was going to be happening and of course all of us that do this that's what we're looking at all the time. Um and it's one of the reasons I think I think we do it really well. It's a joyous day. So, everybody's happy to be there to begin with, right? Um, but at the same time, we do hear, you know, we're done like,
026"Wow, that was way less painful than I thought it was going to be because when you hear about a thousand graduates, this must be like a three four hour slog, right?" And it's and it's not. And it's because of all these different layers that North Penn works collaborative with all of our partners, including law enforcement, including North Monco, including our, you know, Calvary Baptists and our transportation department. It's really a lot of people working um to make this happen uh just because we want we don't want anything to get in the way of your celebration of your child's graduation. So, uh the team does a great job every year and we hope to do another great job this year, but we try to think of as many variables as possible uh so that we're ready
027for it when that time comes. Well, keep keep that uh that streak rolling. So, thank you, Mr. Gilmer for for giving us that context and and how this has grown over the years. Um and and you know with that we'll we'll shift to another I think it's a good segue um as we talk on on the next topic uh something that's equally important and we talked about the once a year aspect of graduation or big events how that impacts daily uh routines and what the safe schools committee has oversight of. Um, you know, one of the equally important areas here would be uh door locking uh mechanisms and really there's never a final destination. It's always a journey. So, uh, Mr. Ron, if you could give us that update as we continue to evolve our
028approach. Sure. Uh, so if I if I may uh jog some of your memory and recall a conversation a year ago uh where we talked about doing some uh doing a first phase of a door locking hardware and it was going to be at Gwindor Elementary. I'm happy to say that uh the majority of that work is complete and we're down to the punch list. Uh and so if anybody has been a part of any uh construction uh you know whether it be your home or or in your professional life, you know, when you get to the punch list, you're kind of at the end of the road, right? Like you're at the the spot where um you're kind of just going through with a fine co uh fine uh comb and tooth comb, sorry.
029Um and and making sure that all the details are are done. So we are at that punch list point. Um and so for those that don't remember um a so that the door locking hardware project was essentially to put all what is called uh storefront door locking hardware which means the the door knob the mechanism itself is always in the lock position uh from the exterior. So that would be from the hallway for the classrooms. Um and then certainly they can be unlocked uh for egress from the classroom out. Uh so at all times classroom doors will be in a locked position. They cannot be unlocked with a key and and forgotten about and um in the event of an emergency where um a lockdown needs to happen, somebody has to figure out how to
030where the key is, get the key in the keyhole, turn the key and all that kind of stuff. So um and so that we started that project at Gwenor and then you're going to see that uh roll into the high school project for those storefront locking uh type device uh door locks. Uh and so uh Mr. Slaughter and I have been talking through that and so they are they're about done with the punch list and and so we will have when that punch list is done we'll have final uh walkthrough inspection per se uh just to make sure it is to our standards and what we want. Um and then that project will be done and then obviously we'll be starting this conversation again at the high school and certainly uh we will move through
031the district um as as we go through. So happy to report we are at the tail end uh of the Gwenor uh door locking hardware project and that also includes the large assembly areas where hold opens uh have been uh added to that and those hold opens have also been integrated into the alert system uh so that in the event of a fire or lotus activation of lockdown those uh hold opens will then release uh and sec and secure those um large group spaces and it's also capable to be released on a key switch. So, um, as we talked about in public safety, there's redundancy, redundancy, redundancy, right? So, multiple ways to do something, right? Um, and so that that project uh is is at its uh at its tail end and uh we're happy
032to be at that punchless point and and to start the work at the high school. Good. Miss McMerry. Thanks, Mr. Coster. Mr. Done. Thank you. Because it's project started I think we started talking about it about two years ago possibly maybe longer. Um regarding the overall project cost is that still at 3.5 million. Uh I don't know that uh specifically off the top of my head but I certainly um touch base with Mr. Slaughter and and be able to confirm that. All right. And then the schedule for implementation next up is the high school. Right. as you just said. Yes. So the next uh the hardware will be changing in in the renovations at the high school and then is there a is there a schedule for implementation at other schools? We we have not
033identified which will be the next school after the high school project. Okay. How long so the implementation at the high school how long will that be taking? Uh so it will be it will go through the phase series. So, as the uh upgrades and renovations are being done to those classrooms and spaces, when the the doors get changed, the hardware gets changed and so as that phase goes through, then those changes will happen in that that span. Gotcha. So, and may obviously not for tonight, but um I'm going to turn to the chair, Mr. Casa. Can we work to have I don't know if it should be facilities or safe schools what the overall project schedule is for implementation at other schools in addition to the high school because the high school's going to take
034I guess phase two phase three we're out to like 29 I guess and then whatever else happens in terms of um closing out the project. So, we'll be doing other schools um in parallel with the high school. Correct. I don't know. I I will get with Mr. Slaughter on that and and be able to follow up and report back on that in our in our next meeting. Okay. All right. Mr. And I don't again I'm not sure. I'm just asking about it so we see what the roadmap looks like for this project because um you know we want to hear about the success of it and in terms of integration into already existing safety and security platforms that we have in place and then how we're going to continue to expedite getting this um into
035the other schools. Y All right. and and and and I would highlight um and it's been said before in this meeting and probably in facilities and operations, you know, the reason we this was uh initially done at Gwenor was needbased, but then also it's uh I wouldn't call it a pilot, but the opportunity to on a smaller scale learn about better efficiencies, effectiveness, and make sure that informs the scoping of of wider projects at a larger scale so so that so the community has that context as to why we have this type of timeline and approach. Uh Mrs. Mcmmerry I I can say uh again with a couple keystrokes here I was able to confirm we will run the next project will be in parallel. Um so we will get uh we'll identify which building
036that will be. Um but I was able to get that answer. Oh all right. Thanks. I I wasn't I was kind of like in a works I guess a work session mode about all right this is great it's working and I believe if I recall last time I checked the 10-year capital project plan was like 3.5 million so I just want to know where we are and and we're going to keep going and what happens to those costs of the overall project does inflation impact it or we are a fixed cost and such so all Thank you. Thanks. And and uh Mr. R, is there a significant uh technology uh overlap uh when we're looking at this type of hardware because right there's just the hardware itself which may not have that um type of
037of um overlap. But I just want to understand for myself the committee let alone the community what this means you know tied into the larger uh plan for doors and schools. Uh so there is obviously there is some technology. So when we talk about like the large assembly areas and integrating into alertus right so there is there is some tech there um you know but certainly not for the each door each classroom door unit. Um but but there is there is some integration of technology uh weaved in throughout the throughout the door locking and and if there are opportunities in the future as this evolves and progresses um especially opportunities um you know one of the big issues um deal with not only then the front doors of course as you know Mr. own and
038uh probably many of you on the committee, right? Often times what happens just outside that door which can be the issue and that's where cameras and technology play in. But as um uh you know that's where we're we also want to rely on your expertise and that of the administration and others to identify areas of uh right propped open doors or you know what is it that we can do? Technology isn't going to solve it all. However, it can augment, right, reinforce the type of culture that we're trying to create and and is that something, Mr. Ran, that um you you see an opportunity with this project as we move forward? For sure. Uh so, you know, technology is always evolving. Uh it seems like, you know, every other month, uh there there's some new
039thing that has come out that um you know, says that it will enhance your security and things of that nature. So uh for an example uh you know the the AI that they are putting in cameras nowadays um you know the things that that the multiple things that it can do. And for example, there are cameras out today that has uh technology in it to send you an alert when a door has been left open for a set period of time that you tell the the machine that you know you want to be notified if this door is left open for 30 seconds in this time window. Right? So for a better example, uh if there is a door, you think about our kids who transition uh to and from the tech school. Well, we
040could set a time window that says notify me if this door in the time window of 11 a.m. to 11:10. So at 11:10, if this door is propped open for 30 seconds or more, I want you to tell me, right? because we're giving it a 10-minute window for the passing, for the changing of class to get to and from, but after that 10-minute window, I want to know if this door is left open for more than 30 seconds. And that's whether it's propped, whether there's a person standing there holding it. If the door is not closed, I want you to tell me. So, that that technology is out there. Uh, and I am pleased to say we are using some of that technology uh today. um as we start to upgrade cameras that I've talked
041about uh over the year, as we start to upgrade cameras um to be able to use some of that AI uh and there's there are other ways to do it. There are actual contacts that allow um for uh that information to happen as well, right? So there are some organizations who use contacts kind of like if you remember the old alarm system contacts, right? Where this contact doesn't happen, you know, for 30 or more seconds, I want you to tell me. Uh so there are a number of different ways. Uh I will say when we looked at um the best way and how to uh use our our our finances wisely, right? Putting a contact on every door or you know putting a camera uh one camera with the AI built in to cover three
042doors versus contacting three doors, right? So there there's there's again redundancy. There's a lot of ways to do uh the same thing. um you know and we may find where we may go do contacts on some doors and use cameras on some um right and and but what's going to work best for our needs. Thanks for that explanation. Um Miss Rnik. Yeah, I'm just trying to recall if um this if the scenario you were describing is one we had talked about when we talked about the North Monco Co students coming between North Monco and North Pan. So, we were talking about that door that's used there. We know that that is one that students frequently use and we were talking at the time about the length of time that door gets opened or or it
043had a specific time period where you it didn't alarm or something. I'm trying to remember. Yeah. So we we ran the trial on um non-passing times, right? So I use that 11 to 11:10 window, right? So we we obviously we know the bell schedule. identify okay during this 5 minute window of passing time I don't need you to tell me if the door is open for longer than 30 seconds but 1 minute after that or you know or or 30 seconds after that whatever that end time is I want you to send me an alert if this door is open for 30 seconds or longer um and so that's you know that's some that's some of the ways to be able to use that technology to Mr. Kasa's point um to be able to help
044advance the work, right? Because when you think about like the number of doors versus the number of people versus the number of school safety staff, right? You're outnumbered, right? So to be able to be able to monitor those things and use and integrate some technology, there's certainly ways to do that. Okay. Thank you. And and I appreciate this description. And it's something that we've been talking about for more than a year. Um and happy to see come to this uh inflection point as we continue. I believe um you know this committee going forward u will absolutely want to see this advance uh right quicker um but thoughtfully um as I believe the administration has already been doing. So thank you Mr. grown working with technology facilities and the administration and building leaders for this to
045advance. Uh what we're able to learn from this to have it uh more easily replicable and scalable is only you know will only help the taxpayer as well as the safety of the students protect the taxpayer and students staff and our schools. Um just in terms of getting ahead of inflation and and not taking too long for this uh roll out so to speak. So I I believe that summarizes some of the prior conversations for the community that may not have heard this two years ago or a year ago when we announced, you know, that this initial phase. So we want to remain focused on that and uh I commend the administration for getting us to this point, but we also uh appreciate where the opportunities are to to lean in and still be effective
046and efficient. So thank you to everyone who's uh been a part of of that work. Um, in in terms of the uh community knowledge and and this committee as well, uh there's a lot that goes on besides just cutting a check and getting the work done, but getting the specs right and understanding that we get the right return on investment, which is u many times has to do more with policy and practice and discipline and the people than it does simply the technology. But u this board will continue to invest in the the proper hardware um you know to make sure that we're evolving with the times. Um, in in terms of of the the doors, I I think it's also important for the community to understand. It was a couple years ago, maybe more
047than I know myself and this comm some committee members had visited uh some of the schools uh without naming any in particular to specifically address issues that had been raised uh dealing with substitute teachers, right, and different locking systems and different protocols. And that's something that many in the community may not know about, but we had a responsive administration to to make sure that there was proper planning and training and and that we weren't complacent um in just assuming uh you know certain problems, you know, wouldn't occur in North Penn. And I think I'd like to see that same spirit going forward as as we work um with the hardware, the doors and technology going forward. It's just as important um for community members, students. Thank you, Jeppe, who's here and our our prior members
048and those who can't attend uh due to the busy school year. But um it really takes everyone uh including we had some staff that had emailed uh you know this committee uh about some concerns uh safety related and I'm very happy to report without giving details there's a responsive administration and that's part of that 360 that we can't all see everything um but we can report what we do see and say something and then the the other half of that is making sure the responsiveness is there and that's what the board's job is to make that oversight occurs. Um that the administration is following up with good plans and I hope that we continue um to have that type of progress even if we can't report on it all the time because those are are
049details um you know that that really can't be divulged uh to the public. So thank you for everyone listening to that. It wasn't meant to be vague but to say there's additional work that goes on beyond just this committee and and what you actually see. Um, any other comments or questions before we go on to other business? All right, hearing none, we'll move on to other business. And I've been talking way too much. So, the floor's open, but uh to anyone on the committee. I'd like to defer first of all to our student uh see Jeppe, if you have any insights, comments, or questions to share. Uh, yeah. You know, tonight I have no comments, but I appreciated hearing uh all the conversation that happened, especially around graduation. It was an interesting conversation to hear
050and I'm excited to see how it goes. So, thanks. Thank you, Jeppe. We are too. Um, so is this the year that you get that that that uh you're graduating? No, I will be graduating next year. That's right. That we have that that staggered uh committee system with our students. But um thanks. Sorry, it just said you've been committed and volunteering for a while. So that's actually a compliment that I thought. Yes, I appreciate it. And I'm I'm hoping to be here next year, too. Maybe a different committee. So, we'll see. But thank you. Yeah. Great. Um I I I was wondering if um maybe our committee I I know also that there were some visits to uh some schools as part of ongoing. oftentimes uh we don't really talk about this in in our
051committee work, but I do believe um that there were some visits today that are adjacent to some of the work that's been done at this committee and what the community is concerned about such as structurally some of the transformation the district has made. Um so the North Bridge program in particular if if um anyone would like to maybe give a brief report on that. Mr. NASA actually the um the the visits are tomorrow. So right so they are they'll be tomorrow. So absolutely um we'll send out a summary of of it and you know based upon what you is your pleasure sure next month we can highlight certain points but they're tomorrow they start tomorrow morning. Thank you for organizing all of those. Uh you could tell it's Monday in my mind um even though
052it's Tuesday. I don't know what day it is. I'm all confused. So, I see the schedule. Uh, but that does let the community know, you know, part of this is we make sure that we try to to circulate and have board members um go to go to all the buildings, but in particular visit certain sites that are priorities and and for us, North Bridge is always a priority because of the great work there, but also because there's it's it's a central part and u Dr. McKenna and others have been part of making sure that uh we have additional options for students in an environment now um nationally but definitely regionally where maybe there aren't always resources beyond North Penn school district in terms of getting students and their families the help they need. And uh
053that option uh that that was developed at North Bridge for elementary school and I believe even middle school students um is one of those areas that we continue to to ask questions about and want to learn about um because of how that can impact uh the wider safe schools strategy of the district systemically. Um Dr. McKenna, I think I got that right. Feel free to correct me if I didn't. No, but absolutely. We're looking forward to having some some visits to a couple buildings tomorrow. Um, but yeah, we're happy to report out on that at our next meeting. But, uh, yeah, we're actually looking at North Bridge as, uh, as we work through this year with with adding in the elementary program and and adding that additional continuum of services for students that we found
054necessary. We're also evaluating all the various components of North Bridge and the programming there starting from elementary all the way to high school and what students needs adapt and figuring out what's best needed for our students K12. We're we're definitely looking at all the programming happening at North Bridge for North Penn students and uh we've had a lot of conversations surrounding that and we'll continue to do that over the summer as well. MC Merry, I just I just want to thank Dr. McKenna since we brought this up for doing the um logistics for tomorrow. So, we'll see you tomorrow. No problem. See you tomorrow. Yeah. Thank you. Not like there's anything else going on this time of school year. Um always always busy at North Penn and also I I think right all of our
055buildings uh you know every program means a lot. uh at North Bridge in particular as someone who um I was in juvenile justice social services during uh the early 90s and Coline and alternative education and uh working in nonprofit to try to redefine how we approach uh students so they're not stigmatized and that they get help and succeed more than putting them off on an island. Um North Bridge is not an alternative school. It is an exceptional uh program and and school that just demonstrates uh you know the excellence that Northpin strives for. So I want to thank everyone who makes that possible and sustains that and continues to uh advance that vision. Um once again there's not a final destination but it's part of a journey um overall is to to what North Pen
056School District uh and its taxpayers uh are able to provide for this community uh thankfully. So with that, if there aren't any other comments, questions, or feedback, last chance, we'll head on to public comment. Mr. Gilmer, so we have one person in the audience tonight, but no hand is raised. So if you want to make public comment, you just go ahead and hit the raise hand at the bottom of your interface. And if uh I don't see a hand, I'll give an update real quick. I do know this breaking news. North Penn and North Penn softball both won tonight. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, good job to both those teams. And I still don't see a hand raise, so I'm going to count it down. Here we go. Five, four, three, two, one. That'll
057conclude public comment. All right. Well, thank you for those who do attend and watch this virtually. uh even even if it's not live um you can always reach out to this committee or any board members and especially the administration with any concerns, insights um or even just uh to just give some credit to someone who's making a real difference every day in North Penn's safe school strategy. So with that uh summary wise uh it was allformational. We had no items for action meeting. We are going to have a virtual safe schools committee meeting in June on the 23 at 5:45 p.m. in a virtual format as always. And with that, we will move to adjourn. Do we have a motion? So moved. All right, this meeting is adjourned. Thank you everyone. Stay safe. Bye. Thanks
058everyone. Thank you everyone. Thank you everybody. Congratulations.