100 Days As Superintendent:

Elevating and Exceeding Expectations

On July 1st, I unveiled an ambitious 100-day entry plan to jumpstart my time as superintendent and lay a foundation for the years and work ahead. Today marks day 101 and through this update I want to share what we have accomplished together, what has been learned from you, and what priorities must be made to exceed your expectations and elevate this mighty school district. 

Over the last three months, efforts have been focused on success for all students, understanding the current state of the district, assessing all stakeholders’ expectations, and getting into the community to deepen NPSD’s roots with those whom we serve. District administration has also worked as a team to take immediate action on critical items such as hiring, school safety, academic achievement, facility planning, and the social-emotional health of our students and staff.

I am extremely humbled by the people, both new and old friends, who have opened their doors and minds to me in collaboration to make this school district better. I thank this great community for its trust in me, but want you to know that there is much work to be done over the coming years and that the 100-day plan was just the very beginning of what we can accomplish together.

Sincerely,

Todd M. Bauer, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Perhaps nothing is more important than maintaining trust between NPSD and its community, staff, students, and families. A major focus of Superintendent Bauer's 100-day plan was engaging all stakeholder groups through written and broadcast communications and virtual and in-person meetings, while improving transparency, accountability, and understanding of the issues facing NPSD. Efforts included:

School Visits: Dr. Bauer informally visited all buildings within a month of the first day of school. He spent his time welcoming back staff and students, walking the halls, and beginning conversations about student and staff needs. 

Superintendent's Student Council: Each month, Dr. Bauer meets with students at a chosen school. The first of the year was held at Hatfield Elementary School with 15 fifth and sixth graders. Students talked to the superintendent about what is going well and what could be improved at their school. 

Community Conversations: Dr. Bauer continued the tradition of monthly Community Conversations and held a virtual meeting in September. Community Conversations will continue throughout the school year, more information can be found here. 

Caffeinated Conversations: The first Caffeinated Conversations session was held at the end of September at Backyard Beans in Lansdale. Dr. Bauer had a great talk with community members on topics including special education, school construction, and recess. The schedule can be found here. 

Facebook Live: Since August, Dr. Bauer has been going live on Facebook on the Monday after the school board action meeting to review what happened and discuss other important news in NPSD. To watch these videos, click here. 

Communications Audit: Plans are being developed to contract a third-party communications audit to provide valuable research and recommendations to help strengthen relationships and keep stakeholders informed. 

Local Organizations and Leaders: Dr. Bauer met with various groups (Boy Scouts, North Penn Mosque, NAACP, North Penn YMCA, Jaisohn Center, Manna on Main Street, local legislators) to open lines of dialogue so that we can work to benefit each other. Dr. Bauer was often joined by other NPSD administrators and plans are being developed to involve students in these opportunities throughout the school year.

Faith Leaders and Municipal Leaders: Two events are planned for Dr. Bauer to introduce himself, talk about NPSD, and discuss how we can work together for our students and families.  

School Board Relations: Beginning this month, school board action meetings will "go on tour" of the NPSD community to improve engagement in the different municipalities. During these meetings, students from a school in that community will talk about programs in their school. To see the schedule, click here. Additionally, Dr. Bauer regularly updates the school board on important NPSD matters so they are well-informed about activities and programs that may not be covered during school board meetings. 

For students to learn and thrive, schools must be safe, current, and well-funded. Many decisions face NPSD in the coming year. First and foremost, we must address much-needed renovations at the 50-plus year old North Penn High School to fix problems and create learning spaces for today's learners. Dr. Bauer and others visited a number of newly constructed or renovated schools to consider possibilities for NPHS, met with architects and financial firms, and surveyed families, staff, and students on their needs and hopes for a new school. Next steps include a presentation to the community regarding options, costs, and how to fund such a significant project.

In addition, construction at Knapp Elementary School came to a close during Dr. Bauer's first 100 days. A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house is planned for October 18th and you can find more information here. A few weeks ago, Dr. Bauer and members of his cabinet knocked on doors closest to Knapp, personally inviting the school's neighbors who have been very patient during the two years of construction. You can watch the video here. 

Other operational efforts that Dr. Bauer oversaw during his first 100 days include the hiring of 157 staff members before the start of school, including the replacement of important administrative positions, the Assistant Director of Business Administration and Coordinator of Emergency Management & Safe Schools. Finally, in order to ensure the cyber security of NPSD's data, financials, and more, a multi-factor authentication process was rolled out to NPSD's 2000-plus employees.

Surveys, data, behaviors, and one-on-one interactions indicate that students and staff are struggling emotionally and physically now more than ever. Important steps taken this school year to improve mental health include the implementation of a policy allowing for therapy dogs in our schools. At Northbridge in particular we have seen positive results with the addition of Mario and Sid, golden retrievers who are certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs. According to Northbridge guidance counselor Trish Pike, many students are opening up and making connections with counselors and other students because the dogs act as a comfortable "ice breaker" for conversation. Mario and Sid are also helping with attendance, as some students who were often truant are attending school on a frequent basis because of the calming atmosphere brought on by the dogs. Click here to see more pictures of the therapy dogs. 

Plans are also being finalized for a Mental Health Resource Fair, sponsored by NPSD and Onward Behavioral Health, for November 2, from 6-8 PM at Pennbrook Middle School. The expo-style event will feature local mental health providers and keynote remarks from Alysa Bainbirdge, Miss Pennsylvania 2022, and Founder & CEO of Tyler's Triumph, a non-profit organization that provides direct support and tools to those in recovery from mental health and substance abuse disorders. 

Additionally, NPSD has continued ensuring professional development days include time for health and wellness. From guest speakers to yoga, we are providing ways for our staff to stay healthy. 

Finally, NPSD hired five new school climate coordinators (three at the elementary level and two at the middle level) and two additional Board Certified Behavior Analysts to assist student needs. 

North Penn's greatest resource is its staff. Retaining a quality staff is vital in continuing the quality education we provide. We must continue to engage our staff in meaningful conversations and programs as we plan for the future.

In August, we welcomed back teachers and started the year for all staff at Convocation. It was our largest in-person meeting since August of 2019. In addition to sharing important information about the year ahead, it was a lot of fun catching up with everyone. 

Cabinet meetings are being held in school buildings two times a month, at which time members visit with staff, help with students, and talk casually about success and challenges in the schools. This is in addition to regular meetings, scheduled meetings, and other opportunities staff have to talk with district leaders. 

Finally, a Night Out at the Sixers is being planned for staff. Those who choose to buy tickets will be able to sit with their coworkers and enjoy an on-court recognition of NPSD.

With the return of all staff for the 2022-2023 school year, the comprehensive planning process was able to kick into full gear. A committee that included teachers, parents, support staff, administrators, and school board members met in September to review data gained by the Hanover Survey in June, assess how we are performing through the use of the Pennsylvania Essential Practices for District Framework, provide feedback to our current strategies using equity and post-pandemic lenses, and develop a three year plan to elevate NPSD.

The resulting comprehensive plan was presented to the school board on October 11th, and the school board will vote on the approval of the plan at its regular public board meeting in November. Click here to review the North Penn School District Comprehensive Plan for 2022-2025. 

Success for all students, all of the time is a NPSD core value. Over the last year, a committee looked at the amount of homework for students in all grade levels. The committee members researched best practices and trends in regard to homework, reviewed policies in neighboring school districts, and solicited feedback from teachers, staff, parents, and most importantly, students. The student members of the committee also developed a homework survey in collaboration with their teacher that was shared with a cross section of high school students. 

This school year, we implemented a revised homework regulation that defines what assignments are considered homework, the time allocation for each grade level, and when teachers should avoid assigning homework due to religious holidays. To ensure consistency among teachers in each school and across grade levels, a calendar was developed that highlights many of the holidays observed by families in our school district and the parameters that have been established regarding homework. The calendar was created so that students are able to observe and celebrate important holidays without the pressure of completing homework. 

The bell schedule was changed at the middle school level to better accommodate student learning in a block schedule. After receiving feedback from parents, staff, and students, it was determined that delivering core content throughout the entire school year was a priority. Additionally, we now have more common time allocated for academic support. 

Much was accomplished over the last three months to which we can all be proud. However, there is still much to do in all areas of NPSD in our unwavering pursuit of continuous improvement. Perhaps most importantly, we need to focus on the individual student, ensuring that all students are included, have the same opportunities, feel welcome, and are learning at their highest level.

The enhanced engagement opportunities that have recently begun are crucial in supporting our students in their academic journeys, NPSD's core values, and the comprehensive plan for the next three years.