North Penn to roll out ALICE student training, emphasizes Safe2Say, bus and AED safety before 2025–26 school year

The North Penn School District Safe Schools Committee heard an overview of safety preparations for the 2025–26 school year, including student ALICE training, continued promotion of the Safe2Say Something tip line, reminders about bus‑stop laws and updates on AED placements and mental‑health co‑responder coordination.

District Safe Schools administrator Mister Roan told the committee that staff will complete three hours of required safety training this year, with one hour in person and two hours online. "As required by law, staff must complete 3 hours of safety training," Roan said, adding that the in‑person hour will use the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) curriculum.

Roan described parent sessions held the prior week to explain what ALICE is and is not, and he said students will receive age‑appropriate instruction before participating in drills. "For the student learner, they will learn it in an age appropriate manner," Roan said, noting elementary students will use a read‑aloud called I'm Not Scared, I'm Prepared Because I Know About ALICE and older students will receive secondary‑level curriculum. He said the district will not run unannounced drills and that parents will be notified in advance of trainings and drills.

The committee also discussed Safe2Say Something, a statewide anonymous reporting program. Roan said anyone — not only students — can submit tips by app or phone and urged accuracy in reports. He said district analysts receive and vet tips 24/7 and that administrators will respond, sometimes immediately. "Every one of those tips certainly gets processed and we take the appropriate steps," he said.

Roan reminded drivers of Pennsylvania school‑bus laws ahead of bus service resuming, specifying that motorists must come to a complete stop within 10 feet before approaching a stopped school bus with red lights activated and that motorists may pass only on a divided highway with a physical separation. "You must stop if it is not a divided highway on any road," Roan said.

Committee members asked about AEDs at the high school amid ongoing construction. Roan said AED pads and batteries are checked and replaced on a lifecycle schedule and that facilities staff have been relocating devices as needed. He also said emergency responders have been invited to walk the high school construction site and temporary classroom locations to confirm access and response routes.

On mental‑health supports, Roan and other administrators said they meet regularly with a local co‑responder program and with county partners at Lansdale Borough Hall to align supports for students and families. "We collect a lot of dots, but oftentimes we don't connect those dots," Roan said; he described the hub meetings as a way to coordinate services for both students and family members.

During public comment, Jason Lanier of Lansdale asked whether upgraded network capacity would be used to install classroom cameras. Doctor Bauer responded that the district is not currently pursuing classroom cameras and that legislation and other issues would need to be worked through if that were considered. Christine Coyne of Hatfield requested a frequently asked questions document about ALICE; administrators said one will be made available and that a recording of the parent webinar will be posted.

The committee approved minutes from its May 27, 2025 meeting and adjourned. The next Safe Schools Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 29 at 5:45 p.m.

Less urgent details: Roan encouraged parents with questions to email or call him and said the district will provide additional webinars or resources if necessary. He reiterated a request that tip submissions be factual and warned that legislation allows accountability for knowingly false tips.