A student at North Penn High School was found to be carrying a handgun this week, school officials told the board at its Oct. action meeting. District staff and Tomlinson and Lansdale police located the student and escorted him to the security office; a search later that day recovered a handgun and the student was taken into custody.

Doctor Bauer said the school’s coordinator of emergency management and safe schools, Mr. Roan, notified police; school security staff identified and escorted the student through the courtyard to the security office and the Talmondson Township Police responded. From the time the district received the report to the moment the student was in the security office, Bauer said, was “two minutes.” The parent was contacted, staff and administrators were notified, and a search yielded a handgun that resulted in the student’s arrest.

The district worked with Chief Troxell on communications. Bauer said the police chief shared his information at 7:06 a.m. the following day and the district sent a message to families at 7:34 a.m.; a follow-up communication with additional details was sent later that day after receiving parent feedback. Bauer acknowledged a blind spot: a planetary class on campus was not notified in the initial message and the district will correct that in future communications.

Board President McMurtry read a board statement expressing gratitude that no one was harmed and commending the swift actions of district administration, security and the Lansdale and Tomlinson Township police. The board also expressed support for using the Evolve weapons-detection system as a permanent operational security measure at the high school while policy revisions proceed.

Board member Casa, a member of the Safe Schools committee, said the response reflected years of investments and layered safety strategies. He cited recent standards and model legislation being considered at the state level and urged continued community engagement and evidence-based adjustments to security and communications practices.

Dozens of community members addressed the board during public comment. Common concerns included: why the Evolve detection system was not deployed at every building entry every day; inconsistent or delayed communications to families (several speakers said they or other families did not receive initial notices promptly); the adequacy of mental-health supports and counseling; and whether students with prior disciplinary histories are placed in large comprehensive settings without additional supervision or alternative placements.

Parent Shannon Maine said the student carried “a loaded 9 millimeter handgun” and questioned why the detection system was not used daily, calling the situation “an epic failure” if the system and other safeguards were not in place. Several speakers asked the district to publish clearer guidance on when families will receive notifications and to expand mental-health resources for students.

Doctor Bauer and board members said they will address many of the items at the Safe Schools committee meeting scheduled for Monday and that the district is already moving to keep the Evolve system at North Penn High School until the policy committee completes a planned review of policy 226. Officials also said they will present demonstrations and data on the Evolve system, review the communications process (including how automated messages can fail to reach some families), and prepare a cash-flow report in light of the state budget impasse.

President McMurtry and others publicly thanked Mr. Roan, Mr. Hassler and Bernie Jones, the head of security at the high school, for their roles in locating the student and resolving the event without harm. The board emphasized it will continue reviewing safety procedures, communications and resource allocations and that a more detailed after-action discussion will be held with law enforcement and staff at the Safe Schools committee meeting.

The board did not announce any formal disciplinary or criminal outcomes beyond the immediate arrest; officials said those matters are handled by law enforcement and the juvenile process. The administration also said it will continue to respond to individual parent inquiries and will share additional information as permitted by law and student privacy rules.