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Lansdale resident tells North Penn board unanimity stifles debate amid falling test scores
Summary
During the audience-of-citizens period, resident Jason Near told the board that nearly all votes since the COVID years have been unanimous and questioned why expanded facilities spending has not produced higher student assessment outcomes. He cited declines in Keystone proficiency rates and urged the board to debate more openly.
Jason Near of Lansdale used the audience-of-citizens portion of the meeting to criticize the board’s voting record and to question district academic outcomes.
"There’s been 2,135 votes. And of the 2,135 votes, 99.06% of them have been unanimous," Near said, adding: "This is not a deliberative, school board. You guys vote in unison all the time." He urged trustees to engage in more visible debate instead of what he described as voting on a preset agenda.
Near also questioned whether the district’s recent capital investments have translated into improved student achievement. He said Keystone proficiency rates have fallen sharply over the past decade, citing an alleged drop in algebra proficiency to about 50% and biology to about 65% as of 2024.
Board members who spoke later in the meeting said much of the detailed debate occurs at committee meetings and that several items approved that evening had been discussed at length in committee. The board did not take any formal action in direct response to the public comment during the meeting.
The board’s consent and contractual approvals continued after the public-comment period.
