North Montco spotlight, scholarships and safety updates headline Souderton meeting; consent agenda approved

At the Nov. 20 meeting the Souderton Area School District highlighted career and technical education at North Montco, heard student reports, received a safety update on the Halterman gate at the high school, and approved routine business in a consent agenda.

Students and instructors from North Montco Technical Career Center presented on welding, property maintenance and culinary programs. Matthew McDevitt, a 12th-grade welding student, described hands-on training and workplace practices; Amal Ahmad reported that 32–34 students participating in Instant Decision Day were awarded a combined $5,269,000 in scholarships. A culinary instructor identified as Chef Moore described the program as a pathway to careers and noted the school’s restaurant is open to the public on select days.

Superintendent Dr. Gallagher provided a Halterman gate update, saying the gate has been opened in the afternoon — roughly 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. — for dismissal and that the district observed faster, safer egress (about 200 cars during one observation). He said the gate will remain unlocked and open during afternoons and for large events to facilitate traffic and emergency access.

The board also recognized outgoing members for years of service and recommended approval of a consent agenda covering minutes, financial statements, personnel items, nominations for representatives and, as presented, first readings of policies 11.1 and 11.2. The consent agenda (items 7.2–7.19) was approved by voice vote. A personnel item for instructors and support staff (8.1) passed with a board member recorded as abstaining because of a familial relationship; another personnel item (8.2) was also approved.

What happens next: Administrators will continue monitoring Halterman gate operations; personnel approvals go into effect as listed; policy 11.1 and 11.2 will return for committee review and subsequent public readings.