The policy committee conducted a multi‑topic review: second reading of bullying reporting; discussion of attendance policy updates (3 school‑day parent note, 10 cumulative parent‑note days, educational instability and homelessness language); choices under Act 44 for reporting to local law enforcement; and a first reading of a generative AI policy with debate over parental consent, student training and administrative regulation development.
Pennridge administrators asked the board to approve participation in STEM plus M, a Navy‑funded 5‑year program that would provide fully equipped seventh‑grade labs, curriculum, professional development and ongoing software support at little material cost to the district; the district would pay modest infrastructure and electrical upgrades.
After an enrollment decline of about 1,185 students (16%) since 2016, Pennridge staff presented two rezoning scenarios to balance capacity and socioeconomic composition, plan a February public feedback round and aim for a final board decision by March 26; transportation and exemption policies were also discussed.
District leaders proposed a three‑part professional learning plan for 2026–27 focused on strengthening Tier‑1 instruction through Universal Design for Learning, data practices (LinkIt), and principal instructional leadership with three sessions for teachers and targeted leadership meetings.
District staff said FOSS Pathways remains the chosen 3–5 curriculum but recommended delaying full kit purchases and asked for $34,020 to buy Mystery Science consumable packs for grades 3–5 for 2026–27 while exploring departmentalization that could reduce long‑term material costs.
Two parents told the Pennridge School District board that a recent routing change left an elementary student fearful and exposed to traffic and snowbank hazards; they urged the board to reinstate the prior stop and allow independent safety reviews.
The Pennridge School District board approved a new AP Comparative Government and Politics textbook for grades 10–12, approved multiple capital-project bids, appointed Dr. Andrew Doster as director of human resources (effective 01/26/2026 at $180,000), and passed several personnel and policy items.
Finance reviewed multiple contracts (LearnWell, LinkIt renewal, Seesaw, credit recovery and cyber education), approved new student activity accounts, noted a legal‑services rate change and agreed to accept a $6,000 bid for a small county repository parcel with $359.10 in back taxes.
A Conrad Siegel consultant told Pennridge SD committees that rising medical and prescription claims — led by GLP‑1 anti‑obesity drugs — are driving a preliminary 15% plan‑rate projection for FY2627, with targeted mitigations including an upcoming medical RFP and an FSA vendor change.
ICS presented summer 2026 capital priorities and low bids for mechanical, generator and controls scopes; staff recommended Hirschberg for mechanical upgrades (low bid $777,000 plus $19,000 condensing‑boiler alternate), BSI for generators ($509,000, over the $437,000 budget line), and Southland for controls ($383,000). Roofing bids remained due.
