{"id":46000,"date":"2025-01-24T09:30:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T13:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knightcrier.org\/?p=46000"},"modified":"2025-01-24T09:31:56","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T13:31:56","slug":"mcmurtrie-starts-new-year-as-school-board-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knightcrier.org\/top-stories\/2025\/01\/24\/mcmurtrie-starts-new-year-as-school-board-president\/","title":{"rendered":"McMurtrie starts new year as school board president"},"content":{"rendered":"

The day that she was volunteering in a craft show kitchen, Mrs. Cathy McMurtrie wouldn\u2019t have expected she would be North Penn\u2019s school board president five years later. That day was just the beginning of McMurtrie\u2019s school board experience, where a conversation struck up with former president Tina Stoll resulted in her running- and eventual election- as a school board member. Now, as of December 2, 2024, McMurtrie has taken over the role of president from Stoll.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An engineer by degree, McMurtrie\u2019s experience with construction gave her an edge in the 2019 election when it came to talks of North Penn High School\u2019s renovation. The focus shifted off of the renovation and onto the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, shortly after McMurtrie\u2019s being elected as board member. Now, with the focus back on the renovation, she was motivated towards the presidency. In addition to her role as president, McMurtrie is involved as a SafeSchools committee member and chair of facilities and operations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though engineering was what started her off, working in the schools for five years helped McMurtrie develop a passion for the community inside of those schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI get a lot of energy from watching the students. That\u2019s really the big thing. If I truly can think about being a part of something and doing it to the best of my ability without any reservations, I like knowing that\u2019s something that will be good for students going forward for the long term,\u201d McMurtrie said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Student involvement is something that drives the decisions moving forward for McMurtrie. She hopes to see the renovation driven by student input; though current students won\u2019t be around to experience the benefits of the renovations to the high school, McMurtrie understands the perspective they can offer from learning in the school every day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI look at students as the future. You\u2019re the right people for the right time, so you should have the right buildings. I\u2019m a fan of having everyone involved in the process, whether it be the design of it, the process of it, and most importantly, the use of it. We\u2019ve included teachers, administrators, counselors, students, maintenance, everyone, in some part, in the area of their importance. I think that\u2019s so important,\u201d McMurtrie explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as her role in the renovation goes, McMurtrie explained that she will be behind asking administration to provide to the community updates and identify progress, areas where there might be a challenge, and helping to manage the finances going into the project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides the renovation, McMurtrie advocates for inclusivity in the district, aiming to take advantage of any opportunities to make everyone feel welcome in their place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt this high school, we have the opportunity to make this as inclusive as we possibly can. To the best of our ability, this board wants to do that. The other piece that I\u2019m focused on is about special education and students that need assistance being a part of the picture. I will always emphasize them when it\u2019s appropriate. Another piece which is very near and dear to me too, is therapy dogs,\u201d McMurtrie said.<\/span><\/p>\n

McMurtrie\u2019s goals are largely focused on community involvement, but her presidency wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the involvement and support from the other school board members surrounding her. The transition into leadership proved itself a learning experience for McMurtrie, who has learned from advice given to her by former president Stoll.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are things you need to do as president that were invisible to me. I met with President Stoll to understand some of the things to help stay organized. Most importantly is the strength of the team that is in place on the board. Everyone has a very specific skill set and background, and we all bring something to the table. [Stoll] said, the administration is strong, they\u2019re committed, and they\u2019re loyal. Trust the people that you\u2019re around,\u201d McMurtrie explained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n