The North Penn School District has been in discussion about NPHS renovations and a voter referendum over the past several months. The Knight Crier has published monthly installments on updates regarding renovation planning and a referendum. This January article is the final installment before the special election on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

January 16th, yes or no?

The North Penn School District is proposing the decision to be made by the people, whether or not to continue with a renovation plan that requires $97M in taxpayer money over the next 32 years (an average $160 increase in annual taxes.) 

The current high school building is only meant to fit 3100 kids, and with the renovations, it would be built to fit approximately 4000  students. This tax money would be used to expand the current high school to fit ninth-grade students, make the entire school ADA accessible, and modernize the 50-year-old building with all-new infrastructure and natural lighting. 

For more information regarding the NPHS Renovations, community involvement, and proposed concepts, The Knight Crier encourages readers to watch the informative NPHS Renovation Journey video curated by NPTV. 

The Official Ballot Question

Per a message from Superintendent Dr. Todd Bauer, the official ballot question on January 16th will be:

“Shall debt in the sum of $97,318,376 dollars for the purpose of financing new construction that includes space for ninth-grade students to be educated on campus and renovations of North Penn High School be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors?” 

Need to Know Information from Mr. Pete Nicholson (Administrator of Secondary Education and Renovations)

“I just want to stress the importance of each and every voter having their voice heard at the polls on Tuesday. We said from the beginning that we wanted everyone to be educated on what is being planned for the future of NPHS and I feel that we’ve done about as good a job as possible in making sure we’ve communicated our plans, held tours of the building, and answered countless questions over the past few months. Now, it’s time for the community to vote on the future of the district for the next 20, 30, or more years and I want everyone to know how important their vote is in determining the future of not just NPHS but the entire North Penn School District.”

In The People’s Hands

It is crucial for community members to actively participate in discussions about the renovation, and cast a ballot on January 16th. The fate of a reimagined NPHS ultimately rests in the hands of the people. Whether you cast a yes or no vote, your voice holds significance and contributes to us as a North Penn community advancing together. For any additional questions or concerns, please refer to the NPHS Reimagined website, which encapsulates everything regarding the renovation/special election: financial Q&A, ballot Q&A, conceptual design renderings can be viewed, video presentations, and all types of FAQs.

Where? How?

This special election functions like any other election for which voters would cast a ballot. Voting takes place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at your regular polling location, the same as any other election day.