TOWAMENCIN – While October 15th may be the next Presidential primary debate, 24 hours later, at North Penn High School, the staff members of The Knight Crier will host a debate of their own, this one with more immediate and local implications.

12 school board candidates vying for 6 open seats in the November 5th election will have a chance to share their views with the community at the NP School Board Candidates Town Hall Debate on Wednesday, October 16th at North Penn High School. Knight Crier editors and staff members will serve as debate moderators in a Q and A format that is expected to last about 90 minutes. Questions will cover topics including Budgetary Philosophy, Facilities and Renovations, School Environment, Class Size, and Diversity.

Residents of the North Penn School District who would like to submit a question of their own on one of these topics may do so by emailing the KC staff at [email protected].

The Town Hall Debate is open to all members of the North Penn Community of all ages. Doors open at 6:30pm and the Town Hall begins promptly at 7pm in the North Penn High School Auditorium. The event will be similar in scope and structure to the 2017 board candidates Town Hall which can be viewed below.

“I think it’s important to hold an event like this because in this political climate, I think it’s easy for students to feel disheartened and powerless, and they feel they can’t effect any of the issues they hear about in the news,” Knight Crier editor Alexis Bamford said.

With a current school board breakdown of 7 registered Democrats and 2 registered Republicans, the 6 seats up for election can certainly affect that balance. Locally, many elections in recent years have seen changes in political party leadership. The school board election is a rare local election in which all residents of the entire NPSD have a say on each candidate.

“When you think about a citizen’s ability to make meaningful change it’s not always going to be at the highest level of government, it’s going to be at the local level,” Bamford explained.  “Local officials are our most direct connection to government. This is an opportunity for you to be heard; your voice matters, and these officials care what you have to say.

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th, 2019  7:00pm

WHERE:  NPHS Auditorium

WHO:  Open to entire North Penn community

ADMISSION:  Free