The North Schuylkill School District (NSSD) and the Butler Township Police Department (BTPD) have learned of school threats made on social media on Monday, September 16, 2024, and Tuesday, September 17, 2024. These threats were deemed not credible; however, the nature of the incidents has led to an increase in security measures at our schools on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Two students were identified as the creators of various posts. The students involved will be charged to the fullest extent of the law. We will not publicly identify them as they are juveniles. Through investigation and searches in the building, no weapons or ammunition were discovered. We take all threats very seriously and want to remind our students that such actions carry real and lasting consequences.
In light of this situation, NSSD and BTPD will continue to collaborate closely with the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Department, Ashland and Frackville Police Departments and the Frackville Pennsylvania State Police. Together, we are committed to monitoring school environments to ensure the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff. We would like to extend our gratitude to all law enforcement agencies for their presence and support at the NSSD campus during this time.
We urge anyone who encounters or receives a threatening post to refrain from forwarding or reposting it, as this can lead to unnecessary fear and widespread panic. If you receive such information, please screen-save the content and alert law enforcement, the School District, or the Safe2Say system immediately.
We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our community as we work together to maintain a safe learning environment for all.
Thank you for your support.
Robert Ackell
Superintendent
North Schuylkill School District
Chris Hand
Chief of Police
Butler Township Police Department
We welcome you to North Schuylkill School District Food Service as our guest. Metz Culinary Management’s focus is on preparing fresh, homemade meals and reducing the amount of processed foods in our dining program. We use proven cooking methods to create great-tasting meals that kids really enjoy while improving nutrition at the same time.
Our breakfast and lunch options include a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, homemade entrées, and more great-tasting options that your child will love while providing them with a nutritious meal. Our snack menu includes a variety of fresh and dried fruits and reduced calorie sweet and savory snacks that provide the taste that kids enjoy, but are more nutritious for them and meet all wellness guidelines.
At Metz Culinary Management, we understand the importance of proper nutrition training to the health and well-being of school-age children, so we place special emphasis on nutrition education in every school we serve. We have created our Live Well program, a combination of educational programs that work in conjunction with our menu to help students develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.
Live Well Wellness Friends focuses on making nutrition education and healthy eating an interesting experience through the use of age-appropriate educational programs and monthly promotions. Nutritious Friends introduces different fruits and vegetables each month in menu items and special promotions.
Nutritious Friendly Snacks are not only great tasting, but also great for you. The Nutritious Friendly Snack Program encourages healthy snack choices. Our team of dietitians follows stringent guidelines as they carefully select healthy snacks for the program.
Wellness Education Programs are designed by our registered dietitians and tailored to each age group. While younger children are taught the importance of MyPlate guidelines, teenagers are more interested in learning about the dangers of fad dieting.
We have something for everyone because we believe in the importance of good food and healthy dining options. Great nutrition helps you to perform better academically and fosters a good outlook on life. We do our best to serve quality food and a diverse menu daily.
To view our accessible menus by day, week, or month, and easily access their nutritional information, allergens, and more, please click on the SchoolCafe image. Detailed instructions on how to access the site and view the menus are available here.
The following district menus are not ADA accessible. Accessible breakfast and lunch menus are available at www.schoolcafe.com.
North Schuylkill School District cafeteria is meeting the strict federal nutrition standards for school meals and snacks, ensuring that they are healthy and well balanced and provide students all the nutrition they need to succeed at school. Now is a great time to encourage your child(ren) to choose school breakfast and lunch!
Through our Live Well Program, school meals offer students milk, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains, and they must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. School lunches also meet additional standards requiring:
When possible and available, Metz Culinary Management is proud to utilize local produce in our program.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is an essential resource for families, offering quality, comprehensive health insurance for uninsured children and teens up to age 19. CHIP covers a wide range of services, including routine doctor's visits, prescriptions, dental and eye care, mental health services, and much more. Best of all, no family earns too much to qualify, making CHIP an accessible option for many. For some families, CHIP is even free, and for others, it is available at a low cost. To ensure that all families have access to this vital information, flyers are available in both English and Spanish. These can be easily shared with parents or guardians through email, school websites, or printed copies sent home with students. Access the flyers and additional resources at CHIPcoversPAkids.com under CHIP Resources, and help spread the word about this valuable program that helps keep kids healthy and ready to learn.
I hope this letter finds you well and that you are all enjoying a wonderful summer vacation. As the start of the new school year approaches, I am excited to share some fantastic news with you. This year, we are thrilled to announce that all students in our District will receive free breakfast and lunch each school day. We believe that providing nutritious meals is essential to supporting our students' academic success and overall well-being.
Additionally, students will still have the option to purchase a second meal or à la carte items at the normal price. We want to ensure that all students have the flexibility to choose additional options if they wish.
We are committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive, and we hope that this initiative will help alleviate some of the burdens on our families. We look forward to seeing our students return to school, ready to learn and grow.
We are also pleased to inform you that our cafeterias will now be managed by Metz Food. We look forward to offering new and exciting food options for our students to enjoy.
Thank you for your continued support of our District and our students. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. We look forward to welcoming your children back to school soon.
With Spartan Pride,
Robert J. Ackell, Ed.D.
Superintendent
At North Schuylkill Jr./Sr. High School, we pride ourselves on providing our students with a high-quality education that is second to none in Schuylkill County. Our administration and faculty consistently reflect on best practices in education and look to implement strategies to promote growth and remove roadblocks to student achievement. Four years ago, when the district decided to invest further in our students by purchasing each child a Chromebook, we also began to reflect on the use of cell phones as an academic tool. Based on research, discussion as an administrative team, and input collected from our faculty, we plan to place restrictions on the use of cell phones during school hours. We are now seeking input from the North Schuylkill community. A meeting with stakeholders is scheduled for Monday, July 31, at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to attend as the high school administration will present the revised cell phone procedures and listen to stakeholder feedback. Links to a memorandum outlining the new procedures and a parent/guardian letter about the new procedures can be found below.
Letter on new Cell Phone Policy
