3rd Party Investigation Underway, Added Police Presence At North Penn

LANSDALE, PA — A third party investigation will be opened into the attack on a seventh grade student in the North Penn School District that left a young girl hospitalized and a school community traumatized and grasping for answers.

It's one of a series of reactive moves announced by the district this week as they look to address concerns brought up by angry parents and students who said that the assault never should have happened. During last Thursday night's board meeting, a large crowd participated in the public comment section, levying blame for the attack on the district for not listening to warnings from students.

See related: Parents Outraged After Unprovoked North Penn Middle School Attack

"I want to acknowledge the hurt, trauma, concern, and angst that has resulted from the incident," Superintendent Todd Bauer said. "As I stated in my communication on Wednesday, I am also appalled by what happened that day...many community members expressed their disappointment and anger regarding the incident and demanded answers and action steps to ensure that this type of event does not happen again in our schools."

Details on the third party investigator were not made immediately clear. The district said the investigator will "examine the totality" of the attack and come back to the district with an analysis and recommendations.

Superintendent Todd Bauer added that there will be a school safety forum, involving community and local experts, to help North Penn improve the safety programs and measures already in place.

Each school building will also form a student safety committee to address concerns.

Parents had urged the district to release security footage of the attack for the sake of transparency, but Bauer declined to provide additional details on the incident.

"Students and families have a right to due process and confidentiality," Bauer said. "What I can tell you is that we will be tireless in our demonstration to you that we, too, share your concern and are committed to substantial improvement today and in the long-term future."

The district said that police will making more regular visits to North Penn buildings, and that the school was already working with the county to review its safety protocols.

The incident occurred at around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday during the seventh grade lunch at Pennbrook Middle School.

Police and school officials said the victim, a girl, was walking when the attacking student ran up to her and began beating her repeatedly on the back of the head with the metal cup.

Initial reports indicated that there had been an altercation, but police confirmed Friday that the incident was an assault, not a fight.

North Penn's coordinator of emergency management and safe schools, Brandon Rhone, will provide additional updates to the community on action being taken in response to the fight during the next Safe Schools Committee meeting on Monday, April 29 at 5:45 p.m