From the Superintendent's Desk

Dear STHS Families,

In accordance with Section 1303.2-A of the PA School Code (24 P.S. 1303.2-A), the District is providing this notification regarding an incident involving a weapon at a school-sponsored activity off-campus at Harry S. Truman High School during a football game on Friday, October 2nd.  During the game, two high-school aged juveniles - one a Truman student and the other a student who attends a separate school but is a resident of that district - attempted to bring two backpacks into the event and were turned away at the gate.  They then attempted to conceal the backpacks on school grounds outside the stadium and entered the event.  School officials discovered the backpacks on the school grounds and conducted a search.  During the search, officials discovered marijuana and two firearms.  The firearms were secured and appropriate safety measures were implemented. Law enforcement on site took the juveniles into custody.  No firearms were discharged, and no threats or injuries were reported during the incident.  

The District takes the safety of our students and families very seriously, and we will continue to enforce our own safety measures at all home athletic contests as communicated just last weekend.  We are also appreciative of the staff at Truman High School for their reinforcement of safety measures and their vigilance and diligence in ensuring the safety of everyone at the event last night.

Please direct any questions or concerns regarding this incident or any matter related to ongoing safety and security efforts to Athletic Director Mr. Joe Ferraro; Principal Dr. Meghan Markle; Supervisor of Campus Safety Mr. Steve Chinta; or to me.  Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear SDST Community,

This communication is focused on expected behaviors and supervision of students at large public events, most notably, our Friday night football games. Football games bring together students, families, alumni, and neighbors to support the hard work of our student-athletes, band members, and cheerleaders in a spirited and positive environment.

In recent years we have seen attendance at our home football games rise to between 500-750 visitors, with Homecoming approaching 1,000 attendees.  As attendance grows, we want to ensure that everyone is contributing to the positive atmosphere. In order to do that, the game must remain safe, orderly, and focused on the students performing on the field, on the sidelines, and in the stands. In order to support these expectations, we have hired officers from the Springfield Township Police Department and security team members from Cardinal Point, our district security team.  In addition, multiple members of the STHS administration are in attendance at every home game.  

Despite these efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming stadium experience, we have recently experienced concerns regarding student behavior that warrant reminders to students and families.  We are therefore reinforcing the following expectations for all spectators at Spartan Stadium beginning with tonight’s home game.  

Supervision of Students

Families of students in elementary and middle school are requested to plan for a parent, guardian, or adult chaperone to arrive with students and remain with them at the event. This support is particularly important in the event of a health emergency, weather delay, or a situation that requires the stadium to be cleared.

The purpose of the evening is to watch and support the students performing. Students therefore should only be out of the bleachers to use the restroom or purchase food or drink at the concession stand. At all other times, students will be redirected to their seats in the bleachers by members of our security team.

Students who are disrupting the event, loitering rather than watching the game, entering restricted areas, or failing to follow the directions of the game-management staff will be directed to identify their chaperones and may be removed from Spartan Stadium.  

Stadium Policies

The following policies are in effect at all home athletic contests in Spartan Stadium:

• Bag Policy: Backpacks and bags larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches, or approximately the size of your hand, are not permitted into Spartan Stadium.
• No Re-Entry: Once a guest has left Spartan Stadium, they are not allowed to return.
• No Balls (Footballs, Soccer Balls, etc): We will not permit any outside balls into Spartan Stadium
• No Outside Food or Drink: Outside food and drinks are not permitted. All items will be discarded at the gate or must be returned to your vehicle.
• Drug & Alcohol Free Campus: SDST is a drug and alcohol-free campus. We expect all attendees, regardless of age, to respect this policy at all times. This includes the use of electronic cigarettes and vapes.
• Weapon Free Campus: SDST is a weapon free zone; spectators in violation of this policy will be immediately reported to the Springfield Township Police Department.

Student Code of Conduct

All school rules as outlined in our Code of Conduct are in effect for both home and away events for all students.  Students and families are reminded that we expect positive, respectful behavior by all of our students whether they are participating at contests in our stadium, gym or pool, or at any contest in another school district.  We appreciate your partnership in making athletic events safe, respectful, and focused on supporting our students and teams.

This information has been shared with students at both STMS and STHS this week.  We would appreciate your reinforcement of our expectations as the weekend begins.

Thank you, and Let’s Go Spartans!

Sincerely,

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Meghan Markle
STHS Principal

Joe Ferraro
STHS Athletic Director

Dear Families of SDST,

I am proud to share that Dr. Meghan Dennis, our Director of Student Services, has accepted an offer to return to her home district, Central Bucks School District, to serve as its next Director of Special Education. Sadly, this means that Dr. Dennis will be leaving us later this fall.

Dr. Dennis has been a Spartan since 2023. Throughout her time in Springfield Township, she has provided comprehensive leadership for our students, staff, and families as we have continued to build, refine, and enhance services and supports for students with disabilities across our district.

While we will miss Dr. Dennis, I am very happy for her and her family. This opportunity will allow her to contribute to the community where she was raised, where her husband teaches, and where her children attend school. She will bring her experience, care, and commitment to a district as it continues to navigate challenges experienced over the past several years.

To provide continuity of leadership and service, I am pleased to recommend that Ms. Nicolle Schrage serve as Interim Director of Student Services for the 2026–2027 school year. Ms. Schrage has served as our Supervisor of Special Education for several years. Prior to joining the Office of Student Services, she was a successful Special Education teacher and Transition Coordinator at Springfield Township High School. She has well-established and positive relationships with our staff and families and will provide steady leadership for the department during this transition.

With the Board’s support, we will also hire an interim supervisor to support Ms. Schrage and the department. Our goals throughout the coming year will be to continue providing continuity of service to all students and to support our Student Services faculty with clear and consistent objectives.

We anticipate conducting a search for a permanent Director of Special Education in the spring, with a target start date of July 1, 2027. Waiting until the spring will allow the fullest possible pool of candidates to apply.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Dennis and wishing her well as she takes this next important step in her professional career. I am grateful for her leadership and for the commitment of our entire Office of Teaching and Learning team as we continue to support our students and families.

Sincerely,

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Dear Springfield Community,

I hope you are enjoying the start of the 2026-2027 school year.  This week we are pleased to welcome representatives of the MidAtlantic Equity Consortium for focus group discussions centered around proactive strategies our community can employ to continue to foster a strong sense of belonging for all students and families in our schools.  Please consider attending one of this week's sessions and answering this brief survey to help us plan for your participation.  Thank you.

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear SDST Community,

Good morning.  I hope you are enjoying a fantastic summer.  Here in the district we have been working since your departure in mid-June to prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, which begins in just a few weeks!  I want to provide a few brief reminders for your information. Please contact your child's building principal or the district office with any questions and we will do our best to help you!

• The first day of school for all students is Monday, August 31st.
• On August 13th at 3:00 p.m., the following will occur:
  • All families who utilize district transportation will receive information about your bus routes from Mr. Bray, Director of Transportation.
  • All families whose children attend district schools will receive information about teacher assignments, class schedules, and opening of school activities from your child's building principal.
  • The PowerSchool portal will reopen for all families.

For additional information about district events, please consult our district event calendar, which may be found on our newly redesigned website under the Quick Links tab.  To subscribe to the calendar to receive updates, select the district and/or building calendars to which you would like to subscribe, scroll down to the graphic calendar, and click the small grey box at the top right.  This will allow you to subscribe to our calendars and have events added to your personal calendar.

I hope you enjoy the remainder of the summer!

Thank you, 

MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D.

Superintendent