Lansdowne, PA – October 16, 2026

Dear WPSD community,

We are writing to provide a further update on developments with Penn Wood Athletics.

Today, students at Penn Wood High School-GAC and the Ninth Grade Academy participated in walkouts. We are listening to the voices of our students and recognize their right to peacefully protest under the First Amendment. We took a coordinated community approach, with student safety as our priority, and will continue to balance students’ rights and safety in our response.

As we shared yesterday, the District has received information about conduct involving student-athletes that, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence, would violate Board policies. No conclusions have been reached. This matter requires a thorough outside investigation, and we are finalizing an agreement with an investigator who can fairly gather and evaluate evidence in light of District policy.

We recognize the disappointment and legitimate concerns caused by the suspension of athletics. The District made a difficult decision out of concern for athlete safety and the culture and climate of our programs. We understand that the suspension affects students and families across our athletic programs. It is not intended to be permanent.

Our first step is to hear from students as they will have an active role in helping us understand their experiences and identify ways to support safe, positive school-sponsored activities. We will begin the survey process this weekend.

We are taking steps toward resuming athletic programs with measures in place to address our current concerns. As we evaluate each team’s culture and climate, we will identify areas for improvement and address any gaps in safety precautions. Teams may resume activities when the District determines that appropriate measures are in place to support student safety.

We do not yet have all the answers. We are working to understand the concerns, hear from students, and meet our responsibility to provide a safe and positive environment in compliance with Board policies and applicable laws. We appreciate the community’s patience as this process moves forward and will share updates as we are able.

Thank you.