New State-Mandated Safety Notifications Beginning January 2026

Good afternoon York Suburban Families and Staff.

Happy New Year! As we prepare to return from break on Monday, I want to share an update on our school safety communications procedures, which will take effect next week.

As you may have heard, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 44 of 2025, which establishes consistent, statewide requirements for how school districts notify families and staff about incidents involving items classified as weapons.

Under Act 44, notifications are required in a wide range of situations, including some that do not pose a safety risk or disrupt the school day, such as toy items that resemble weapons or a utensil like a dinner knife that was unintentionally packed in a student’s lunch. While these messages are meant to keep families and staff informed, the increase in their frequency may raise questions about school safety. Please be assured that our classrooms remain just as safe as ever. The higher number of notifications simply reflects our responsibility to comply with the state’s broader requirements.

What to Expect Beginning January 5th

In the event of a true safety emergency, families will continue to receive notifications via phone call, text message, and email, as appropriate. For the Act 44 weapons-related notifications, we will follow these procedures.

  • If a weapon-related incident occurs, an email will be sent to families and staff of the affected school within 24 hours. If the school shares a campus, such as Valley View Elementary and York Suburban High School, both school communities will be notified.
  • If an incident occurs on school transportation or at a school-sponsored activity, notifications will be sent to the families and staff connected to that vehicle or event.
  • Emails will be sent from Dr. Rebecca Lorfink, District Assistant Superintendent/School Safety and Security Coordinator.

What Notifications Will (and Will Not) Include

Notifications will share basic information about the date and location of the incident. Because of confidentiality laws, we are not permitted to share student names, grade levels, or other identifying details with families. While specific disciplinary actions cannot be disclosed, please be assured that all incidents are addressed in accordance with Board policy and, when appropriate, in coordination with local law enforcement.

How You Can Help

Conversations, both at school and at home, are essential in maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment. We encourage you to:

  • Remind students that weapons of any kind (including toys) are not permitted on school property.
  • Talk with students about their role in keeping our schools safe and reinforce the importance of See Something, Say Something, which helps staff respond quickly and appropriately.
  • Visit the Safety and Security section of our website for more information about District safety measures: https://www.yssd.org/departments/safety/

Caring for our students and staff is at the heart of everything we do, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us each day. 

I look forward to welcoming students and staff back on Monday, January 5, and wish you all a peaceful and enjoyable remainder of the break.

Sincerely,

Scott T. Krauser, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
skrauser@yssd.org