Our District

Located in McKean County, Pennsylvania, the Otto-Eldred School District works together with our community members to create a learning environment that promotes literacy and academic success in all of our students.

We believe our students can learn and succeed, and it is our responsibility to provide the resources students need to develop their full potential. As such, all students who graduate from the Otto-Eldred School District will be college or career ready, possessing the literacy skills they need to be an effective member of our society.

  • We believe all students can learn and succeed given appropriate standards-based curriculum and research-based instruction.
  • We believe staff and physical facilities should provide a supportive, safe, and secure environment in which to learn.
  • We believe each student is unique and the educational experience should encourage and develop creativity and innovation.
  • We believe educational excellence must be supported by continuous evaluation of facilities and resources, engaging instructional practices, and effective uses of technology.
  • We believe education is a lifelong pursuit and students must be equipped with the skills for success to compete and thrive in a tech-driven, global society.
  • We believe in dedication to excellence and high academic expectations while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
  • We believe academic excellence is achieved through innovative and engaging instruction that is supported through continual and individualized professional development.
  • We believe education should promote gratitude over entitlement, character development, ethical behavior, and a positive self-image which leads to being responsible citizens.
  • We believe effective leadership at all levels is essential to the success of our educational program.
  • We believe encouragement and support of innovation, flexibility, and creativity is necessary in order to successfully adapt to change.
  • We believe that the school, students, family, and community should have shared responsibility and shared decision-making in the educational process through collaboration and communication.
  • We believe excellence in all areas is identifiable, measurable, achievable, and worthy of pursuit.

A Message from Our Administration

January 2026

We want to share an important update about a new Pennsylvania law — Act 44 of 2025 — that affects how schools must communicate about student possession of weapons.

What the Law Requires
Act 44 of 2025 amends the Pennsylvania Public School Code to require schools to notify parents, guardians, and school employees within 24 hours when a student is found in possession of a weapon:

  • on school property
  • on school transportation (bus /van)
  • at a school-sponsored activity

The notification must be made using a method likely to reach the right people (for example: phone call/text message through School Messenger, or email). In buildings that share a campus with other schools, notification may extend to all families and staff across those buildings. Any message that is sent out will be brief and ensure confidentiality is maintained. While Act 44 prioritizes transparency, it also requires the district to protect student privacy and comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). By law, the identity of the student and specific details of the incident will only be shared with the student’s parents/guardians and the specific school employees to whom the student is assigned, as they are deemed to have a “legitimate educational interest”.

The law applies to all public, charter, private, and nonpublic schools throughout Pennsylvania.

Why This Matters
Act 44 is designed to increase transparency, so families and staff are informed quickly about any situation involving weapon possession at school. This helps build trust and ensures that parents and caregivers are aware of incidents that might affect their child’s environment.

Important Context: Not All Incidents Are Dangerous
It’s also important to understand that possession of an item classified as a “weapon” under the law doesn’t always mean there was a dangerous or violent intent. For example, a student may unintentionally bring an object that could be considered a weapon under state definitions, without any threat to others. In such cases, schools will still notify families as required, but the notice does not automatically mean that the school community was in danger. For example, in our rural area, hunting and camping are popular family activities. These activities may involve the use of knives that accidentally get stored in a bag that gets brought to school. In any situation involving a weapon on campus, the district must conduct a threat assessment along with any pertinent investigation and follow school code/school board policy regarding disciplinary hearings.

Our priority remains safety, calm communication, and ensuring that all families have accurate information about what happened. Thank you for your involvement and partnership in keeping our school community informed and safe.

Sincerely,

Mathew D. Splain

Superintendent
Otto-Eldred School District