Doctor Yucheff told the Central York School District board on Dec. 8 that Governor Shapiro signed Act 44 into law, creating a new statewide duty to notify parents, guardians and employees within 24 hours when a student is found in possession of a weapon on school property, at school-sponsored events, or on school transportation.

"With those notification requirements, the schools must notify parents and guardians within 24 hours of any incident of a weapon," Yucheff said, adding that the law takes effect on Jan. 5, 2026. He said the district is reviewing required templates and legal guidance with Saxton & Stump.

Yucheff sketched how notifications will be tiered: when an incident occurs on a single school campus, the building where the incident happened must notify families connected to that building and employees who worked directly with the student will receive more detailed information. If an incident occurs on a shared campus, both campuses would receive notice, he said.

Board members pressed for specifics. Director Walker asked whether look-alike items (for example, toy or replica weapons) are covered under the law; Yucheff said Saxton & Stump is reviewing whether and how look-alikes will be treated and whether policy 218.1 (weapons possession) needs revision. "That's actually an excellent question," he said, noting the district's solicitor will provide guidance on policy adjustments.

Board members also asked whether discovery of a weapon would automatically trigger a lockdown. Yucheff said discovery does not necessarily require a lockdown and that responses will be situational. He recommended using the district's Skyward email system to deliver broad notifications, because it provides the broad reach the law envisions.

The board discussed how to notify families after school-sponsored events (for example, athletic contests) and on specific transportation routes; Yucheff said the law requires identifying who to notify (for example, students on a particular bus) and that the district is developing implementation protocols.

Next steps: the district will continue working with legal counsel on required notification templates and will present draft notification language and policy updates to the board in upcoming meetings.