On Jan. 8, 2026, Superintendent Brad Hatch sent an email to students, parents and staff, discussing the enactment of Act 44 of 2025, “Parental and Employee Notification of Weapon Incidents.”

According to the email Hatch sent, “It is important for families to understand that the definition of a weapon under the law may include what is sometimes referred to as “accidental” possession. For example, a student who inadvertently brings a pocketknife to school after a hunting or outdoor activity would still fall within the statutory definition of a weapon. Act 44 is unforgiving in this regard and mandates reporting of any item defined as a weapon under School Code regardless of intent.”

Hatch believes parents, staff and students should know what happens in schools. 

“Transparency is important,” Hatch said. “We feel we really prioritize communication.” 

According to Community Relations Director Paula Foreman, as a district, Altoona has “always been required to report any weapons violation.” 

“There’s a code of what we qualify as a weapon, and any time that would happen, they are documented by our blue services, and then they are recorded in what is called “Safe Schools,” Foreman said. 

“Let’s say you’re a teacher and you’re walking around in class and you see something that might be a pistol handle, protruding from someone’s pocket,” Hatch said. “We would want you to notify building administration immediately from there, building administration would then get our police officers. If you see something that’s concerning, and you see a post or something that’s online, you have a suspicion, report it.” 

According to Foreman, depending on where the incident occurs, the district has the option of “extending the notification.” 

“As a district, [we] made the decision that if or when an incident would occur, and we have to make a notification, we’ll do it district wide,” Foreman said. “I think that was the whole intent of the law.” 

A report must be made whether the incident happens at a school, or during a school function. A report must be made whether or not there was a harmful intent. 

“[If] you’re an Eagle Scout, and you’re in elementary school, and you forget to take your pocket knife out of your pocket, because you did something this weekend, something like that is unintended, but we would still have to notify families of that happening,” Foreman said.