A full house of 124 students and parents attended the Sept. 12 East Penn School District Board of Directors meeting, with 18 people addressing the board with various concerns.

Retired teacher Carlen Blackstone was first to address the board, voicing her concern that over 70 plaques belonging to the American Computer Science League team had gone missing from the classroom they had been installed in. Blackstone asked what the policy was on such awards, and noted that despite the retirement of other coaches in the past, awards were still hung, citing they belong to the students. The ACSL has had a “storied program that has made a difference in our lives we live today, and that of the future... many graduates are millionaires today.”

The concerns of many students and their parents was the topic of transgender or gender neutral bathrooms and their application in schools. A few students and parents were concerned discrimination may occur if transgender individuals were to use bathrooms of their personal gender. Many students came simply to offer support and said they were comfortable with sharing the locker and current bathrooms with students who identify as transgender. One student who identified as transgender thanked the East Penn School District. “I will always remember it is East Penn that has always supported me...regardless of the fact that I’m transgender.”

Speakers noted some students have not been as lucky however, as some transgender students are ostracized, or picked on; some enrolling in cyber programs so they do not have to go to traditional school to avoid possible ridicule and seek shelter in a delicate stage of development in a young person’s life.

The school does offer gender specific and gender neutral bathrooms but only gender specific locker rooms for gym classes for students to use at their personal discretion, A transgender student said he has “never had any sort of issue changing in the locker rooms, you don’t even see anything... Students can change in gender neutral bathrooms if they feel uncomfortable with the locker rooms, but there are curtains in there (the locker room) too to use.”

Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder issued a statement regarding transgender students, saying, “East Penn School District abides by all Title IX regulations regarding non-discrimination of students. The administration continues to review communication received from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education regarding transgender students. The district expects further direction and clarification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and is working closely with the East Penn Board solicitor to make sure the district is in full compliance with all current laws and regulations.

“Each school’s administration handles requests from transgender students and their parents individually and confidentially, offering accommodations in accordance with Title IX regulations. At the present time, the district feels it is in full compliance with the law. Furthermore, I pledge...to uphold the rights of transgender students and to support them in...their often difficult journey.”

Eric McAfee of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission gave a presentation on current and projected demographics for the East Penn School District area. Schilder expressed to the board this information is “not a wish list, it is information and recommendations for growth and development of the school district.”

The presentation featured projections of population growth for the EPSD area. While much of the EPSD area is a “mixed bag” of growth hovering around a typical 5 percent, McAfee noted households are increasing in number for both Upper and Lower Macungie, proportionately more are smaller households in Lower Macungie, and Upper Macungie has a dominant increase in larger nuclear family households, with both groups seeing over 40 percent growth in population since 2000.

Schilder reported all the schools in the district are off to a good start. There were some “glitches;” one of those being large class sizes in first and fifth grades at Willow Lane Elementary School, fourth grade at Shoemaker Elementary School, kindergarten at Macungie Elementary School and “quite a few core classes at the middle and high school with 28 to 30 or more.”

The number of students has increased at the middle schools with Lower Macungie Middle School going from 1,136 to 1,153 students this year and Eyer Middle School going from 861 to 903 students this year.

Schilder does not recommend additional teachers citing the use of existing instructional assistants has worked in the past and would be used again and has allowed for the addition of an instructional assistant at Willow Elementary School.

Some transportation issues have occurred the first week regarding bus routes, notably the St. Thomas More School bus route time has increased from 25 to 75 minutes as a result of “actual increased efficiencies. Had the borough not done that, they would have had to add a bus elsewhere in the district and guidelines do allow for up to a 90-minute bus ride for private and charter schools.”

Schilder also reported students have accepted the presence of School Resource Officer Al Kloss and his SRO specific training should be complete by the end of September.

The new Board Policy Series 300 was tabled for adoption at a future meeting pending revision.

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit reports a new youth forestry camp which would collaborate with the Department of Corrections and offer remedial courses to troubled youth in an effort to inspire students to learn and develop a skill set useful to them. Prior, construction skill had been offered, but under a new grant, computer classes like graphic and printing design are now available.

The board accepted the resignation of board member Francee Fuller, effective Sept. 12. Fuller was thanked for her 15 years of service to the board and East Penn School District.

The Board has 30 days to appoint a new member; however, if they fail to appoint a new member, such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the School Code and Sunshine Act and by appointment by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy. The board member so appointed shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term or, if earlier, until the first Monday in December after the first municipal election occurring more than 60 days following his/her appointment. Interviews are tentatively scheduled 6 p.m. Oct. 10.

The meeting was adjourned 11:28 p.m. The next meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26.