The East Penn School District Board of School Directors unanimously approved the appointment of Katherine Kieres as Emmaus High School principal at the May 22 meeting. The former assistant principal at EHS from 2006 to 2011, and more recently, the assistant superintendent at Palisades School District, will replace David Piperato at the end of the school year. Piperato had resigned from the position to become the superintendent of Pleasant Valley School District.

In other business, Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder and business administrator Robert Saul provided a budget update to the school directors. Saul made adjustments to the budget, factoring in new information.

Key points in the proposed preliminary general fund budget include:

•Total budget: $148,587,179

•Total budget increase (includes enhancement to budgetary reserve): $6,380,863

•Retirement rate: 32.57 percent

•Projected charter school costs: $4,831,319

•Employee salary increase: $1,439,897

•Employer health insurance cost decrease: ($1,808,789)

• Millage: 18.2102 with a tax increase of 2.9 percent

•Budgetary reserve: $7,069,700 with a percentage of the total budget at 5 percent

•Fund balance (includes budgetary reserve): $8,935,911 with a percentage of total budget at 6.01 percent

Prioritized district needs include:

•Technology plan for infrastructure (to be combined with capital reserve): $165,000

•Technology plan for Chromebooks and iPads: $780,182

•Elementary science program: $165,000

•Communities in Schools (EHS): $86,000

Personnel:

•Lower Macungie Middle School teacher: $85,000

•Middle school psychologist: $95,000

•EHS special education teacher: $85,000

•Curriculum and instruction supervisor: $110,000

Several board members debated if there were ways to reduce the percentage of the budget reserve in order to provide enough taxpayer relief that would reduce the projected 2.9 percent tax increase. Some, like directors Chris Donatelli and Carol Allen, were not convinced students in kindergarten through fifth grade need one-on-one computers. Board President Alan Earnshaw strongly disagreed with them.

Director Charles Ballard reported the state government has yet to pass a budget and recommended keeping things as flexible as possible.

The final budget is expected to be ready for a vote in June.

Schilder and Earnshaw recognized 16 East Penn Lehigh Career and Technical Institute students for awards earned at the state level competition.

Jacob Bala, Michaela Breslin, Jacqueline Fox, Kevin Hedrick, Luis Hesmhant, Ashley Hilbert, Raven Jenkins, Matthew Kirby, Jeffrey Reed, Jasiah Roy, Agostina Sanchez Arias, Lorean Santana, Laurie Slagle, Autumn Weber, Kali Wickkiser and Tyler Wursta where publicly honored for their recent achievements.

Schilder mentioned 20 EHS students participated in the annual Pennsylvania State History Day Competition at Carlisle Area High School. Two EHS students, taking first place in a recent science fair regional competition, will next be competing on the state level.

Schilder also announced a dedication ceremony 1:30 p.m. June 8 for the new high school observatory located by the EHS tennis courts.

He recognized the East Penn School District Education Foundation for the successful mini-gala held May 10 at the Lehigh Country Club. This was the foundation’s first official fundraising event to provide money for the Innovator Grant Program.

EHS Student Government Association members addressed the board. Leah Tannous announced the EHS production of “Miss Saigon” was nominated for 18 Freddy Awards. Kira Koehler reported the recent EPC Championship win by the boys volleyball team. According to Koehler, the boys fitness team placed first and the girls placed second at the national meet held in California. Also, EHS team member Jac Cornell was named 2017 national fitness champion. This is Koehler’s last board meeting, as she graduates this year.

The East Penn Board of School Directors meet regularly 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled June 12 in the board room of the administration building.