The East Penn Board of School Directors’ Aug. 28 meeting coincided with the first day of school for students in the district.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder announced the day went smoothly, saying “Transportation-wise, it was probably the best year we’ve had since STA has been with us.” He noted there were few missed pick-ups and late buses. When a child got on the wrong return bus, the alert driver delivered the student to the right home. Schilder mentioned there had been an accident at the end of the day when an automobile rear-ended a bus filled with 16 high school students. He said there were no injuries even though “the car was totaled, but the driver of the car was fine, as were the students, who were fine.”

Schilder informed the board there were new state regulations regarding immunizations. Students must now be immunized by the fifth day of school or be sent back home on the sixth day if they have not been given their shots. If a pupil can produce a schedule of planned immunizations signed by the doctor by the sixth day, he or she will be allowed to attend classes. The only other exceptions are children of parents who object to vaccines for religious or other reasons and have filled out the appropriate paperwork. This new rule affects 567 students in the district who need to be up-to-date on their immunization records before Sept. 6.

Schilder reported all went well with the teachers’ first day of school Aug. 21 where board President Alan Earnshaw presented “a wonderful speech that day on childhood curiosity,” and Keynote speaker Carl Hooker talked with teachers about technology integration.

The EPSD Foundation has $10,000 available in teacher grants which was announced at the teacher gathering.

Laura Groh, the district’s community liaison, presented the District Day 2017 video she created for the teachers’ event to the board. The short film focused on the many ways East Penn students have given back to the community with fundraisers, blood drives, coat drives, goody bags for first responders and recognition and help for veterans.

On personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation of Emmaus High School biology teacher Justin McNicholas effective Sept. 12.

The school directors approved the temporary professional employee appointment of Nicole Fenstermaker as a speech and language therapist at EHS effective Oct. 27 or sooner. She replaces Christina Bayura who recently resigned.

Two full-time substitute assignments for Wescosville Elementary School were approved by the board. Barbie Vergamini, an autistic support teacher, will fill in for Jennifer Abrams, while Abrams takes a leave of absence. Speech and language therapist Kelly Maner will cover for Haley Schleicher during her leave of absence.

The school directors decided via paper ballots which candidates to support in the upcoming 2018 Pennsylvania School Boards Association elections. The candidates garnering support from the district were Otto W. Voit for president-elect (one-year term), Eric Wolfgang for vice president (one-year term), Mike Gossert for treasurer (three-year term) and Michael Faccinetto as PSBA insurance trust trustee (with a term ending Dec. 31, 2020).

The school board went through a second reading of school district operations policy series 800 Operations: Part 2 of 2 and series 200 Pupils.

Director Charles Ballard reported the state legislature was still out on recess and was scheduled to return to Harrisburg Sept. 11. He complained, “We have a ‘budget’ passed but no authorized revenue to fund the budget.” Ballard said he was not sure yet how the delay will affect school funding.

An executive session was held on personnel matters following adjournment.

The East Penn Board of School Directors meet 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled Sept. 11 in the board room of the administration building.