The East Penn Board of School Directors observed a moment of silence for Denise M. Mullin, a Wescosville Elementary School instructional assistant, at the board’s first meeting of 2020 Jan. 13. Mullin died Dec. 14, 2019 at age 54.

A request to address the board was granted to Emmaus High School senior Nate Garcia, who transferred from the Lehigh Valley Charter High School of the Arts during his junior year. Although the Emmaus resident had completed East Penn district sophomore requirements as instructed by the guidance department in his junior year, Garcia said, “It wasn’t until November of my senior year that I was informed by my guidance counselor that I was missing a quarter-credit from my freshman year.” He called the timing “ridiculous.”

The award-winning high school visual arts major and AP student with a full course schedule requested the district waive the freshman year quarter-credit physical education requirement so he could graduate on time. Garcia said, “… no one should be barred from graduation due to credits they could not earn at another school.” He explained that, “Due to the heavy artistic involvement of the curriculum, physical education was not offered at the [Charter Arts] school.”

School Superintendent Kristen Campbell expressed sympathy to Garcia’s situation and praised him for his accomplishments. Following the meeting, Campbell said the administration will look into the waiver request.

In her district update, Campbell mentioned the administration’s ongoing study of the challenges and benefits of changing start times for high school students. According to Campbell, the use of time committee at the high school will soon be delving into feedback from a survey administered to students, teachers and parents in December 2019. After developing various alternative schedule proposals, the administration’s goal is to present their findings and suggestions to the directors and the community by June.

“Any potential schedule changes for Emmaus High School would likely not take place until the 2021-2022 school year,” Campbell said.

“I’m looking forward to the presentations in the spring,” Alisa Bowman said on the use of time committee’s work. “This is an incredibly important subject for us to be looking into.”

In personnel matters, the directors accepted the resignation of Michele Fowkes, a sixth grade reading teacher at Lower Macungie Middle School, effective Feb. 7.

They also approved special education teacher Ashley Lerch, effective Jan. 14, to fill in for Kayla Gurst at LMMS while Gurst takes a leave of absence.

Custodial new hires were approved for Dennis Morgan for LMMS and maintenance electrician Jonathan Kegley for the district maintenance garage effective at the end of January.

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute joint operating committee member Joshua Levinson reported the new welding lab was on track, on budget and the grand opening is planned for Feb. 5.

Board President Ken Bacher said an executive session was held 6:45 p.m. prior to the public meeting on “personnel, real estate and negotiation.”

Bacher announced all district schools and offices will be closed Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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 for Jan. 27 in the board room of the administration building where free WiFi is available for audience members. The public can access documents through BoardDocs via a link on the district website.