The East Penn Board of School Directors unanimously voted to award the contract for Emmaus High School’s new turf and track resurfacing project to Skepton Construction, Inc. at the Feb. 24 board meeting. On the previous recommendation of James Lynch, of D’Huy Engineering, the winning base bid of $1,490,000 plus bid alternates, soft costs and contingencies, went to the Pennsburg-based contractor.

The project total came to around $1.73 million with the added costs for installing the Emmaus Hornet logo at the center of the field, adding the words “Emmaus” and “Hornets” to the end zones, providing soccer lines, as well as boys and girls lacrosse lines.

The directors decided to save the district $13,000 by eliminating the concrete footings and structural work for a new scoreboard. The electrical work to provide power to the scoreboard remains in the base bid. Post sleeves and footings for ball protection netting are also part of the base bid, although the poles and netting are not included.

As project sponsor, Lehigh Valley Health Network will have their logos sewn onto the field.

Prior to voting, a request to address the board was granted to Chris DeJohn, of Lower Macungie Township, a supporter of the new turf field. He asked the directors to consider adding a new scoreboard to the project, suggesting advertising revenue could possibly provide returns on that investment.

School Superintendent Kristen Campbell discussed 2020-2021 budget priorities with the directors, having presented them with a preliminary list at the Feb. 10 meeting. She focused on a request for $220,000 for Fountas & Pinnell elementary literacy resources for grades two through five. She said it would provide consistent, research-based materials for students and teachers plus a Benchmark Assessment System to identify students’ instructional and independent reading levels, allowing teachers to plan responsive instruction.

Campbell explained the F&P literacy programs purchased in 2019 for kindergarten and first grade were proving successful in boosting student reading and writing abilities. The package included an assessment system and materials suited for class reading and independent reading.

“This year’s first grade cohort had higher baseline scores than the previous year after the implementation of Fountas & Pinnell materials in a full-day kindergarten program,” Campbell said. She cited feedback showing first grade reading scores went up from 38.57 points to 49.43 points August 2018 to May 2019. More remarkable, were the numbers from the current school year. First grade reading scores went up from 42.43 points to 69.14 August to November 2019.

Campbell mentioned the administration would later seek $80,000 to expand the program in the 2021-2022 budget by adding F&P Shared Reading/Independent Reading (book clubs) resources for grades four and five.

Although they were impressed, board members requested the administration provide them with a cost breakdown based on individual grade levels.

Campbell also noted a change to the projected recurring salary and benefits cost for a proposed district-wide behavior support interventionist bringing the salary to $101,500 from $92,000.

In her district update, Campbell congratulated school director Adam Smith on his recent appointment to the Future Ready Schools advisory panel. The national organization works with school and district leaders to implement strategies to create equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Campbell reminded all in attendance the East Penn School District International Fair is scheduled 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 29 in the high school cafeteria. The event is free and open to the public.

The 2020-2021 district student/teacher calendar was again reviewed, then approved unanimously. Beginning Aug. 30 and ending June 14, 2021, there are 184 student days. There are 191 teachers days including professional development time. Three snow days are built into the school year with five more tentative make-up days tacked on in June.

Emmaus High Student Government Association representatives Grace Comfort and Kaitlyn Csensits reported on recent winter dances and on individual students who racked up successes in sports, academics, vo-tech and music.

Lehigh Carbon Community College Vice Chair Ann Thompson explained the 2020-2021 LCCC operating and capital budgets to the board prior to their unanimously approving them. “What is best for students is what we do,” she remarked. Thompson championed the school’s dual enrollment program where high school students have an opportunity to earn an associate degree at the same time they attend high school.

The 2020-2021 Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit general operating budget and 2020-2021 Lehigh Career & Technical Institute budgets were also approved.

Board President Ken Bacher announced an executive session was held 7 p.m. prior to the public meeting on “negotiation and confidential matters.”

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 March 9 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.