Three Emmaus High School students and one parent addressed the East Penn Board of School Directors at the Jan. 25 virtual regular meeting.

The three student members of East Penn School District Coalition for Equality expressed concern their teachers may be restricted from candidly discussing systemic racism while in the classroom. They also belonged to the Black Student Union and advocated for the board to empower and protect the educators who are willing to frankly tackle this subject.

Student Elizabeth Adesanya mentioned that, of the district 25 percent minority population, only 4 percent were African American. She said, “I feel excluded and unwanted in the grand scheme of things.” She observed district teachers appear reluctant to discuss bigotry for fear of community backlash that may cost them their jobs. She said, “We are looking for teachers who can relate to us and have in-depth conversations on this crucial topic.”

Fellow student Brasciana Ford requested the board create a plan allowing teachers to provide lessons and discussion about racism in an appropriate manner. She quoted a few teachers on their concerns about not feeling comfortable teaching about bias and stereotypes at the risk of being misunderstood. Ford related another teacher she knows “had to walk a tightrope talking about the Capitol riot.”

Student Sydne Clarke was grateful for the conversations she had with a teacher outside the classroom about racism but said the subject should be handled within the classroom without fear of backlash. She appreciated the private conversations a handful of teachers were willing to have with her regarding intolerance in the U.S. Clarke implored the board and administration “cultivate a safe environment for teachers to not only discuss, but denounce racism in society.”

Jennifer Bowen was the fourth person to address the directors. As a parent of a special-needs child, she spoke about compensatory services for students with IEPs. Bowen asked the district prioritize the needs of such students. “Without purposeful communication with parents and families and a commitment to the spirit of individualized education programs, I fear that compensatory services will truly fail to compensate,” she concluded.

Bowen praised Elementary Supervisor of Special Education Meredith Frantz for being an “unfailing advocate” for her son. She also applauded the teachers at Wescosville Elementary School for being “pandemic heroes.”

In her district update, School Superintendent Kristen Campbell announced that, due to weather reports of an impending ice storm, school buildings will be closed, but remote instruction will be held Jan. 26.

She recognized 19 Emmaus High School art students who recently scored awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.

The district’s free breakfast and lunch program continues for East Penn students, the superintendent said.

Campbell said the district, along with Communities in Schools will present a virtual Mental Health Symposium Feb. 15-28. Prerecorded content and live interactive sessions are scheduled on a variety of topics. She encouraged families to participate in this community resource.

Emmaus Student Government Association members Grace Comfort and Bella Haigney reported on sports and extracurricular activities including the Class of 2021 Grad Spotlight. They also highlighted planning for Mr. Emmaus and outdoor activities for the spring.

A tax collector’s compensation plan was unanimously approved. The rate of compensation for the district’s real estate tax collectors was set at $3 for each of the first 2,000 tax payments processed, then $2 for each additional tax payment processed. Each collector is to be reimbursed for supplies and expenses in a sum not to exceed $1,000 per school tax year, conditioned upon their submitting receipts to the business office. The plan begins July 1, 2022 at the start of the fiscal year.

In personnel matters, the directors accepted the resignation of Lower Macungie Middle School special education teacher Kathryn Hillegass, effective in March.

They acknowledged the retirement of administrative assistant Joanne Christman, effective in March.

Assistant Superintendent Douglas Povilaitis provided a first reading on updates to board policies addressing extracurricular activities, interscholastic athletics, sudden cardiac arrest and “Nondiscrimination/Discriminatory Harassment School and Classroom Practices.” These include language reflecting recent changes to state law.

A new policy for “Discipline of a Student Convicted/Adjudicated of Sexual Assault” was introduced to comply with new state regulations. Povilaitis explained the new law was enacted to protect a victim of sexual assault from the convicted or adjudicated student perpetrator.

Bacher said no executive session was held before the public meeting.

The East Penn School Board meets 7:30 p.m. generally on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The next regular board meeting is scheduled Feb. 8. The public can access documents through BoardDocs and attend meetings online via a link on the district website.