Having reviewed the East Penn School District Health & Safety Plan at the previous meeting, the East Penn Board of School Directors voted to adopt the changes at its regular in-person meeting Feb. 28.

Beginning March 1 masks are optional district wide, including school buses. While contact tracing is being eliminated, positive COVID-19 cases would be posted on the district dashboard and reported to Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Quarantine of individuals exposed to COVID-19 would be eliminated except for unvaccinated household close contacts.

The administration will continue consulting with the Lehigh Valley Health Network doctors and follow federal and state laws.

There were 10 requests to address the directors from the packed board room before the vote. Before they came to the podium, President Joshua Levinson made clear his expectations for speakers and attendees to conduct themselves in a constructive and respectful manner. Fortunately, there was not a repeat of the out-of-control behavior exhibited at the previous meeting.

Macungie resident Jason Jenkins berated the administration over mask and other COVID-19 mitigation policies calling those measures “hypocritical.” With his vaccinated brother succumbing to COVID-19 in December 2021, Jenkins expressed his belief masks and vaccines “don’t work.” He said, “End it today! End it tonight! Go back to optional.”

“You can only live your childhood once,” Emmaus High School student Olivia Spedaliere, of Macungie, said as she requested mask mandates be ended.

Student Sienna Vermeulen, of Macungie, asked masks be made optional.

Upper Milford resident Jennifer Henry advocated for making masks optional for students and staff.

Dr. Chris Spedaliere, of Macungie, opened with the Upton Sinclair quote, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” He insinuated LVHN’s advice on the administration’s mask and mitigation were made at “secret meetings by people profiting from the pandemic.”

EHS seniors Olivia Pinocci-Wrightsman, of Zionsville and Sydne Clarke, of Macungie, expressed dismay at the recent $45,000 settlement agreement between the East Penn School district and the family of two district students.

Pinocci-Wrightsman called it a “painful and disappointing precedent” and challenged the district to support its equity goals, starting at the elementary school level.

Clarke commented she felt anger, frustration, and later, desolation at the settlement. “It is rooted in this district’s lack of action in regard to diversity, equity and inclusion as a whole,” she said. Clarke suggested the district hire a specialist in diversity, equity and inclusion in order to live up to its mission statement.

Heather Harlen, of Emmaus, provided insights and suggestions regarding the Pennsylvania Youth Survey and Panorama Student Survey. Reflecting on the Feb. 14 meeting mayhem, Harlen read a letter asking the directors ensure individuals addressing the board are able to do so without being intimidated by others in attendance.

Rev. Rebecca Mallozzi, of Emmaus, weighed in on civility at meetings. “It takes courage to listen. Led by courage we let others finish their sentences,” She said, “Led by courage, we do not bully and harass others, including students who share their views.”

Although Macungie resident Michelle Doster said the last meeting “got out of hand,” she criticized the directors for not voting on lifting the mask mandates then. “You made it political that night,” she accused the directors.

On a lighter note, Doster asked the board to consider making dance a competitive sport.

The directors accepted a $5,000 donation from Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union to provide financial support toward the district’s therapy dog program.

A presentation on Social-Emotional Learning was made by Supervisor of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction Tricia Gutman and Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction Michael Mihalik. They were joined by other members of the team, including School Psychologist Noelle Gecik and two student members.

They defined Social Emotional Learning as a means to provide students with the skills to be flexible and creative thinkers, effective communicators and control emotions, among others. Self-awareness, persistence, curiosity and compassion are a few of the attributes to be taught as well.

They shared the data from the recent Panorama SEL Survey for grades 3-12 and the Equity & Inclusion Survey for grades 6-12 indicating a need for this program.

Proposed goals include increasing student social and emotional health with comprehensive support services, practices and instruction. Buildings are to create practices that foster a culture and climate in service of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The comprehensive plan is to be presented to the board of directors April 25 with a public posting 30 days prior.

A revised draft of the 2022-2023 East Penn School District Student/Teacher Calendar was presented to the board by Assistant Superintendent Douglas Povilaitis. With 183 student days and 190 teacher days, two inclement weather makeup days are already built into the calendar. If needed, additional inclement weather days include April 5, 2023 as a full day or April 6, 2023 becomes an early dismissal day.

If fewer than two inclement weather days are used, the last day of school will be June 9, 2023. Otherwise, June 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2023 will be makeup days if needed.

District Treasurer Robert Saul presented an overview of revenue as part of the 2022-2023 Proposed Preliminary Budget. Revenue from local taxes, state and federal sources, as well as earnings from interest and other funding sources were examined.

In her district update, School Superintendent Kristen Campbell announced nominations of outstanding graduating seniors are being sought for the 2022 Graduate Spotlight. Online kindergarten registration begins March 1. She said the facilities and technology departments are seeking summer employees.

EHS Student Government Association representatives Katelyn Cole and Maggie Machulsky reported on the end of boys and girls basketball season and the rifle team achieving state champion status. Fundraising activities such as Shave for the Brave and Interact Club’s used shoe drive were brought up as well.

The board approved the 2022-2023 general operating budgets for Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Ann Thompson was unanimously reappointed as the East Penn Representative to the LCCC Board of Trustees for July through June 2028.

A first reading was held on the Board Code of Conduct policies with the addition of one for “Principles for Governance and Leadership.” Povilaitis explained these focused on efficiency, ethics and communication.

Levinson mentioned there was no executive session before the public forum.

He announced a special board meeting for 6 p.m. March 7 with the primary purpose to review the districtwide facility study.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for March 14. The public can access documents through BoardDocs via a link on the district website. Livestreaming of meetings is available on the district’s YouTube channel.