The East Penn Board of School Directors voted unanimously to formally request from Lower Macungie Township the authority to assume the hiring and oversight of school crossing guards for Willow Lane Elementary School at the June 27 regular meeting.

The resolution had been tabled since 2021 when the township had suddenly decided to stop providing crossing guards for the school.

Before the vote, there was one request to address the board. Crossing guard Shirley Nylund spoke in favor of the district maintaining crossing guards at Willow Lane Elementary School.

“It is a difficult job,” Nylund said. She described speeding vehicles making the nearby busy intersections dangerous for the children walking to and from school.

The directors all expressed frustration with Lower Macungie Township’s commissioners reneging on their oversight and financial support after working with the district for nine years on the program.

“We are in an uncomfortable position,” Director Alisa Bowman said. She agreed with other board members there is a great need for crossing guards at Willow Lane Elementary School.

Director Paul Champagne mentioned the district could possibly encounter workmen’s compensation insurance and liability issues along with the extra expense of paying the crossing guards if the district chose to hire them as employees. East Penn had been contributing part of the funding to the township for those positions.

Directors Allan Byrd and William Whitney suggested using the budgeted funds to continue paying the crossing guards in the interim while changing over to an all volunteer program.

For Lincoln and Jefferson elementary schools, Emmaus borough oversees a volunteer program. Local police officers are available to fill in when a volunteer crossing guard calls in sick.

The Alburtis police force provides crossing safety for Alburtis Elementary School.

Director Adam Smith said it would be unfair to taxpayers in Emmaus and Alburtis if East Penn took on fully funding crossing guards for Willow Lane Elementary School. He strongly believed Lower Macungie Township should continue their financial support.

It was said Pennsylvania State Troopers police Lower Macungie Township and cannot be called upon to do crossing guard duty.

The board expressed confidence the district administration will be able to come up with a plan to deal with the situation.

Champagne encouraged parents of Willow Lane Elementary School students “make it known what they think” to the township government. The approximately $35,000 cost for the program is outweighed by the benefits the school provides the township he said.

School Superintendent Kristen Campbell thanked the directors for their support. She made it clear all crossing guards across the district are valued.

Campbell announced the supplemental weekend food program will continue throughout the summer. School offices will also be open.

She encouraged families of students to sync their Google calendars to the district’s Google calendar.

The East Penn District has many positions open and Campbell asked workers seeking part-time or full-time jobs to “consider joining us.”

The board approved the athletics general admission fees for 2022-2023 remaining unchanged. Adult admission stays at $5 and student admission is $3 to varsity football matches. General admission season tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for students.

Senior citizens with an East Penn Gold Card will be admitted free. Seniors without the card will be admitted at a student price for home events.

In personnel matters, the directors approved the resignations of school counselor Robert Pizzico and FTS math teacher Stephanie Rinker from Emmaus High School, as well as Lincoln Elementary School teacher Lauren Williams. These are effective early summer 2022.

Approved employee appointments effective Aug. 18 include English teacher Matthew Shaw and math teacher Stephanie Rinker for EHS, Ronald Malischewski for Grade 8 English Language Arts at Lower Macungie Middle School, Brooke Eshbach as a math teacher for Eyer Middle School, Kimberly Hauge as a special education teacher for Macungie Elementary School, Megan Leinhos as a special education teacher for Jefferson Elementary School, Rachel Seitz as a special education teacher for Shoemaker Elementary School and elementary teacher Marisa Ziegler for Willow Lane Elementary School.

In his inaugural report on the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Whitney said, “I’m still getting my feet wet.” He mentioned the unit is experiencing staffing challenges. They have renewed their early intervention program and the contracts for the three security officers, all experienced policemen.

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee member Champagne reported Dr. Lisa Greenawalt is taking over as executive director, replacing Dr. Thomas Rushton who had recently stepped down at LCTI.

Champagne declared Camp LCTI a success with 195 attendees. He also shared the good news enrollment is up with 2,400 students enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year.

President Joshua Levinson announced an executive session was held before the public forum on “safety, security and negotiations.”

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled July 11. 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.