The East Penn Board of School Directors looked over the second part of the administration’s list of 2024-2025 budget priorities at the April 8 meeting.

The additional priorities presented by School Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell, Special Education Director Jody Freed and Administrative Supervisor Jennifer Carolla are for hiring personnel.

These include one Emmaus High School psychologist for $117,000; two special education teachers at $234,000; three instructional assistants at $79,000, moving six IAs from part time to full time at $66,000; one English language arts and one math teacher at $234,000 for the high school; one school counselor at $117,000 and an elementary school assistant principal costing $158,000 as part of the grade realignment plan.

With these 15 positions, plus the 10 positions discussed at the previous meeting, the administration is requesting $2,038,000 be earmarked for these priorities in total.

The administration presented a need for the additional personnel to bolster areas they say are currently under served.

According to Freed, with 2,762 students and an uptick in post pandemic mental health needs, EHS should have two psychologists instead of just one full time and another part of the time.

There is a need at the elementary level for an autistic support teacher and a learning support teacher to address the growing number of students with special needs and to comply with state regulations.

The same was said about the instructional assistants.

To maintain smaller class sizes and to better prepare individual students for the Keystone Exam and SAT Exam through test prep and practice, an English teacher and a math teacher are needed at the high school.

EHS Principal Beth Guarriello noted the additional math teacher would help address the deficits as outlined in the Targeted Support and Improvement plan presented at a previous board meeting.

While requesting one school counselor at this time, after realignment in the 2027-2028 school year, there would be four counselors per middle level building.

The elementary level assistant principal is needed to support administrative responsibilities at the large elementary buildings. After realignment, the assistant principal would be assigned to the Grade 5/6 building which would provide two assistant principals at each middle-level building.

As some of the positions were supported with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding or grants, the funding will no longer be continued.

Campbell mentioned taking these priorities out of the budget would reduce the tax increase to 3.2 percent.

Treasurer and Business Administrator Robert Saul explained the district could start budgeting now for addressing the district needs or put more money into the capital fund to pay for these needs later on. Both would require raising taxes.

The directors were supportive of what was presented. They understood the short-term gains as well as how it fit into the district’s long term plans, but expressed concerns over the projected 5% tax hike. Saul noted the ACT 1 Index for the district would be at 6.2% and expressed relief the proposed budget fall below that.

President Dr. Joshua Levinson expressed hope the district won’t be “boxed in to having 5% tax increases every year.”

Saul provided a 2024-2025 budget update and long range fiscal and capital plan to point out some revisions as they are a work in progress.

Saul displayed the need to budget for around $2 million of the committed fund balance from the ESSER offset funds for technology infrastructure maintenance.

On Page 47 of his long range fiscal and capital plan, Saul showed what the real estate tax impact would be on assessed values of various homeowners’ properties.

When it comes to state funding for the governor’s new “Proposed Adequacy Investment,” Saul was cautious. “I don’t feel there is bipartisan support at this time in regard to that ‘Proposed Adequacy Investment,’” Saul said. He was told by a member of the Senate Republican Caucus at a recent roundtable meeting, “The Senate will use funding as leverage for other legislative priorities and policy matters.” So far, Saul has not included that $1.3 million in his revenue calculations.

In her district update, Campbell announced students from Lower Macungie Middle School recently scored the “Outstanding Creativity Award” for their “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” video.

Eyer Middle School recently celebrated the facility’s 50th anniversary.

She mentioned East Penn School District has been recognized as “one of the best communities in the nation for music education” by the National Association of Music Merchants.

Campbell congratulated several EHS student musicians for being selected for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Honor Ensembles. They will be participating in the regional orchestra, chorus and band, as well as all-state chorus, wind ensemble and orchestra.

The superintendent praised two EHS student bakers studying at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute who won awards at the PA Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Leadership Conference. They were two of 12 LCTI students who garnered medals.

Several LCTI students had strong performances at the 45th Annual Penn Future Health Professional State Conference.

A Shave for the Brave event to raise funds to help children with pediatric cancer will be held April 26.

In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirements of EHS French teacher Deborah Kalb effective July 1 and of Scott Walbert from his key position in the maintenance garage as lock/door mechanic as of April 2.

Campbell noted Kalb’s 22 years serving the district including time spent as world language department’s chair. Walbert was described by Campbell as “really diligent” during his 15-year tenure with East Penn.

The directors also accepted the resignation of Eyer Middle School special education/autistic teacher Taylor Feher effective April 12.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Douglas Povilaitis mentioned some minor wording changes were made during a second reading of a policy on public participation in board meetings.

LCTI Joint Operating Committee member Jeffrey Jankowski reported there are more applications than classroom seats at the tech school.

There were no requests to address the board.

Levinson announced an executive session was held before the public forum 6:30 p.m. on “matters related to litigation and real estate.”

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. April 22. 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.