The East Penn School District administration and school directors received an update on progress with the district’s K-8 realignment at the Oct. 28 regular board meeting.

Before getting down to business they applauded 10 Emmaus High School academic achievers.

Daniel Witmer, Colby Zheng and William Zheng received recognition as 2025 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

Recognized as 2025 National Merit Scholarship Commended Students were Aiden Cannon, Michael Carter, Brayden Dang, Connor Iyengar, Andrew Lee, Griffin Messenlehner and Anna Smith.

While not just outstanding academically, School Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell said, “They are also heavily involved in school extracurricular and co-curricular activities and certainly contributing members of the community as well.”

EHS student government representatives Lindsey Kahler and Lexi Howard were introduced to board members as they took their seats.

Kahler described Homecoming activities and recent team accomplishments in fall sports while Howard spoke about clubs and promoted the upcoming school fall play, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.”

Director of Educational Alternatives Jennifer Carolla and Stephen Behrens from Breslin Architects delivered a long-awaited K-8 realignment update presentation.

As previously approved by the board, the direction of the grade realignment involves the existing elementary schools teaching students from kindergarten through fourth grade.

Eyer Middle School would become a fifth and sixth grade center with the student cohort attending Lower Macungie Middle School for grades seven and eight.

Both middle schools would undergo renovations and upgrades after classroom additions are constructed.

The cafeteria would be renovated and expanded at LMMS. It is proposed a gymnasium addition be included in the process.

The two facilities would be handled as two separate projects with Project 1 and Project 2 having slightly staggered timelines for completion.

With an architecture firm selected and the pre-design phase complete, the next step involves schematic design, followed by land development, design development, construction documents and bidding taking place 2025 through 2026.

Construction phases would begin in 2026 with the two middle schools ready sometime in 2028 for grade realignment to take place.

School Director Jeffrey Jankowski and other board members voiced frustration on the completion date for the middle school projects being a year behind the schedule they had been given in 2023. It was explained the previous year’s presentation had been a conceptual one and the bidding process and committee work had taken awhile.

Headed by a steering committee, there are a dozen other committees made up of educators, administrators and community stakeholders working on programs and logistics for such a large undertaking.

A final building program is to be reviewed by the board at the November meeting with a construction manager appointed by February 2025. The directors would be asked to approve the schematic design in April 2025.

When they asked about the high school, the directors were informed renovation and expansion plans would come further down the road.

Voting unanimously, the directors approved the new EHS AP African American Studies curriculum and new EHS science curricula effective for the 2025-2026 school year.

Afterward the board was presented with additional curriculum updates and changes for the high school 2025-2026 program of studies by EHS Principal Beth Guarriello.

Much of these were considered “clerical” as wording was clarified to align with attendance expectations, graduation requirements, dual enrollment course opportunities with West Chester University and some course changes.

Creative writing will be discontinued and there will be a proposed course focused on public speaking and communication. A few other courses will be removed as part of the district’s ongoing detracking direction.

As with the curriculum approved previous to her presentation, Guarriello explained the changes are meant to provide students with greater choice and to allow them more flexibility with their schedules.

In her district update, Campbell announced the new AI policies can be viewed through a Family Tech Resources link on the district website.

She gave a shout out to three former East Penn athletes inducted into the District 11 Hall of Fame. They include Shannon Williams (Class of 2021), Keith Dorney (Class of 1975) and former athletic director Dennis Ramella.

Campbell reminded all that the EHS Theater Department presents “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” 7 p.m. Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 in the EHS auditorium. Senior citizen gold card holders will receive a complimentary ticket to any of the performances.

Those gold card holders can also enjoy a free lunch Nov. 21 at the high school or either middle schools during the district’s annual Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon. School bus drivers and crossing guards are invited to share in the meal, as well.

In personnel matters, the directors approved the 2025 retirements of Assistant Facilities Director Mark Warden effective Feb. 3, 2025, EHS math teacher Kelly Lesko effective June 30, 2025, as well as Eyer Middle School sixth grade teacher Douglas Hunsicker and science teacher Heidi Rauch-Hambrick, Macungie Elementary School first grade teacher Stephanie Yoder and EHS social studies teacher Steven Yoder, all effective June 11, 2025.

Campbell expressed appreciation for their combined 138 years of service to the East Penn School District.

New hire Emma Triano was approved as a special-education teacher at Willow Lane Elementary School effective Jan. 6, 2025.

Policy updates regarding tobacco and vaping products, use of school facilities, public attendance at school events, municipal government relations, school calendar and public records were adopted.

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit Board Member Dr. William Whitney reported on emotional support programs at three schools helping around 90 students across the IU’s service area.

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee member Dr. Joshua Levinson announced an open house will be held Nov. 14.

There were no requests to address the board.

Levinson mentioned an executive session was conducted before the public forum 7 p.m. on litigation.

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