In her district update at the Jan. 27 regular school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell asked those headed to the grocery store this week to support East Penn by rounding up at the local Giant Food Store register when making a purchase.

Campbell said through March 31, Giant customers can support local public school district efforts to eliminate childhood hunger by contributing at the register.

Before Campbell spoke, Emmaus High School Student Government Association School Board Student Representatives Lindsey Kahler and Lexi Howard reported on winter sports, cheerleading competitions, clubs, charity events, the winter dance and 2025 yearbooks. They said education majors interested in learning how to earn credits at Kutztown University while still in high school should attend information sessions being held Feb. 25. There are also meetings Feb. 10 and 18 for other students interested in the EHS Field Study Program.

Since January is School Board Appreciation Month, Kahler and Howard expressed appreciation to the school directors on behalf of their fellow students.

Following the student report, Campbell repeated the message of appreciation to the nine members of the school board and informed them the Lower Macungie Middle School Student Council made special Board Appreciation Monopoly games as gifts.

Campbell proudly reported EHS students scored 70 awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition Jan. 16. Their artwork will be exhibited at the Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery in the Sharadin Art Building at Kutztown University Feb. 8-23.

The EHS Tri-M Music Honor Society hosted a special musical collaboration Jan. 13 that brought together middle school and high school musicians for a play-along session.

The superintendent offered congratulations to a pair of EHS DECA students who qualified for the Pennsylvania DECA Career Development Conference being held in Hershey in mid-February. Jacob Walter and Dominic Ruggeri won awards at the District 7 competition held at Lehigh Carbon Community College in December 2024.

EHS Lehigh Career and Technical Institute students were praised for placing at the Jan. 22 District 11 SkillsUSA Championship held at the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex. LCTI gold medalists will advance to the SkillsUSA state competition, scheduled for spring in Hershey.

Campbell invited district families to attend the upcoming parent engagement night at EHS 6 p.m. Feb. 12 in the school auditorium. Among the information being offered is social media safety and its impact on teens and available mental health resources. Local business leaders will be on hand to explain skills employers prioritize, workforce trends and strategies for today’s job market.

Registration is still open for spring senior citizen community education classes Feb. 3 through April 9.

Campbell noted the East Penn School District is looking for “passionate secondary educators” to apply for positions for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

The school directors are considering working with textbooks comprising the “Suburani - A Latin reading course.” The lessons in Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3 are geared for the district’s grades 9-12 Latin courses. Published by Hands Up Education Community Interest Company, the cost per book is $55 for soft cover and $75 for hard cover. Gifted support teacher Kevin Bisignani, Latin teacher Melissa Newcomer and STEM Supervisor Jessica Thacher recommended the district order 30 each of Book 1, 2 and 3 at a total cost of $4,950 for the softcover books or $6,750 for the hardcover textbooks.

In business matters, budget transfers for the 2024-2025 school year reflecting updated grant budgets to align with the awarded amounts and expected expenditures were quickly approved.

The board approved setting the rate of compensation for its real estate tax collectors at $3 for each of the first 2,000 tax payments processed and $2.50 for each additional tax payment processed. Reimbursement for supplies and expenses are not to exceed $1,000 per school tax year with the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026.

LCTI Joint Operating Committee member Adam Smith reported on updates to a corrective action plan submitted to the state noting much of it was already completed or being implemented. “The preliminary budget report includes no new staffing in a focus on facilities, capital improvement plans and an armed security guard.” Due to increased enrollment of East Penn students, the district will need to pay more to the tech school and its academic center. “A good problem to have.”

When asked by school Director Shonta Ford if the armed security guard was a police officer, Smith replied it was a contracted security officer.

There were no requests to address the board.

President Dr. Joshua Levinson mentioned an executive session was held before the public forum on “confidential matters.”

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. 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.