The East Penn School District Board of School Directors reviewed another budget presentation at the March 10 regular board meeting.

Before getting down to business, a moment of silence was observed in honor of Susan Shreiner, a library staff assistant at Lower Macungie Middle School who died Feb. 24.

In her district update, Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell highlighted seasonal sports accomplishments. She recognized a pair of East Penn students attending Lehigh Career & Technical Institute moving onto the next level after successfully competing at the Pennsylvania DECA Career Development Conference in February.

Campbell announced kindergarten online registration for the next school year continues with 85 families registered.

She encouraged graduating seniors to check out the district website for local scholarship opportunities with a deadline of March 21 to apply. Nominations for Class of 2025’s Grad Spotlight recognition ends March 14.

Hosted at Emmaus High school, the East Penn School District International Fair is happening 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 29 in the cafeteria.

Campbell listed the spring musical offerings throughout the district, including “Mamma Mia!” being performed at EHS April 2-5.

According to the superintendent, there are summer facilities and summer technology positions open in the district. Current EHS students or EHS grads have until April 4 to apply.

Business Administrator and Treasurer Robert Saul provided a long- range fiscal and capital plan as another step in the 2025-2026 budget process. His highly-detailed presentation included updated actual numbers depicting revenue and expenditures, budgetary reserves and “projections based on a series of assumptions.”

Saul has the difficult task of long-range planning without knowing what revenues may be coming in from the state and federal government yet. He generally prefers to underestimate revenues and overestimate expenses in an attempt to maintain realistic projections.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Saul said he is working on finding ways to eliminate a $2,013,959 budget deficit. He explained this is still a work in progress.

Director Shonta Ford asked about how increasing charter school tuition impacts Saul’s budget projections. “How do we ensure the public school students get what they need as these numbers continue to grow?” she asked. Saul said state legislators are beginning to hear concerns from their constituents about the costs of charter schools and cyber charter schools outpacing the cost of public school education.

District priorities are to be presented at the next two board meetings where the administration and faculty will present a carefully-prepared list of needs and wants.

In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirements of Pamela Cannone, a food service support staffer at Willow Lane Elementary School as of March 4 and Jefferson Elementary School staff assistant Linda Christman effective April 4.

Campbell noted Cannone’s 11 years and Christman’s 34 years with the district, as well as Eyer Middle School special education teacher Lori King’s 21 years in the district. King’s retirement had been announced at the previous meeting.

The directors also accepted the resignation of EHS Assistant Principal Jordan Fortier effective April 28. Campbell praised his work and wished him well in his new role as principal in a nearby district.

Supervisor of Middle Level Special Education Jennifer Layton is resigning effective June 30 and will return as a special-education teacher at Lincoln Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year.

Among the approved new hires for the 2025-2026 school year is Bradley Foltz as an eighth grade science teacher at Eyer Middle School.

A settlement agreement for educational services rendered during the 2016-2017 school year with the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School for $1,000 was approved.

Donations in the amount of $11,500 in support of EHS scholarships were gratefully accepted. These include $2,500 from the East Penn Instrumental Musicians Club, $2,000 from Patricia S. Rogers, $2,000 from the Emmaus Rotary Club, $2,000 from the Mollystrong Foundation, $1,500 from Anne E. Zayaitz and $1,500 from Macungie Minstrelaires, Inc.

The 2025-2026 East Penn School District student/teacher calendar was approved and adopted.

Also approved were the comprehensive plan and supportive plans: New Teacher Induction Plan, Professional Development Plan and Gifted Education Plan Assurances for the period July 1 through June 30, 2028.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Douglas Povilaitis mentioned only minor changes were made as he took questions at a second reading of updates to existing policies regarding Nondiscrimination - Qualified Students with Disabilities, Hazing, Bullying/Cyberbullying, Educator Misconduct and Maintaining Professional Adult/Student Boundaries. Removal of a tuition income policy and deleting a public records policy attachment were discussed.

LCTI Joint Operating Committee member Adam Smith reported a strong demand for 21 out of 41 course offerings at the tech school. Kathie Murray is the new director of curriculum and instruction at LCTI.

There were no requests to address the board.

Board President Dr. Joshua Levinson said an executive session was held before the public forum 7 p.m. on litigation and personnel matters.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. March 24. 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.