The East Penn School District Board of School Directors voted unanimously to suspend work on the K-8 realignment project as currently presented at the Aug. 11 regular board meeting.

Citing the country as a whole experiencing economic uncertainty, construction costs rising due to tariffs and hesitation on the district’s raising taxes while acquiring debt, Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell and the directors decided to hit the pause button in order to further review and reconsider all of the options, including redistricting the elementary schools and the K-8 realignment project.

As part of the district facilities plan, the K-8 realignment project was approved as the favored option of a feasibility study Nov. 13, 2023 over redistricting the elementary schools to address capacity issues and extensively renovating Emmaus High School.

This plan would have moved the fifth grade to Eyer Middle School after being converted to a Grade 5/6 intermediate school and Lower Macungie Middle School would have become a Grade 7/8 center.

At that time, the plan was chosen over the alternatives as it was determined to be the most cost effective in addressing overcrowding at some of the elementary schools without having to redistrict those students. This direction appeared to provide greater equity and opportunities for students, especially at the middle school level.

The district will continue working with Breslin Architects on the facilities plan to evaluate district needs and revise cost estimates for each option, including what would be considered as “essential renovation” at the high school and the price tag for it. New data on projected enrollment will also be sought and evaluated.

Staffing needs for each option will again be considered.

“It sounds like we are doing all of the same things a second time,” Director Adam Smith observed as he attended remotely from Canada.

“As a proponent of the realignment plan, I am disappointed in taking this pause,” President Dr. Joshua Levinson said while acknowledging the decision is a “pragmatic” one.

He expressed gratitude for the hard work the administration, community members, stakeholders and consultants did in crafting the now paused plan.

As part of the approved motion, the contract with CHA Consulting, Inc. which was approved April 28 is suspended as well.

Both requests to address the board centered on the K-8 realignment project.

“I do see that there is a motion to push back that move tonight; I would highly encourage you to do it,” Matthew Mull, of Lower Macungie Township, said.

“They built a new high school but they took eight years of tax increases before they even started building or constructing the project,” Emmaus resident Ted Dobracki said as he suggested East Penn follows the Upper Merion Area School District’s example.

The former EPSD director praised Treasurer Robert Saul’s “fantastic spreadsheet” as well as his handling the district’s finances.

A Community In Schools informational update was provided by CIS Program Director Phil Parise, with assistance from Emmaus High School Site Coordinator Amy Williams and Eyer Middle School Site Coordinator Kristen Hackman.

Parise outlined the nonprofit’s work in supporting students through nonacademic obstacles in order to facilitate their academic success. He explained this is achieved with intensive, one-on-one support for case-managed students, targeted programs and interventions for small groups of students and coordination of schoolwide services and resources.

The various statistics Parise provided showed slight progress has been made at EHS with the attendance rate up from 92.20% to 92.28%. On school climate, the percentage of students who feel understood as a person has increased from 59% to 62%. The social emotional learning component found the efficacy of student participation in groups up from 67% to 73%.

Progress with school climate at Eyer Middle School with students expressing “sense of belonging” was maintained at 78%. Parise said in measuring behavior goals, the focus should not be based on state-reportable incidents increasing or decreasing, but how they were handled. With social emotional learning, students’ ability to regulate their emotions rose up from 76% to 79% by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

A long list of providers and partners CIS works with was shown to the board, as well as written testimonials from EHS Principal Beth Guarriello and Eyer Middle School Principal Thomas Ruhf.

The directors are to vote in the next meeting or so to continue with CIS.

The board gratefully accepted a donation of $16,783 from the East Penn School District Education Foundation to support Willow Lane Elementary School’s Library 2.0 Program. “Surely appreciate their continued support,” Levinson said.

“It’s our favorite time of year as we put the finishing touches on our classrooms ...” Campbell said during her district update as she announced the first day of school will be Aug. 25. The superintendent encouraged families of students to check out the district’s website for information on upcoming new student orientations, meet the teacher nights and open house events. Homeroom teacher notifications and STA bus schedules are being mailed out.

Campbell asked that the online returning student forms be filled out ahead of the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

There are part-time positions still available for support staff, food service and crossing guards, as well as a need for substitute teachers.

She honored two staff members for recent accomplishments.

Campbell announced Saul was named a recipient of the 2025 Eagle Award through the Association of School Business Officials International for his work as the district’s business manager.

In other news, School Resource Officer Craig Blose completed an advanced course and certification through the National Association of School Resource Officers.

In personnel matters, the board approved Andrew Klick as music/band teacher at Lower Macungie Middle school, effective Aug. 14.

Robert Thomas was approved for the new position of school security officer at EHS pending approval of all necessary documentation.

Levinson announced an executive session was held before the public forum 7 p.m. on personnel issues.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25. 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.