The East Penn School Board looked over 2025-2026 proficiency and growth data at the Jan. 12 regular meeting.

Dr. Kristen Campbell introduced the office of teaching and learning team and said the data is used to “analyze our curriculum and program needs.”

Leading the presentation of student achievement statistics as of this winter were curriculum Supervisors Mike Mihalik and Tricia Gutman, supported by Supervisor of Secondary Teaching & Learning (Humanities) Dr. Jessica Thacher and Supervisor of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (K-12) and Elementary Teaching & Learning (3-5) Sarah Raber. Assistant Superintendent Laura Witman assisted with the question-and-answer session afterward.

“We have a lot of really positive data to share with you tonight,” Mihalik said as he reviewed data publicly available to the school community from The Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System and Future Ready PA Index, while including building score data. They showed overall improvement over the last scores.

PVAAS is a tool used by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide average achievement and growth measures. FRI is a state assessment which measures proficiency and growth.

FRI elementary school scores:

Alburtis met proficiency goals in English Language Arts/Literature and Mathematics/Algebra while exceeding the standard for growth in the former but underperforming for growth in the latter.

Jefferson did not meet proficiency goals and growth in English Language Arts/Literature, but did meet proficiency goals and growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

Lincoln did not meet proficiency goals but exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature while meeting proficiency goals and exceeding growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

Macungie did not meet proficiency goals, but exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature, while meeting proficiency goals and growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

Shoemaker did not meet proficiency goals but exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature while exceeding proficiency goals and growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

Wescosville did not meet proficiency goals but met growth in English Language Arts/Literature while meeting proficiency goals and exceeding growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

Willow Lane did not meet proficiency goals but exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature while meeting proficiency goals and exceeding growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

FRI middle school scores:

Lower Macungie did not meet proficiency goals but exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature while underperforming in proficiency goals and growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

Eyer met proficiency goals and exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature while underperforming in proficiency goals but exceeding growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

FRI Emmaus High School scores:

The Class of 2026 cohort met proficiency goals and exceeded growth in English Language Arts/Literature while not meeting proficiency goals but exceeding growth in Mathematics/Algebra.

The presentation slideshow is available online and provides more details on and analysis of the FRI and PVAAS data.

In her district update, Campbell thanked school board members as she pointed out January is School Board Member Appreciation Month supported through Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The directors received a gift bag with special greetings from Gena Beky’s fifth grade students at Shoemaker Elementary School. “These are adorable,” Vice President Gabrielle Klotz said. “They have made my day!”

Campbell encouraged families of eighth graders attend the district’s Family Welcome Night – Class of 2030 held at the Emmaus High School Auditorium and lobby 6-8 p.m. Jan. 14. Information sessions and building tours are being offered at the event by the counseling staff.

A Community Connections: The Power of Sleep Workshop for East Penn Families, is being offered by the special education department as a Zoom webinar session. The virtual event is scheduled 6 p.m. Jan. 22 to explore how quality sleep can transform a child’s daytime behaviors and school success.

Campbell also highlighted student sports and the successes of the high school winter teams.

In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirements of Emmaus High School health room nurse Deborah Moyer as of Jan. 1 and Lower Macungie Middle School Science Teacher Patrick Hanlon effective June 11.

Campbell expressed gratitude for their service to the district. She noted Hanlon will retire after 31 years with the district.

The directors unanimously voted to table a 2026-2027 agreement with Kutztown University for reading support interns in order to clean up a typo and clarify other language in it regarding the length of term.

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit board member Dr. William Whitney spoke about the general operating budget being approved, as well as noting $4,240 was raised by the holiday basket raffle to support the Carbon Lehigh Special Needs Children’s Foundation.

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee member Dr. Joshua Levinson reported new JOC members were welcomed at a December 2025 meeting. A new facilities director has been hired and the school is working on a new comprehensive school safety and way-finding project involving 3-D scans of buildings, updating signage and other technical improvements.

LCTI participated in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Paint the Plow program where high school students are invited to create original artwork on snowplow blades. The tech school students scored an honorable mention.

Campbell announced the online application process for LCTI enrollment is now open.

For a second time, no volunteers came forward to fulfill the vacancy created by the expired term of Adam Smith as a LCTI JOC member. The three year term began December 2025 and continues through November 2028.

President Shonta Ford mentioned an executive session was held before the public forum 7 p.m. on “personnel, confidential matters and litigation.” She apologized the session ran longer than expected and delayed the regular meeting by around 20 minutes

Ford announced the district will be closed Jan. 19 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26. 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.