The East Penn Board of School Directors played catch up at the Feb. 9 regular meeting after canceling the Jan. 26 meeting due to weather.

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell recited a brief history of the district’s journey to this point in the process of choosing between redistricting or realigning grades kindergarten through eight. At that time the board chose to go with realignment as the most cost efficient.

When the K-8 realignment financial plan was discussed in June 2025, increased construction and related costs due to tariffs and nationwide financial uncertainty prompted several board members to balk at moving ahead with it. The directors voted to pause the project’s trajectory and reexamine the options again with updated demographic data and an eye to keeping the district safe from too much financial risk.

Campbell introduced those presenting the district’s K-8 realignment and financial update.

Director of Educational Alternatives Jennifer Carolla spoke about realignment program recommendations that include elementary core instruction and “specials” such as art, music, fitness and health, library and a new Innov8 course for K-8 that supports Science, Technology and Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability standards. She also touched on club and intramural athletic opportunities.

Brian Huber from Breslin Architects described increased enrollments and building design options for Eyer Middle School and Lower Macungie Middle School with the K-8 realignment model with grades 5 and 6 at Eyer and 7-8 at LMMS.

A two-story addition is proposed for Eyer along with interior upgrades and renovations. LMMS would require more extensive work including a three-story addition, interior upgrades and renovations, a second entrance to allow for better traffic control and bus safety, as well as expanded parking.

Project Manager Mike Sander from CHA Consulting discussed budgets and financing for the K-8 realignment option.

PFM Financial Advisor Scott Shearer provided a summary that concludes, “Both the realignment and redistricting scenarios appear unaffordable under current assumptions, driven by the projected growth in future operating expenses.” With operating costs increasing faster than tax revenues can grow under the Act 1 Index cap, there would be ongoing pressure on finances resulting on a continued draw on the district’s fund balance.

The scenarios analyzed include:

Base Case with no big projects and routine capital paid in cash

Scenario 1 with no big projects and routine capital financed

Scenario 2 with realignment at $119 million with operational increases and borrowings in 2026-2028

Scenario 3 with redistricting at $141 million with borrowings in 2027-2031

Scenario 4 as the “affordable scenario” with a $75 million project, no operational increases and borrowings in 2026-2028

PFM suggested a more achievable capital plan of approximately $75 million as it, “maintains a lower, but still modest, fund balance above the district’s 10% target.” This will still produce deficits in the later years of the projection period that would need to be addressed.

High school options, as well as additional financial models will be studied at a future meeting.

Business Administrator and Treasurer Robert Saul provided a presentation on the early draft of the 2026-2027 budget: fund balance and revenue projections. He noted there is still information coming in that will affect any current assumptions as the budget process moves forward. So far, Saul anticipates a budget deficit of $2,141,801 that will need to be worked out.

There are several steps to go until the last presentation and adoption of the final budget June 8.

In personnel matters, the board accepted the retirements of Assistant to the Superintendent, Board Secretary Janine Allen effective July 6, Macungie Elementary School Principal Suzanne Vincent effective Aug. 19, Emmaus High School English Language Development teacher Tammy Kita and Alburtis and Macungie Elementary Schools Librarian Susan Wirtz June 18, as well as first grade teacher Francine Confer and staff assistant Leatrice Kelly from Alburtis Elementary School effective mid-June.

Campbell expressed gratitude for their service to the district. She noted Allen will retire after 24 years, Vincent after 33 years, Kita after 20 years, Wirtz after 30 years, Confer after 38 years and Kelly after 19 years in education with most in East Penn School District.

Tabled at the previous meeting, the board unanimously approved the 2026-2027 affiliation agreement for graduate assistants with Kutztown University for reading support interns after a typo and other language regarding the length of term was rectified.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Douglas Povilaitis presented a first reading of one new policy and updates to existing policies on academic standards, curriculum, exemption from instruction, extracurricular activities, interscholastic athletics, diabetes management and district social media.

Povilaitis introduced a new policy on non-curriculum related, non-school-sponsored, student-initiated groups. He explained this was recommended by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

In her district update, Campbell acknowledged that after public input, the administration will be working with students, educators and other stakeholders to reevaluate graduation attire regarding honor chords and Kente cloth stoles. The superintendent promoted the spring musical “Jekyll & Hyde” scheduled March 24-29 with a free performance for Golden Age Card holders March 23.

She also celebrated district student achievements in sports, music and academic activities.

Ahead of the superintendent’s update, Emmaus Student Government Association School Board Student Rep. Maitreyi Kukade and Kyana Deabreu took turns reporting on school sports, an upcoming blood drive and other news.

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit Board member Dr. William Whitney announced the unit’s clean 2024-2025 financial audit and described a presentation highlighting the CLIU faculty and staff working with Lehigh Career & Technical Institute students to replace small switches on toys with 3-D printed larger ones for disabled students.

LCTI Joint Operating Committee member Dr. Joshua Levinson reported on the difficulties facing the tech school as it works on a 2026-2027 preliminary budget with employee health insurance rates and cost of supplies rising.

After two previous attempts to find a volunteer, still no one 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.

Addressing the board during public comment, Smith asked for someone to step up. He also lauded Allen for her years of service as board secretary.

Also providing comment was Dr. Geoffrey Whitcomb who expressed gratitude to the East Penn School Board and district for their work and announced his candidacy for the 187th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District seat. On the ballot as a Democrat, he resides in Macungie.

School board President Shonta Ford said an executive session was held before the public forum 6:30 p.m. on confidential matters. She apologized the session ran longer than expected and delayed the regular meeting by around 15 minutes.

Ford announced the district will be closed Feb. 13 and 16 for Presidents Day weekend.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23. 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.