The East Penn School District Board of Directors held an executive session before its regular meeting March 23 to discuss a personnel and litigation issue.

School Director Gabrielle Klotz participated via Zoom while Director Timothy Kelley was not present due to illness.

The regular meeting opened with a moment of silence in memory of Emmaus High School senior Tealson Herrlin who died suddenly March 12. Herrlin played the bass in the school orchestra, was active in his church’s ministry and Victory Valley Camp, and enjoyed weight lifting and spending time with his siblings and friends. Superintendent Dr. Kristen Campbell offered condolences to the Herrlin family.

Emmaus High School Student Government Association School Board Representative Maitreyi Kukade reminded the board of the musical “Jekyll and Hyde” opening this week.

Kukade encouraged students to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test which assesses skills in math, science and verbal areas and is required for U.S. military enlistment. The test is April 22 and interested students must register with the guidance department by April 10.

Finally, she informed the board a fundraiser to support therapy dogs will be held April 30.

Fellow EHS School Board Representative Kyana Deabreu provided a spring sports update. Deabreu also noted 15 students qualified for the Future Business Leaders of America state competition in April in Hershey.

There were no requests to speak during open comments. After the approval of minutes of the March 9 meeting, Campbell recognized a number of EHS students who participated in Science Olympiad and finished with an impressive team performance of fifth place overall.

Campbell recognized winter sports athletes, notably the girls basketball team who ended a historic season with the first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. state playoff tournament in 19 years.

Campbell also recognized state swimmers Kayla Kenner and Roman Herman who both earned medals. The rifle team was also acknowledged for earning fifth place at its state competition.

Campbell also noted the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference scholar athletes for basketball, cheerleading and wrestling. Campbell also thanked the staff, students and community for their commitment to the Shave the Brave event March 13 which raised over $60,000.

The superintendent also informed the community of a change in graduation attire with the Class of 2026. Seniors who participated in clubs and activities are eligible to receive and wear a cord at graduation.

On April 15, an academic showcase offers students an opportunity to show their work from their departments and classes. The event is open to all students and families. Also on April 15, the East Penn Education Foundation is hosting a career fair 6-8 p.m.

The previously tabled K-5 elementary iPad lease program was approved for Oct. 15 through Oct. 15, 2029 at a cost of $1,235,400. The Office of Teaching and Learning and teacher leaders from Willow Lane Elementary and Lincoln Elementary schools shared a presentation about how the iPads are used in the elementary classrooms to support student learning.

Campbell described the presenters as an “all-star line up to share insightful information about the valuable way in which technology personalizes learning.”

Dr. Tricia Gutman told the board iPads “do not act as a substitute for learning, but as a tool for intentional teaching.” She described hands-on learning and problem solving explaining how students use the iPad’s software to pull the “physical and make it abstract.” She described how purposeful play with specific rotations are used to develop necessary social skills.

Willow Lane Elementary School teacher Marissa Ziegler explained how she utilizes letterboards on Seesaw so students can use the movable tiles. “It is a better way to practice spelling. It is teacher-led, but the students do all the work.” She described it as “very motivational.” She pointed out some students need 200 repetitions with concepts while others might need 40 or 10 repetitions. Using Lexia on the iPads permits students to work independently at their necessary pace.

Grade 2 Lincoln Elementary School teacher Tina Sopko spoke about the critical instant feedback software programs provide which alerts teachers for targeted support. “Pencils and paper are used to reinforce these areas,” she said. The iPads and the software allow teachers to receive instant feedback about children who are able to perform certain skill sets and who might need more instruction. The iPads and software also provide immediate support, strategy reminders, invaluable data, instantly monitoring student success rates, adjusting future lessons and addressing gaps, Sopko reported. The iPad was described as a “second teacher in the classroom.”

Lincoln Elementary School Grade 3 teacher Carrie Nawarynski spoke to the board about balancing the technology use with small group learning, station rotations, independent practice and collaborative learning. For example, “cursive handwriting is very hands on. Small and whole group reading strategies engage students in using real books, real text, real articles as well as some digital mixed in.”

Nawarynski said the iPads provide individualized practice, give teachers immediate feedback while writing centers allow children to practice cursive and engage in creative writing activities. She said teachers can see which students are understanding what is being taught right now. “I get reports on their usage, skills they are excelling (in) or need more practice with.”

The software also provides lessons to work with students one on one, provide predictions and strategies for helping students and class reports on accuracy and utilization.

Grade 4/5 Lincoln Elementary School teacher Holly Pethick shared the numerous non-technology activities she utilizes in her classroom. She elaborated on how iPads are used for problem- solving and test-taking preparations for Pennsylvania System of School Assessments.

“The online version of iReady is similar to how the PSSA online test questions are presented,” Pethick said. “Students interact with practice lessons and in 5-6 minutes I can see what question students are struggling with. I can put it on the screen and we can work through it. I teach them how to use the actual platform.”

This year will be the first year in which elementary students will take the PSSAs online. Pethick said it is “important that the students understand how to use the tools and platforms for online assessments.”

Technology Integration Specialist Dylan Peters concluded the presentation by saying “the teachers prioritize the qualitative value” (of the iPads) in the classroom.

Although Dr. William Whitney found the presentation informative, he expressed concern about how often students take these iPads home and questioned home use of them.

Gutman said the iPads are used mostly in school, but can be assigned for at home if a student missed lessons. Campbell said “We as a team are mindful of how technology is used as well as general screen time. When we send devices home, they need to be sent home for a reason. It is not typical that students are assigned homework on the iPad.”

It was noted the iPads are sent home daily October through March to provide equitable access for inclement weather days and flexible instruction days. At other times, students might request to take home for extended learning opportunities.

While Whitney voted in favor of the lease, he continued to express his concern for the amount of screen time young children are exposed to during school time and at home. “Students are inundated with devices. Is this the best practice for us?” he asked.

School Board President Shonta Ford reminded the board today’s students are being exposed to technology different from the educational experiences of today’s adults. She said, “Kids are born with a tech gene. We have to evolve at their pace.” She noted the parental expectation is for them to be guardians of the information and time spent online. Ford said she “did not want that burden on teachers. The onus is on parents to be gatekeepers.”

Pethick said East Penn has prepared her children with technology. Dr. Joshua Levinson said this 1-1 program was necessary during the COVID-19 shutdown and the district was better off than many other districts as a result of this technology initiative.