East Penn board honors three departing members; community thanks directors for service

Alisa Bowman, Adam Smith and Mike Lehi were honored for their service at the Nov. 10 meeting of the East Penn School District Board of School Directors, where community members and colleagues praised their years of work and the board approved routine business.

The evening began with two public commenters who singled out departing directors. "You are an incredible listener, you are not afraid to change your mind when you are given new evidence," Heather Harlan said in a public-comment tribute to Alisa Bowman. Ziyad Bunsen thanked "Mike, Adam, and Alisa, the outgoing board members," and recounted meeting Bowman years earlier in youth soccer.

Following public comment, each departing director was invited to speak. Alisa Bowman reflected on the board’s work and urged patience and persistence, particularly for members new to budget season. "Be patient, be persistent," Bowman said, describing the slow pace of change in large districts and urging new members to keep long-term goals in view. Mike Lehi and Adam Smith also offered personal remarks. Smith, an educator, invoked Theodore Roosevelt’s passage about "the man in the arena" to describe public service and closed with a school cheer: "Go Hornets."

Superintendent Doctor Campbell summarized the departing members’ contributions in a prepared tribute, noting Bowman’s advocacy for student voice and equity work, Smith’s role in facilities planning and full-day kindergarten advocacy, and Lehi’s support of intervention programs and contract negotiations. Campbell said the administration will present tokens of appreciation and looks forward to welcoming new members at the December organization meeting.

The meeting proceeded with routine approvals and district announcements before adjourning. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8 at 7:30 a.m.