East Penn board adopts Act 1 resolution to remain within 4.1% index; routine minutes and personnel motions approved

Emmaus — The East Penn School District Board on Dec. 8 voted to adopt a resolution to remain within the Act 1 tax index for the 2026‑27 budget year, a procedural step required each year under state law.

Administration explained that the district received the ready‑to‑learn adequacy supplement in the 2025 school code bill and that any district accepting that supplement is prohibited from seeking Act 1 referendum exceptions for 2026‑27. District staff told the board that East Penn’s Act 1 index for next year is 4.1% and that accepting the index does not automatically increase taxes by that amount; rather, it sets the legal maximum unless voters approve a referendum. The district also reported the finalized state budget produced a slightly larger state funding increase than budgeted (3.44% actual versus 3.27% budgeted), about $43,000 more than anticipated.

On a recorded roll‑call, the Act 1 resolution passed with nine ayes. Earlier in the meeting the board also approved meeting minutes for Nov. 10 and Dec. 2 (roll‑call votes recorded as nine ayes), accepted two retirements (Mrs. Hines and Ms. Raymond, each with 17 years of service), and approved grouped personnel items A–D by roll call.

Other formal actions recorded during the meeting included approval of a performance‑based energy savings agreement amendment for Jefferson Elementary (presenters cited cumulative kilowatt‑hour savings from earlier projects) and authorization for educational conference attendance; both passed on roll‑call votes recorded in the transcript. The board also appointed Dr. Levinson and Ms. Klotz as representatives to the LCTI JOC.

The board did not take action on the redistricting/facilities concept presented earlier in the meeting; administration said a return presentation with refined cost estimates and fiscal models is planned for winter–spring 2026.