Emmaus — East Penn School District officials on Dec. 8 laid out a detailed K–8 redistricting option and four‑school facilities plan designed to relieve overcrowding, modernize classrooms and create programmatic space across elementary and middle schools.

Superintendent Dr. Campbell opened the presentation by stressing it was informational only and that the board would revisit the options and cost models before any decision. The plan focuses renovation and additions on four buildings: Albertus and Lincoln elementary schools and Eyer and Lower Macungie middle schools. Consultants described a ‘‘waterfall’’ boundary‑adjustment approach intended to rebalance enrollment while freeing classroom space for an ‘‘innovate’’ program at each elementary school.

Breslin Architects and district demographers presented enrollment and capacity data. The proposal would expand Albertus from an approximate capacity of 450 to about 600 by adding a three‑story classroom wing and cafeteria extension, and would shift roughly 347 elementary students—about 11% of the elementary population—under the proposed boundaries. The consultants explained they used PowerSchool moderate projections through 2029 and a planning target of about 85% of nominal classroom capacity to allow realistic sectioning and scheduling.

Architects also outlined building concepts: Lincoln would receive a one‑story classroom wing plus targeted renovations in its older (1928) portion and ADA upgrades; Iyer would have interior renovations (no addition); and Lower Macungie Middle School would receive a two‑story classroom addition, expanded cafeteria and music spaces, and an improved site circulation plan to separate car and bus traffic.

A cost consultant presented a program‑level opinion of probable cost for the concept plan of roughly just over $140,000,000, including site work, contingencies and life‑cycle capital improvements; the team noted about $15,000,000 of that total reflects escalation projected over the multi‑year schedule. The presenters stressed those are concept estimates and that detailed schematic and design development phases would refine scope and costs.

Board members pressed presenters on selection criteria (Lincoln was cited as having the greatest capital needs while Albertus had the most immediate enrollment pressure), the assumptions behind the enrollment projections and whether escalation accounted for tariffs or other supply pressures (consultants said known tariff impacts were incorporated into escalation assumptions to date). Several members said they wanted financial models showing tax impacts and alternative phasing before considering any action.

No motion or vote was taken at the meeting. District staff said the board would receive additional cost updates, refined financial models and realignment comparisons in winter–spring 2026, at which point any formal decisions or action would be scheduled.