The Elizabethtown Area School District board voted Jan. 13 to offer two college-in-the-high-school courses for the spring semester and approved the administration’s personnel report, following an extended public-comment period that included complaints about building conditions and objections to recent curricular removals.

The board voted separately on two dual-enrollment proposals. Mister Lindemuth moved to approve the Intro to Special Education course; the roll call vote recorded seven yes votes (Bazarian, Gillis, Mr. Lindemuth, Schromm, Wilson, Yoder, Carter) and two no votes (Mrs. Lindemuth, Regalman). Later the board approved Intro to Pedagogy by a 5–4 roll call margin (yes: Gillis, Mr. Lindemuth, Schromm, Joder, Carter; no: Mrs. Lindemuth, Regalman, Wilson, Bazarian). Administration said the courses could run at no district expense but that students normally pay tuition and books; staff said a state grant will cover tuition this semester and administration estimated about $65 per credit (roughly $195 for a typical 3-credit course) if the student would otherwise pay.

Several public commenters pressed the board on unrelated but overlapping concerns about facilities and curriculum. Student Kiara Deeds said multiple classrooms had experienced leaks and an incident where sewage odor caused students to evacuate and report nausea and headaches; she urged the board to fix recurring building hazards. Christy Moore, a local curriculum professional, criticized a recent decision to remove certain optional ELA texts — calling the removals “a slap in the face to our professionals” — and asked the board to reinstate titles or adopt a curriculum-review policy.

Other public commenters raised concerns about how student representatives and parents have been treated during recent meetings and urged the board to respect student voice and provide clearer advance information about costs tied to college-in-the-high-school offerings. Alicia Runkel, a parent, said virtual BEAR days provide scheduling flexibility but urged broader parent input before altering calendar policy.

The board also approved the personnel report, with one abstention (Schromm) noted by the member as a family conflict. Administration said required paperwork remains outstanding for some entries and approval was contingent on receiving that documentation.

Why it matters: The dual-enrollment approvals give students access to college-level courses and potential college credit at reduced cost this semester; public comments signaled ongoing community concern about building safety, trust in curriculum decisions and transparency on student costs.