Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students press East Penn board on school lunches, AP access and teacher training
Summary
Multiple Emmaus High School students addressed the board April 27, urging healthier school meals, broader AP access for prepared ninth graders, and restored AP teacher training amid staffing shortages.
A string of student speakers at the April 27 East Penn School District board meeting urged changes ranging from healthier school lunches to expanded AP pathways and stronger AP teacher preparation.
Zoe Raysor, an AP Language student, told the board that "food is the power for students, giving them the mental and physical strength to give their best in academic affairs," and urged the district to exceed federal minimums by adding more nutritious choices. "For some students, their only full meal is provided by the school," she said during public comment.
Two students pressed the district on Advanced Placement policy. Zining Fan asked the board to "consider creating a pathway for exceptional ninth graders to take AP courses beyond AP U.S. History" through a teacher-recommendation process that would not lower standards but would allow prepared students to access AP classes earlier. "If we trust some freshmen to take one AP course, why do we automatically close the door to others?" Fan asked.
Chris Stone, a student speaker who focused on AP teacher quality, said the district's recent removal of the AP Summer Institute requirement for some AP teachers and statewide teacher shortages risked lowering instruction quality. "When students have strong, well-prepared teachers, they thrive," Stone said, and recommended reinstating professional training and improving pay and retention to protect AP rigor.
Students also proposed governance changes: Nina Zhang urged forming a district-wide student advisory council to give more students a formal seat in decisions about overcrowding, scheduling and resources.
The board did not vote on curricular policy changes at the meeting; several speakers asked the board to review placement and staffing policies and take their input under advisement. The next regular board meeting is May 11, 2026.
