The East Penn School District Board of School Directors approved its Oct. 27 minutes and a package of personnel, business and curriculum items during its Nov. 10 meeting and used the session to recognize three retiring employees and honor three outgoing board members.

Board President called for approval of the Oct. 27 minutes; a motion and second were recorded and the board approved the minutes by roll call, nine ayes to none. The board later approved personnel items and a grouped set of business operations items (A–C) and curriculum items (educational conferences A and items B–E taken together) by roll call, each vote recorded as nine ayes, with no nos or abstentions noted in the recorded roll calls.

Superintendent Dr. Campbell announced the retirement of three long-serving employees, saying they collectively bring 77 years of service to the district. The retirees identified were Robert “Bobby” Kish, a custodian with 27 years of service; Tracy Maley, an art teacher at Emmaus High School with 32 years in the district who served as department chair; and Steve Nycomb, a teacher of the gifted with 18 years of service. "We will certainly miss their work greatly," Dr. Campbell said.

The board also held a formal farewell sequence for three outgoing directors: Alisa Bowman, Mike Filegi and Adam Smith. Each offered closing remarks and received tributes from administrators and fellow board members.

Alisa Bowman reflected on listening and inclusivity as hallmarks of her service, urging the board to continue lifting quieter student and community voices. "You are not afraid to change your mind when you are given new evidence," public commenter Heather Harlan said earlier in the meeting about Bowman.

Mike Filegi thanked voters and family, congratulated newly elected directors and criticized a local political action committee that ran negative advertising against him, calling the tactics "shameful." In his remarks Filegi said he was "disappointed that my reelection campaign did not come to fruition" and said the PAC’s ads had labeled him with extreme language.

Adam Smith, who said he came to the board as a teacher and father, reflected on the pandemic-era decisions and urged more in-person civic participation. He stated that the board represents "a range of voices" and described his service as a privilege.

Administrators highlighted each departing director’s contributions. Dr. Campbell noted Bowman’s leadership on equity work and student voice, Filegi’s support for instructional programs and contract negotiations, and Smith’s role in advancing full-day kindergarten and long-range facilities planning.

The board concluded with routine announcements: it met in executive session earlier on personnel matters; the district will be closed Nov. 27–Dec. 1 for Thanksgiving; an organizational meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 7:30 a.m.; and the next regular meeting is Dec. 8 at 7:30 a.m. The meeting adjourned after a motion and unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Oct. 27 minutes: motioned and approved by roll call, 9–0.
- Personnel items: approved by roll call, 9–0.
- Business operations items A–C (taken together): approved by roll call, 9–0.
- Curriculum: Educational conferences (A) approved by roll call, 9–0; curriculum items B–E taken together approved by roll call, 9–0.

What’s next: The board will hold an organizational meeting Dec. 2 and its next regular meeting Dec. 8, both at 7:30 a.m. in the same room.