With Parkland’s recent approval of a $68 million dollars to renovate the local high school with new classrooms, study spaces, and labs it raises the question of why can’t a similar project be done at Emmaus High School?
As a 2023 graduate, I saw firsthand how badly the school needs renovation to address its crowding. Emmaus High School serves nearly 3,000 students. Crowded hallways, packed cafeterias and common areas and rising student-to-teacher ratios were common occurrences and worsened by the time I graduated. Not only was this frustrating for students, but it also made safety concerns and more difficult for students to feel comfortable in their learning environment.
This problem isn’t new either. The building was opened in 1955 and has undergone multiple renovations over the decades to address crowding, yet the issue persists.
The East Penn School Board is considering a $142 million plan focused on redistricting elementary and middle schools. While capacity is important at every level, this proposal does not address the crowding at Emmaus High School. Earlier proposals from June estimated that renovating or expanding the high school would cost around $250 million, but the district’s December plan appears to remove that option.
Members of the school board have acknowledged this. Joshua Levinson, a board member, questioned if the plan is a “Band-Aid” or a long-term solution. Redistricting moves students around but does not eliminate crowding, only distributing the problem. While it relieves pressure temporarily, the high school’s issue remains untouched.
The timeline is questionable as well. Under the current proposal, some projects would not be completed until 2029 or 2032. In the meantime students will continue to deal with detrimental conditions. As several board members noted, the clock is ticking and the condition of the facilities only worsen. Delaying action also increases cost, as construction prices continue to rise and older buildings become more expensive to maintain.
After months of deliberation between studies, discussions and proposals, the district still has not produced a plan that addresses these issues. At some point, continued delay stops looking like careful planning and more like incompetence as leadership. When the problem is widely recognized by students, their families and members of the school board, the lack of direct solution raises questions about the capability of managing the infrastructure challenge
The community has raised valid concerns about the cost and transparency. Rising property taxes have already made the Lehigh Valley a more difficult place to afford. Families are worried about additional tax increases tied to large-scale construction. However, this partial measure fails to address the high school’s crowding and can will cost the taxpayers more. Taxes and living costs have risen year after year and the district faces unresolved infrastructure issues. Avoiding a solution only delays the inevitable and increases the price tag.
Strong schools are one of the main reasons families choose to live in the East Penn School District, which is recognized as one of the top-performing districts in the area. If the high school continues to struggle with crowding and outdated facilities, the district risks falling behind. Over time, this can reduce housing demand and hurt property values. The goal shouldn’t be minimizing taxes, but ensuring residents receive strong value for their investment in the education system.
Some have argued there is not enough consensus to justify a major renovation. While public input is important, major infrastructure decisions are rarely unanimous as there isn’t a direct benefit short term. Waiting for agreement leads to inaction that we’ve seen, higher costs and worsening conditions for future Emmaus graduates.
Ultimately, the district must prioritize its investments. If the school board is willing to spend $100 million on facilities, those funds should address all levels of the education system, including the most prevalent concern of crowding at Emmaus High School.
The longer the school district delays confronting this problem, the more expensive and difficult a solution will become. Students should not have to wait longer for a problem that has been acknowledged for years to address it. If the East Penn School Board believes crowding is a priority, then it’s actions and budget must reflect it’s commitment.
This is a contributed opinion column. Cameron Blews is a recent graduate of Emmaus High School currently studying political science at Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author, and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. Do you have a perspective to share? Learn more about how we handle guest opinion submissions at themorningcall.com/opinions.