Students attending classes at Upper Perkiomen High School on Monday could see remnants of the asbestos removal work. According to Superintendent Allyn Roche, the environment won't be perfect. He said it will be safe for students, faculty and staff.

            Roche reiterated during last week's regular meeting that the building will be ready for the start of the 2025-26 school year. He said crews will continue rebuilding casework at the school, located at 2 Walt Road in Pennsburg, this week while teachers prepare for the new year.

            In April, the board voted to spend $1.563 million to remove more than 3,000 square feet of asbestos from areas that include the gymnasium, cafeteria, rooms and classrooms in the 100 wing and several rooms in the 200 wing.

            A $495,979 Public School Environmental Repairs Program Grant helped fund the work. An annual inspection of each of the school's buildings is required by law, according to Assistant Superintendent Andrea Farina.

          The district's teachers enter the school without a contract. The previous agreement between the Upper Perkiomen Education Association and the board expired at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

The parties continue to work on the contract, according to an email message received Wednesday morning from board President Melanie Cunningham.

The teacher's union desires to reach an agreement through the bargaining process and will continue to work with district to accomplish that goal, according to a message from Phil Detwiler, an officer on the UPEA' s executive committee and a middle school social studies teacher. It states that while the members are frustrated to be coming back without a new contract, they are committed to excellence for the students.

"Ongoing negotiations will have no impact on the opening of the 25-26 school year," Detwiler wrote.

            The district enters the year with minimal professional vacancies. After the Aug. 14 meeting, the superintendent said it starts with just one opening due to a recent resignation.

According to Roche, the district usually starts with a handful of vacancies. He said administrators have hired 17 new teachers for the upcoming year.

            The board approved the retirement of Tom Hontz, a high school social studies teacher. Hontz ended a 35-year teaching career in the district. The 1985 Quakertown High School graduate made his mark during a 15-year run as Upper Perkiomen's wrestling coach. Between 1990 and 2014, he collected 359 victories. Hontz led the Indians to the 2006 PIAA Class 3A Team Duals champions, earning Coach of the Year that season.

            His teams won six District One team duals titles and 10 Pioneer Athletic Conference League championships. Hontz also coached four individual PIAA champions, 23 state medalists and 29 District One champions.

            The members also voted to allow leaves of absence for Sarah Conrad, an athletics administrative assistant, through Oct. 2; Philip Weinstiger, a member of the maintenance staff, through Oct. 12; Kristal Bitner, beginning Aug. 27 for up to 12 weeks as needed; and Luke Pinto beginning Sept. 16 for up to 12 weeks as needed.

            The board also accepted the resignations of Tara Dugas, a school psychologist, effective 60 days from June 26; paraprofessionals Brandy Rito and Renee Pickwoad, food service worker Nichole Rota, special education teacher Christine Willett, effective 60 days from Aug. 1 and Tyler Kulp, a summer custodian.

            The members voted to appoint eight professional employees for the upcoming school year. That includes two autistic support teachers at Hereford Elementary, Christine Fehnel and Kelsey Anthony; Samantha Penny, a Marlborough Elementary teacher; Natalie Tulone, a high school social studies teacher; Krystle Rothenberger, a middle school ELA teacher; and Meghan Griffin as a school psychologist. Griffin is the head coach of Upper Perkiomen's field hockey team.

            They also hired four new paraprofessionals: Meredith Neuber and Virginia Keele, as well as Melissa Furey and Kimberly Mellwig, both Title I reading specialists; Cassidy Heil, a cafeteria/playground aide, and Jessica Auckland, a part-time food service worker.

            `According to Solicitor Bethany O'Neill, the board met in executive session immediately before the public portion of the meeting. She said the members discussed the matter of collective bargaining with the Upper Perkiomen Education Association and a tax assessment matter.