Superintendent Mich-ael Roth presented areas he would like the district to focus on for the years 2014 through 2020 at the Aug. 13 school board meeting.

After a presentation and a clarification on verbage, the board approved the focus items for the purposes of developing the strategic plan.

Areas of focus include communications, instruction, operation and interaction with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Roth proposed continuing to engage stakeholders and community members in the success of the district and support and develop partnerships/outreach with community organizations and businesses.

Continuing the integration of technology and teaching and learning as well as expanding opportunities for challenge and project based learning were also noted. Roth would like to enhance current instructional practices with online/blended learning to achieve greater personalization of learning while supporting all learners.

Providing a nurturing safe and healthy environment for children is also noted in his plan.

Roth wants to refine the safety and crisis plan, investigate and implement cost saving and revenue generating measures, review and update district policies and revise and enact the capital improvement plan.

In working with PDE, the district is charged with enacting the components of the educator effectiveness model, employ graduation requirements: Keystone exams, remediation and projects, deliver required and professional learning mandates and meeting mandates.

Board President Russell Giordano and board member George Gatanis thanked Roth for his efforts in determining focus items for the developing strategic plan.

In personnel news, four new teachers were introduced to the board members: Joseph Pacitti, a full-time English teacher at Salisbury High School, replacing retired Robyn Balsai; Laura Nogueira, part-time English teacher at SHS, replacing Kelly Butterbaugh whose position was increased; Anne Schneider, a full-time English teacher at SHS, replacing retired H. Michael Vecellio; and Melissa Cerco, full-time learning support teacher at Harry S Truman Elementary School, replacing Meghan Ott.

The board accepted with regret the resignation due to retirement of Vecellio. Additional resignations included Wanda Rousenberger as a school psychologist at Western Salisbury Elementary School and HST, Catherine Creveling as a full-time long-term substitute teacher at WSE, Timarie Kelhart as a part-time one-to-one instructional assistant at Salisbury Middle School, Lee Ann Malesky as a four hours a day part-time cafeteria helper at HST, James Hersh as the assistant swimming coach, Elizabeth Carfrey as a four hours a day part-time one-to-one instructional assistant at SMS and Kayla Jones as a three and three quarter hours a day part-time learning support instructional assistant at WSE.

New hires approve include Celeste Maldonado as a full-time psychologist, Danielle Rothrock as a full-time 12-month secretary at SHS and Jeannie Zettlemoyer as a part-time less than 12-month athletic secretary at SHS.

Approved building transfers include Casey Lilly as a one-to-one instructional assistant at WSE to SMS; Barbara Mainiero from a one-to-one instructional assistant at WSE to SMS, Vicky Bohning as a one-to-one instructional assistant at WSE to SMS, AnnMarie Ross as a one-to-one instructional assistant at WSE to SMS, Judy Roblyer from a four hours a day part-time cafeteria helper at SHS to HST and Kara Bellis from a full-time learning support teacher at SMS to a full-time sixth grade teacher at SMS.

Coaching positions approved include Margaret Scholl as the middle school field hockey coach, Sukeira Powell as the assistant field hockey coach, Meredith Makoul as the head field hockey coach, Steven Wagner as the junior varisity baseball coach, Aubrey Evans as the band front instructor, Brittany Burda as the middle school cheerleading coach, Taylor Cressman as a volunteer assistant cheerleading coach, James Hersh as a volunteer assistant swimming coach, Shaheed Mitchell as a volunteer junior varsity football coach and Timothy Zaborowski as a volunteer girls tennis coach.

Pacitti was approved as the commencement speaker coach for the 2014-2015 school year as well as the co-scholastic scrimmage advisor split with Paul Koba.

The board also voted to increase the position of Jamie Roth-Gilly to a full-time English Language Learners teacher at SMS and to increase the hours of Anita Gopen from a two hours a day part-time instructional assistant at WSE to three hours a day.

Tanya Kennedy was approved as a mentor for Laura Nogueira.

Also introduced at the meeting were HST PTO President Angie Borger, HST PTO Vice President Ashley Pickett and WSE PTA Treasurer Jason Deppner.

The meeting was continued to 9 a.m. Aug. 16 as additional information was needed regarding a collective bargaining matter.

A special meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 18.