The March 16 meeting of the Salisbury Township School District board opened with members of the Salisbury High School a capella group “Descant Get Enough” singing the national anthem. The group, under the direction of Rachel Reinecke, will perform in the capitol building in Harrisburg March 30 in celebration of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s fifth annual Music Education Advocacy Day.

Also recognized at the meeting was SHS teacher Jennifer Brinson for receiving the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications and Technology 2016 Teacher of the Year award.

Brinson received the award Feb. 22 at the Pennsylvania Education Technology and Expo.

Brinson joined the district in 1996 after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in political science and Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Scranton. She earned a masters degree in the art of teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters of Science degree in instructional media from Wilkes University. Recently, she completed the PA K-12 principal certification through Wilkes University.

Brinson has taught Advanced Placement U.S. History, Government, Modern European History, Sociology, Women in History, Economics, American Cultures I and II, World Cultures and Honors Gifted Seminar.

In addition, Brinson worked as an instructional coach 2009 to 2013 supporting teachers, students and curriculum specialists in technology use and integration. She designed and facilitated many professional development sessions on various academic strategies and technologies including: Diigo, Twitter, Discovery, First-Time Mac Users, Google Tools, Edmodo, Project and Challenge Based Learning, Geocaching, Professional Learning Networks, Flipped Classroom and Web 2.0 Tools.

She is currently the social studies department chair.

Brinson said she is, “deeply honored and humbled to receive recognition of this nature from my peers and colleagues across the state.”

In other business, the board approved the use of a student safe school survey which will be given to students at the end of April or beginning of May after the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment testing is completed.

The board officially authorized the administration to work with Public Financial Management, as financial advisor, Janney Montgomery Scott, as underwriter, and King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LLP as bond counsel in conjunction with the issuance of additional General Obligation Bond, Series 2016, via a negotiated sale for the purpose of financing a portion of the HVAC system project for Harry S Truman Elementary School.

The athletic trainer services agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network was approved through the 2020-2021 school year.

The board approved the agreement between the Salisbury Education Support Personnel Association and the board of education effective July 1 through June 30, 2020.

“It was the first negotiation I have been involved with here at Salisbury,” board member George Gatanis said. “I was impressed with the professionalism, courtesy and respect shown. I am proud to have them as part of our staff. It was a great experience.”

Board member Mary Ziegler agreed. “It was a cordial negotiation which was ratified March 13.”

In personnel news, Jennifer Chanitz was approved as a part-time instructional assistant at Western Salisbury Elementary School. Ashley Hooks was approved as a part-time one-to-one instructional assistant at WSE. Daniel Reichenbach was approved as the assistant varsity track coach for the 2015-2016 school year. Patrick O’Connor was approved as the middle school swim club advisor for the 2015-2016 school year. Leandra Roelker was approved as a volunteer assistant boys tennis coach for the 2015-2016 school term. Marissa Vitale was approved as a volunteer assistant varsity softball coach for the 2015-2016 school term. Timothy Jones was approved as a volunteer assistant varsity baseball coach for the 2015-2016 school term.

As the board begins the process of updating district policies, the following polices were adopted at the meeting: Policy 1.1 - district information; Policy 1.2 - powers and authority of the board; Policy 1.3 - board operations; Policy 1.3.1 - meetings; Policy 1.3.2 - motions and voting; Policy 1.3.3 - board policies; Policy 1.3.4 - committees; Policy 1.3.5 - membership; Policy 1.3.6 - officers; Policy 1.4 - board member development opportunities; Policy 1.5 - appointments; Policy 1.5.1 - superintendent; Policy 1.5.2 - solicitor; Policy 1.6 - fiscal objectives; Policy 4.2 - nepotism and Policy 6.1 - communications with the public.

Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss announced Blessings in a Backpack of the Lehigh Valley is working with Harry S Truman Elementary School to provide enough food for the weekend each Friday for students in need.

Blessings in a Backpack of the Lehigh Valley said, “we will be providing backpacks full of nutritious meals and snack items to children determined most in need each Friday of the school year. To start, we will be providing 50 backpacks of food each week; however, this is less than half the amount of the children at this school who could benefit from this program.”

For more information on this organization, visit https://getinvolved.blessingsinabackpack.org.

Ziegenfuss said the district is holding a video/essay/poster contest for students in elementary through high school. The deadline for submissions is March 29.

Upcoming meetings include an operations committee meeting 7 p.m. April 4 at the administration building, a regular board meeting 7:30 p.m. April 13 at the administration building and a curriculum and technology meeting 7 p.m. April 25.