Salisbury Township School District board members approved the 2017-2018 preliminary budget at the Feb. 8 meeting.

The budget reflects expenditures in the amount of $37,551,951 which would require a real estate tax levy of 19.2714 mills. The administration was directed to apply for all referendum exceptions for which the district may qualify and to begin to look for ways to cut expenditures to lessen a tax increase for residents.

Students from all four schools provided an update to the board of past and upcoming activities.

The high school theatre department will present “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” March 9 through 12.

Student government will hold its annual dodgeball tournament March 28 and the group invited the board members to form a team to compete.

Elementary schools will collect books for Cops and Kids with assemblies in February to give families information.

Middle school students and students at Harry S Truman Elementary School are participating in Pennies for Patients, a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The middle school recently held a clothing drive and collected 900 pounds of clothes which raised $135 for their Makerspace effort.

Business Administrator Robert Bruchak reported the Request for Proposal for the food service contract has been given to the state for approval.

Bruchak also reported Governor Tom Wolf has proposed a $100 million increase in basic education as part of his proposed 2017-2018 budget. For Salisbury, it would be a projected increase of $48,000, $17,669 in special education and the same amount of $103,000 for the Ready to Learn block grant.

Bruchak is most concerned about a $50 million cut in transportation.

In other business, the board approved the 2017-2018 calendar and Act 80 schedule.

The board also approved the German textbook update, the gifted handbook and the program of studies at the high school for the 2017-2018 school year.

The board approved the establishment of the student activity fund for the Environmental Club.

In personnel news, the board accepted the resignation of Stani Schiavone as a full-time math teacher at Salisbury High School. The board also accepted the resignation of Patrick O’Connor as the middle school swim club adviser effective Jan. 31.

Julia Witmer was hired as a full-time, long-term substitute chemistry teacher at Salisbury High School through the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year.

Michael Silberman was approved as the middle school softball coach for the 2016-2017 school year. Theodore McAllister was approved as the middle school swim club adviser for the 2016-2017 school year. Patrick O’Connor was approved as the assistant middle school swim club adviser for the 2016-2017 school year.

Michael Baab was approved as a volunteer strength coach for the 2016-2017 school year. Colby Kulig was approved as a volunteer assistant baseball coach for the 2016-2017 school year. Tyler Tocci was approved as a volunteer baseball coach for the 2016-2017 school year.

Timothy Jones was approved as a volunteer baseball coach for the 2016-2017 school year.

The following policies were approved at the meeting: Home Education Programs, Dress and Grooming, Pregnant, Married and Parenting Students, Academic Standards, Religious Exemption from Instruction/Curriculum, State Assessments and Homework.

The Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 general operating budget for 2017-2018 was approved with a zero percent increase to the participating districts. Board member Mary Ziegler said this is the seventh year with no increase to districts.

The 2017-2018 Lehigh Career and Technical Institute budget was approved in the amount of $26,259,100. Salisbury’s portion of the budget is $745,843.93. Board President Frank Frankenfield said the budget was increased 2.5 percent as Salisbury’s student count went up.

Upcoming meetings include the curriculum and technology meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the high school, the operations committee meeting 7 p.m. March 6 at the administration building and the monthly school board meeting 7:30 p.m. March 15.