Members of the Salisbury Township School Board heard the latest in Falcon news at the Oct. 11 board meeting.

Student representatives Taliah Martinez and Vivian Rogers spoke on behalf of the students at Salisbury High School.

They said SHS celebrated Homecoming week with a pep rally, Homecoming parade and football game Oct. 13 and a Homecoming dance Oct. 14.

SHS will present “Almost Maine,” a romantic comedy 7 p.m. Nov. 9 to 11 and 3 p.m. Nov. 12.

As upperclassman are preparing to go onto college, various colleges are visiting SHS including Kutztown University, DeSales University, Moravian College and Penn State University.

Mia Benard and Carlee Ziegenfus reported at Salisbury Middle School, seventh grade students participated in “Plague Day’” where they had the opportunity to have makeup applied to resemble an individual afflicted by the Bubonic Plague. Seventh grade students also attended the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair.

Eighth grade students took part in the “Yellow Fever Tour” in Philadelphia. The walking tour leads people through streets in Old Philadelphia stopping at various sites that were key historical locations in the 1793 epidemic.

Students in the sixth grade at SMS went on a field trip to Bake Oven Knob to study wildlife and various species of birds.

Spirit Week at SMS will be the week of Oct. 16 to 20 and will include “Sports Day,” “Twin Day,” “Throwback Day,” “Blue and White Day,” a pep rally and early dismissal Friday.

Dylan Jarjous said students at Harry S Truman Elementary School participated in the “Heavenly Hats Foundation” fundraiser, an organization which collects brand new hats for people who have lost their hair due to cancer or other medical conditions.

Leadership Day will be combined with Veterans Day to honor family members who have served or are serving in the military. The event will be held 1:15 p.m. Nov. 10 at HST and all are welcome to attend.

According to Gwyneth DeFazio, Western Salisbury Elementary School students are enjoying participating in the “Kindness Rocks” initiative. Students are painting rocks with smiley faces and peace signs and placing them in the school’s garden for all to see.

During the meeting, several Salisbury staff members were recognized for their hard work and dedication.

Instructional Assistant Nancy Holler, who retired after 10 years of service, was recognized and given a resolution by SMS Assistant Principal Rob Sawicki for Salisbury’s gratitude for Holler’s “untiring efforts on behalf of our public schools.”

Paragon Transit bus driver Dennis Wehr was thanked for 10 years of exemplary service.

Mary Ziegler was recognized for 12 years of service on the Salisbury Township School Board.

“Mary is a very special lady to this board and to this school district and has left an indelible mark on the school district in the last 12 years,” Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss said.

After the recognitions, School Resource Officer Richard Nothstein gave an overview of his 2016-2017 report.

According to Nothstein, there were 308 calls of service throughout the school district with 76 of the calls resulting in arrests. As a comparison, Nothstein cited there were 265 incidents with 63 arrests the year prior.

The 2016-2017 incidents were comprised of alarm calls, bus issues, welfare checks, cyberbullying, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, EMS and fire drills, tobacco violations, truancy and parking complaints.

Of the arrests made, the majority stem from truancy issues and acts of disorderly conduct.

Nothstein also conducts residency checks to ensure students who attend Salisbury schools reside in the district.

Along with the District Attorney’s office, Nothstein conducted a sexting presentation at the high school as well as a town hall meeting on opioid abuse.

Nothstein said he attends almost all events held throughout the district, is a member of the safety committee and attends training sessions on a regular basis.

“How much do the parents play a role relative to the responsibility for the fine or arrests for truancy,” Director George Gatanis asked.

“This year the truancy standard changed and for students under 15, the parents are automatically cited and the fine has increased to $750.

Students cited and found guilty will automatically have their licenses suspended for 60 days. For students who are 15 and do not have their licenses, when they pass their driving tests, they are automatically suspended for 60 days,” Nothstein said.

Board President Frank Frankenfield thanked Nothstein and said, “We have always been comfortable knowing that our township police have a presence in our school district. We appreciate the participation of the police department and cooperation between the school district and the township.”

“Over the years, the township and the district have formed a really good relationship, making our job a lot easier,” Nothstein said.

Board Secretary Robert Bruchak reported the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Leadership conference is occurring during the week of Oct. 16 and will be well represented by members of the Salisbury Township School District.

The school district audit is nearly complete and things are “going well,” according to Bruchak who also noted the ACT I deadlines are coming up as well.

Director Carol Klinger gave the curriculum and technology report and said the summer programs were well received. Klinger also said the board finalized their resolution in support of public education. The board voted to approve the resolution.

Concerning updates from the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Ziegler said Amber Pitten won the Annie Sullivan Award.

Sullivan was Helen Keller’s teacher and the award is given to instructors who embody an understanding of the challenges of a person with disabilities and who exceed expectations as they pertain not only to the disabled individual, but also how the school and community can build an understanding of the disabled individual’s needs.

Ziegler also reported 36 Salisbury students attended the extended school year and camps which allowed them to continue their education over the summer months preventing a learning lag at the beginning of school year.

The wireless upgrade, funded by grant money, at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute is complete, according to Frankenfield, and the school is looking forward to the expansion of some of the lab rooms.

Director Susan Lea gave the Pennsylvania School Boards Association update. According to Lea, the commonwealth passed a $32 billion budget that holds a $2 billion deficit. The proposed fixes for the deficit include monies not yet realized by the Liquor Control Board, selling the Farm Show Complex and then leasing it back to the state and possibly borrowing from the State Treasury. Lea noted one of the upcoming referendum questions on the ballot will be concerning whether the Pennsylvania Constitution should be amended to exclude using property taxes from funding schools, leaving the state to fund schools through other measures. The measures include raising sales tax and taxing items not currently being taxed.

“The state could choose to allocate the money generated from raising taxes to other interests other than local school districts,” Frankenfield noted.

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Lynn Fuini-Hetten said she and Ziegenfuss will connect with the student representatives later in the month to get feedback on their experiences to date for the new school year and get their thoughts of the new nutrition program.

Ziegenfuss said the district is focusing on its advocacy – telling the Salisbury story through various sources including PASA, social media, future meetings with various representatives, new initiatives and the school district resolution.