At the Jan. 14 Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting, the board approved a graduation contract with Lehigh University to hold graduation 7 p.m. June 3 at Stabler Arena, Bethlehem.

The board approved field trip requests by Samantha Neas, Whitehall-Coplay Middle School science teacher, for the middle school Science Olympiad students to travel to Garnet Valley High School Jan. 27 to compete at the Garnet Valley Invitational. Her request for the Science Olympiad team to travel to and compete in the Science Olympiad competition at Juniata College April 26 and 27 was also approved.

The board approved a proposal by David Blackmore & Associates Inc. for a geotechnical exploration and report conducted for the Gockley Elementary School portable classroom project at the cost of $4,350.

The board accepted the resignations of Jamison Barnhart, Whitehall High School chemistry teacher, and Valerie Chajnacki, districtwide health room assistant.

New appointments include Valerie Chajnacki, temporary school nurse, at the rate of $48,165 per year (prorated); Danielle Monroe, districtwide half-day ESL salaried substitute, at the rate of $51,486 per year (prorated); Coriane Zvolanek, long-term substitute at Zephyr Elementary School, at the rate of $150 per day; Wendy Weeast, WHS secretary, at the rate of $17.63 per hour; Ann Hansen, WCMS reading paraprofessional, at the rate of $17.63 per hour; Holly Gerlach and Natalie Schlofer, WCMS emotional support paraprofessionals, at the rate of $18.73 per hour; Jennifer Chanitz, Steckel Elementary School intensive learning support paraprofessional, at the rate of $18.73 per hour; Gunay Guler, WCMS cafeteria worker, at the rate of $12.95 per hour; Matthew Senneca, 2019-20 head football coach, with the compensation of $9,138; and Edward Hong, spring musical pit orchestra conductor, with the compensation of $550.

The board approved teacher induction participants Lora Luchansky, mentor to Megan Colletti; Jane Dolin, mentor to Valerie Chajnacki; and Carmelina Subveri, mentor to Danielle Monroe. Mentors each receive compensation of $325.

Toni Fillman, Whitehall PTO Plus president, highlighted upcoming events for the board, including the Valentine’s Day schoolwide lollipop and pencil sale to be held Feb. 4-12; Scholastic book fair bingo, to support Zephyr Elementary, 5-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at WCMS; and a coin drop in the classrooms during February to partner with Scholastic to buy books for a local children’s hospital.

The school board will hold committee meetings on education/student activities, operations/transportation and finance/personnel 4 p.m. Jan. 28 and Feb. 25. There will be a special operations/transportation committee meeting 4:15 p.m. Feb. 5. The next school board meeting will be 4 p.m. Feb. 11.