At the April 8 Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting, Denise Saylor, principal of Gockley Elementary School, presented a slideshow of the kindergarten and first-grade classes’ activities and achievements throughout the year. She discussed the transition to the full-day kindergarten program that begins in August.

“Today was our first day of kindergarten registration, so it’s starting to feel a little more real as we’re talking to the parents about that. We’re very excited.

“We’ve heard all positive comments. [Parents] were very excited about the transition next year, and I know our staff will be very prepared,” Saylor said. “We’ve been meeting all year as a building committee to make sure that we are prepared for that transition, and we’re looking at all of the pieces.”

In other business, the board voted to approve a field trip request by Stephen Piston, Whitehall-Coplay Middle School teacher, for Middle School Power of Ten/SADD students to travel to Harrisburg May 7 to participate in TRU Advocacy Day.

The board approved a request from Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 to use 20 classrooms at WCMS including the gym, auxiliary gym and family and consumer science rooms for the extended school year program July 1-25.

The board accepted the resignations of Joseph Jacob, football equipment manager; Emily Russo and Beth Healy, math paraprofessionals at Zephyr Elementary School; Janice Sodl, Whitehall High School cafeteria worker; Macarena Khoury, ESL paraprofessional at WHS; Deidra Herbert, English teacher at WHS; and Natalie Woodward, intensive learning support teacher at Steckel Elementary School.

The board approved the retirements of Therese Ehrenreich, earth science teacher at WHS, and Rita Shafer, learning support paraprofessional at WCMS.

New appointments include Yanissa Batista, district business office level II secretary, at the rate of $36,846 per year; Cathy Wisser and Debra Resh, districtwide nurse assistants, at the rate of $19.82 per hour; Charisma Christman, WCMS sixth-grade inclusion paraprofessional, at the rate of $18.73 per hour; Kandice Reinert, cafeteria worker at Zephyr Elementary, at the rate of $12.95 per hour; and Amanda Drey, bus driver, at the salary and rates in accordance with the bus drivers’ agreement.

New coach appointments include Courtney Kokolus, head cheerleading coach, at the additional compensation of $4,500; Jeff Jones, head boys basketball coach, at the additional compensation of $8,045; Joshua Madas, head girls basketball coach, at $8,045; Tim Cunningham, head wrestling coach, at $6,410; Pete Rile, head swimming coach, at $6,000; and Jennifer Hudak, volunteer WCMS assistant softball coach.