Students from Salisbury Township School District began the school board meeting April 10 with a report of the activities and events going on at each school level.

A fourth grade student announced Pennsylvania System of School Assessment testing was set to begin for the students from third to fifth grade. This announcement was common as students from the middle school reported having the same testing schedule as well. Similarly, Salisbury High School students are to begin Keystone testing.

High school representative Olivia Hoeing announced the spring concert will take place 7 p.m. May 7. She detailed the performance of the Salisbury debate team, which defeated their last opponent in the state playoffs. The debate team will face off against Pennridge in the next round of the playoffs April 25.

Special recognition was given to David Kneble, Salisbury Class of 2005, as he has earned a place on the Salisbury Alumni Wall of Honor. He was able to receive the honor through a Skype video chat.

Kneble holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, as well as a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from North Carolina State. Currently, Kneble works as an aerospace systems engineer for Northrup Gunman in Phoenix, Ariz. He works directly on ballistic missile defense systems, launch sequences and other projects.

SHS Physics Teacher Paul Koba nominated Kneble for the award. “I nominated you for this award because you were very deserving based upon the credentials that you communicated to me in our correspondence … congratulations,” Koba said.

When he isn’t working his day job, Kneble is the owner of Beyond a Career, a new start-up that “specializes in career planning and growth for individuals in or pursuing STEM related positions.”

Following the recognition, the board approved the calendar and meeting schedule for the 2019-2020 school year, as well as extending the agreement between Community Services for Children, Inc./ Head Start/ Pre-K Counts of the Lehigh Valley and the school district for the next five years.

It was announced operations meetings will be moved from Mondays to Wednesdays henceforth.

Personnel committee Chair Mary Ziegler announced several positions within the school district will be vacated or abolished by the end of the school year. Patricia Morgan, a full-time physical-education/health teacher is retiring. Due to low class enrollment, positions in the arts and English departments are being reduced.

Ziegler followed this with a report on the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, which serves the school district in providing diverse educational opportunities to students. A new facilities plan was proposed and approved for the organization.

The meeting closed with a short statement by SHS math teacher and junior varsity head soccer coach James Hahn who implored the board to consider the importance of the Salisbury athletic trainers. He described the ways in which trainers serve the students as more than just someone to treat their injuries, but as a listening ear and a friend. His pleas are in hopes their positions will be retained for the upcoming school year.