The Salisbury Township School District School Board opened its first meeting of the school year Aug. 14 with the introduction of their new instructors. In attendance were Andrew Makhoul, sixth grade learning support; Andrew Heath, eighth grade learning support; John Leiderman, elementary music teacher; Lauren Bieber, kindergarten through second grade learning support and Nancy Thomas, a middle school health and physical education teacher.

Each new educator in attendance gave a short speech about their past experiences and thanked the school board and those in attendance for welcoming them into the district.

After introductions, board members and the new instructors mingled for a short time period, after which, the meeting officially got underway.

The first to present was Director Carol Klinger covering the curriculum and technology committee. All items in the agenda were approved. This included, a partial hospitalization program contract with Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, a Seton Hall University Project Acceleration High School Program Agreement and various other learning programs.

An overnight extracurricular trip for Model U.N. to go to Baltimore, Md. Feb. 6 to 9, 2020 to participate in the John Hopkins Model U.N. conference was approved.

Next up, Director George Gatanis discussed the debt and budget consultation during the operations meeting Aug. 7. This included the establishment of the student activity fund for the Class of 2023 and the approval for the student transportation program with Paragon Transit.

The Shaleece Martinez Memorial Scholarship Fund was closed and the remaining balance was transferred to the Class of 2013 Michele Honochick Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Class of 2019 student activity fund was closed and the Class of 2023 student activity fund was established.

Also approved was the Memorandum of Understanding, Functional Memorandum of Understanding between the school district, Salisbury Township School Board and the Salisbury Township Police Department.

Director Mary Ziegler read a list of resignations and new hires that took place over the summer. There were a total of 38 new resignations and hires. However, there were only six resignations, so numbers are not drastically down and the school year looks to be a positive one. The resignations include Mario Amato as a learning support teacher at Salisbury Middle School, Carla Pacitti as a full-time English teacher at Salisbury High School, Marlene Zamora as a part-time one-to-one instructional assistant at Harry S Truman Elementary School, Elena Lagunilla as a summer custodial helper, Kelly Gardus as a summer custodial helper and Hailey Rapolla as a summer custodial helper.

New hires include Connor Huegel as a summer custodial helper, Karen Orlemann as a full-time instructor in the home/temporary medical excusal teacher and learning support and gifted teacher at HST, Lauren Verna as a part-time German teacher at SHS and SMS, Andrew Heath as a full-time learning support teacher at SMS, Tracy Buttillo as a full-time long-term substitute second grade teacher at HST, Pamela Miles as a part-time nurse assistant at SHS and SMS, Lissa Flores as a 4-hours a day, part-time one-to-one instructional assistant at HST and Kristine Alder, as a 4 hours a day part-time one-to-one instructional assistant at SMS.

A transfer was approved for Jennifer Roth from a part-time ESL teacher at Western Salisbury Elementary School to a part-time ESL/ELL teacher at HST.

Janine M. Wargo was approved to provide psychological services Aug. 15 through June 20, 2020 as an independent contractor.

Other approvals include Nancy Thomas as the assistant cross-country coach, Mackenzie Sikora as the swimming coach, Eric Snyder as the head wrestling coach, Nancy Thomas as the Interact club adviser, Mackenzie Sikora as the middle school swimming club adviser, Joshua Ecker as the middle school PJAS adviser and John Leiderman as the elementary chorus adviser.

Volunteer coaches include Max Purzak as a volunteer assistant varsity boys soccer coach, Christina Young, Susan Sentz, Amie Banham and Carly Brown as volunteer assistant twirling coaches, Rich Simononis and James Moore as volunteer football coaches, Lou Bottitta and Stan Fidrych as volunteer girls tennis coaches, Brittany Evans and Mackenzie Sikora as volunteer cheerleading coaches and Michael Pennella as a volunteer golf coach.

Student Activities Chair Joe Gnall announced the arrival of classes and fall sports and discussed the various projects and renovations that are almost completed. The new gym is apparently in its final stages of completion.

Two policies were adopted: student wellness and fund balance.

Ziegler gave a report for the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit. She reported the annual golf tournament had a very nice outing raising nearly $13,000 for the foundation fund. In addition, the last highlight for the CLIU was graduation for CLIU students.

Zeigler told a story about a young lady that graduated from a Catasauqua program and has been in the program since third grade. The Catasauqua graduate gave a speech on the district’s intermediate unit and how students’ with special needs are able to succeed in school because of the program’s help. Ziegler said the speech was very moving.

Board President Frank Frankenfield reported that Lehigh Career and Technical Institute has had setbacks in construction time because of the weather. Frankenfield is hopeful the new labs will be ready by the school year.

Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss closed the meeting by congratulating and thanking all the staff who worked over the summer. He said everyone is very prepared for this school year.