At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Oct. 14, Zephyr Elementary School Principal Terri Miller presented a slideshow of pictures showing the activities students have been doing since the 2019-20 academic year began. The pictures included a summary of a new program at the school that promotes kindness and helping others to feel included and not socially isolated.

Toni Fillman, PTO PLUS president, thanked everyone who helped with and attended the Whitehall family movie night at the Whitehall High School football field. More than 300 parents and students attended to watch “The Secret Life of Pets.”

“The kids came up and said, ‘This is like coming to a huge drive-in with no cars, and we can all sit together with our classmates,’” Fillman said.

Another movie night is being planned for the spring.

“Everybody was so wonderful. They cleaned up afterward. We didn’t have one single thing on the football field. The high school students stayed to help clean up,” Fillman said.

In other news, Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Lorie Hackett thanked the general manager of the Whitehall Staples, David Vakoc, for the donation of school supplies purchased by the local community. She also thanked Dana Parker, manager of 2nd & Charles in Whitehall, for book donations for classrooms and building libraries.

Hackett also stated the bonfire has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24. The township Halloween parade has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 on the school campus. Rain on the original Oct. 10 date postponed both events.

Also announced was the Marching Zephyr Band’s home show band competition at the WHS football field, set for 5 p.m. Oct. 26, with the MZB’s performance 8:30 p.m.

The board approved field trip requests from Edward Hong for the WHS choir to travel to Penn State University to perform with the Penn State Glee Club Oct. 12 at the cost of one bus; Michael Yadush for the WHS Ski/Snowboard Club to travel to Mt. Snow, Brattleboro, Vt., Jan 24-26, 2020, at no cost to the district; and Matthew Tanzos for the MZB to travel to New York City to visit the Gershwin Theatre and a Broadway show April 18, 2020, at no cost to the district.

The board approved a contract with Lehigh University to hold graduation 7 p.m. June 4, 2020.

Also approved was a contract with Rohrer Bus Sales in Duncannon for the purchase of three new 78-passenger buses at $279,693 and for the purchase of three new 30-passenger buses at $175,530.

The board approved the schematic design of the new elementary school as recommended by the operations and transportation committee; a proposal between Barry Isett and Associates Inc. and WCSD to conduct a partial topographical survey and stormwater infiltration/spray irrigation evaluation for the new school; and a geophysical survey services proposal between TPI Environmental Inc. to locate subsurface utilities in the area of the new school and to provide vacuum excavation services to identify the depth of the subsurface utilities there, pending solicitor and administration approval.

Committee meetings on operations/transportation, finance/personnel and education/student activities will be held 4 p.m. Oct. 28 and Nov. 25.

The next school board meeting will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 11.