During Whitehall-Coplay School Board’s March 9 meeting, members approved the retirements of Richard Gierula, health and physical education teacher at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School; Elizabeth Hawk, second-grade teacher at Steckel Elementary School; Jean Marsteller, Spanish teacher at Whitehall High School; Lisa Rex, secretary at Steckel Elementary; Laurie Farver, inclusion teacher at Zephyr Elementary School; and Deborah Vilbas, secretary at WHS.

The board approved the resignations of Bethany Yurasits, districtwide paraeducator; Brian Ferencin, districtwide bus driver; and Elmira Serazutdinova, cafeteria worker at Steckel.

Also approved was a compensated professional leave for Frank Piff, fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Zephyr Elementary, effective the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.

The board approved temporary professional Kaylea Dietrich, seventh-grade teacher at WCMS, at the rate of $59,135; long-term substitute Sabrina Chatih, WCMS English teacher, at the rate of $150 per day; Mark Deichmeister, districtwide mechanic’s helper, at the rate of $20.38 per hour; Adrianne Simcox, reading paraprofessional at WCMS, at the rate of $18.03 per hour; Laura Dickert, activity paraprofessional at Gockley Elementary School, at the rate $18.03 per hour; and Laura Assaf, cafeteria worker at WCMS, at the rate of $13 per hour.

Approved coaches include Arthur Getchius, WCMS assistant softball coach, at $3,954; Kassidy Cunningham, assistant track and field coach, volunteer; Alex Fortna, assistant boys volleyball coach, volunteer; and Jacob Meyers, assistant baseball coach, volunteer.

The board approved teacher induction participants Sharon Gumhold, mentor to Kaylea Dietrich, at $130; and Jennifer Stancombe, mentor to Steven Strzyzynski, at $325.