At a special Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting, held via Zoom July 22, the board approved the Phased School Reopening Health and Safety Plan, which will be modified as guidance changes from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Health. The vote was 8-1, with Tina Koren opposed.

The board approved the resolution of Whitehall-Coplay School District Board of Directors declaring an emergency, pursuant to Section 520.1 of school code.

Also approved were offseason athletic activities and competitions that had been pre-authorized by Bob Hartman, athletic director.

In addition, at the meeting, WCSD Superintendent Dr. Lorie Hackett thanked the Hanna family, owners of restaurant Union and Finch, for providing meals to four families of recent Whitehall High School graduates.

In other news, Hackett read a thank-you letter addressed to the board from WHS Class of 2020 President Andy Chung, who had received the WCSD Board of School Directors Award.

The board approved the resignations of Sandie White, cafeteria worker at Steckel Elementary School; Shawn Wydrzynski, music teacher at Steckel Elementary; Abigail Hawk and Olivia Reiser, inclusion paraeducators at Zephyr Elementary School; Cheyenne Mitchell, paraeducator at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School; and Laura Vandegrift, district human resources manager.

The board approved the retirements of Donna Heck and Joseph Braun, district bus drivers; Christine Wolfer, district bus aide; and Richard LaDuke, WHS guidance counselor.

New appointments included temporary professionals Caitlin Johnson, WHS chemistry teacher, at the rate of $54,064; Theodore McMahan, WHS chemistry teacher, at the rate of $51,961; Kaitlyn Kulp, Zephyr Elementary salaried STEM substitute, at the rate of $51,048; Kevin Rota, WCMS guidance secretary, at $33,864; Suzanne Holderman, Steckel library secretary, at $18.44 per hour; Keith Jones, WCMS sixth-grade inclusion paraprofessional, at $19.59 per hour; Lama Fares, Steckel ESL paraprofessional, at $18.44 per hour; Marinellye Burgos, Gockley Elementary School ESL paraprofessional, at $18.44 per hour; Kim Huber, WHS cafeteria worker, at $21.65 per hour; Ann Anderson, Steckel cafeteria worker, at $13.55 per hour; and Gladis Moussa, Gockley Elementary cafeteria worker, at $13.55 per hour.

Approved 2020-21 season coaches, contingent upon the season taking place or prorated based on the length of the season, include Kristen Regitz, assistant cheerleading coach, at $1,227; Victoria Marzen and Emily Unger, assistant cheerleading coaches, volunteers; Courtney Druckenmiller and Samantha Grim, assistant cheerleading coaches, at $2,447 each; Alexis Freedman and Justice Mousseau, WCMS cheerleading coaches, at $1,227 each; Michael Fabian, assistant cross-country coach, at $2,046; Adam Marakovits and Rhiannon Sorrentino, WCMS assistant cross-country coaches, at $2,046 each; Gabrielle Smith, assistant field hockey coach, at $2,454; James Kurtz and Vita Marks, assistant field hockey coaches, at $1,227 each; Kassidy Cunningham, WCMS assistant field hockey coach, at $2,454; A-sar Long II, Chad Stefanyak and Eric Hatch, assistant football coaches, at $2,522 each; Peter Kreisher, Timothy Churchill, George Cowitch, Tevrin Brandon, Samuel Senneca, Justin Kondikoff, Dennis Roman, Thomas Wills and Shawn Clary, assistant football coaches, at $5,044 each; Ryan Friend, Ronald Hannis, George Makhoul, William Edwards, assistant football coaches, volunteers; Steve Piston and James Sebesta, WCMS assistant football coaches, at $5,044 each; Scott Schmalzer, WCMS assistant football coach, volunteer; Todd Troxell, WCMS assistant football coach, at $2,522; Matthew Schultz, assistant golf coach, volunteer; Christopher Bastidas, head boys soccer coach, at $4,500; Brandon Levano, Adam Bastidas, Todd Covert and Photis Zographou, assistant boys soccer coaches, volunteers; Trajano Bastidas and Javaughn Hussett, assistant boys soccer coaches, at $1,227 each; Scott Cullen, assistant girls soccer coach, volunteer; Vincent Santamaria, assistant girls soccer coach, at $2,454; Shadimon Navarro, head girls tennis coach, at $3,136; Emily Snyder, assistant girls tennis coach, at $2,046; Douglas Barriner, assistant girls volleyball coach, at $2,454; Katelynn Strohl, WCMS girls volleyball coach, at $2,454; and Jaclyn Smith, Savanna Schmidt and Hollie Matejcek, assistant girls volleyball coaches, volunteers.

Also approved were the 2020-21 school year department/faculty leaders at WHS, including Daniel Smale, art and music; Nicole Storm, business and industrial technology; Meredith McLaughlin, counseling; Michelle Abbadessa, English and library; Jennifer Bodnar, health and physical education; Kristine Eichelberger, math; Christina Stoudt, science; Robert Panny, social studies; Jennifer Stancombe, special education (ESOL and speech); and Michelle Le, world language, each with the added compensation of $1,729.

Approved WCMS faculty leaders include Stephanie Simock, sixth grade; Lori Galucy, counseling; Brian O’Donnell, English; Debby Zoksy, math; Samantha Neas, science; Clare Persing, special education; Laura Counterman, special subjects; and Stephen Piston, social studies, with the additional compensation of $1,000 each.

The board approved the 2020-21 WHS Varsity W Club adviser, Carol Radon, at $500.

The next school board meetings will be held 7 p.m. Aug. 10 and Sept. 14. Committee meetings on operations/transportation, finance/personnel and education/student activities will be held 4 p.m. Aug. 24.