“We send leaders everywhere in the world,” Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education member Donald Panto said during the Sept. 14 meeting. “The things we do here go far beyond our borders.”

Panto was talking about a donation the school district received in honor of CASD Class of 2010 graduate and current soldier Curtis Garner.

Garner, who graduated from West Point, is serving in Afghanistan. His family decided to donate a flag that was flown during a 2018 special operation in Kabul with Garner and the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Garner’s mother, Sue Conner, said she had been holding onto the flag since 2018. However, following the Aug. 26 attack on a Kabul airport, killing 13 American troops, she felt the need to do something. She noted she was blessed to have her children alive and well, and that prompted her to let go of the flag and donate it to the school district in honor of her son.

Some of Garner’s family members, including Jacquelyn and Luke Garner and Sue and Mike Conner, attended the meeting.

“We are honored and proud to receive this flag,” Panto said.

Board member Carol Cunningham’s resignation from her position as the CASD representative on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute board was approved by the board members, with their appreciation for her service in that position.

This led to the nomination, by Cunningham, of Jillian Emert to replace her as the CASD representative on the LCTI board of directors. The vote to approve Emert was unanimous.

All three student representatives had reports for the board. Hannah Kurczeski reported the Catasauqua High School new freshmen orientation system was a hit. She noted they paired incoming freshmen with upperclassmen with similar interests and had games and activities.

She noted they wanted a welcoming environment for the new students. They are also helping keep alive some of the classic Catasauqua school traditions, such as spirit week, by sharing ideas and tips with the newer students.

Angele Diamacoune reported the upcoming Roughie Rush activity fair is gaining a lot of interest from the new students. She said it was nice to see the students excited about getting involved in clubs and activities at the school.

Grant Heimbecker’s report was on behalf of Community Partners 4 Kids, which provides child safety education workshops and child identification programs throughout the area. He reported the organization wants to donate one of its identification machines to the kindergarten class.

“We would love to protect our most precious resource, our children,” he said.

The board members thanked him and noted they would look into what the next steps are for the donation process.

In other business, Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling, assistant superintendent, reported the district’s new academic coaches are prepared to implement the new tiers of support for students in need. She also noted tutoring is starting three days a week at CHS.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler noted work is moving along on the Alumni Field renovation project. He said they are looking at an early- to mid-October transition to using the field and are hoping to be able to play a few games there this season.

He mentioned the track surface will not be ready for a bit due to needing specific weather conditions.

There were several personnel changes approved during the meeting.

Five people were approved for appointment within the district, including Colin Hawk, a noncertified instructional aide at Sheckler Elementary School, at a rate of $128 per day, effective Aug. 23-June 9, 2022; Cecilia Ramirez, a noncertified instructional aide at Sheckler Elementary, at a rate of $128 per day, effective Sept. 7-June 9, 2022; and Bruce Fryslin, Luis Silva and Nikoli Polles, districtwide student workers, at a rate of $8.25 per hour, effective Sept. 7.

The resignations of van driver Judith Seyfriend, effective Oct. 15, and cheerleading co-coach Nicole Treiber, effective Aug. 19, were also approved by the board members.

There were three substitute teachers approved at the meeting, including Marlaina Riegel, at a rate of $180 from Aug. 23 to Jan. 21, 2022; Jamie Delong, at a rate of $130 per day, effective Aug. 23; and Thomas Riegel, pending the receipt of employment paperwork.

Dorothy Delburtis, Karen Holubowski and Carol Kluge were approved as substitute cafeteria workers.

Several people, including teachers, custodians and aides, were removed from the substitute list.

Regarding extracurricular positions for the 2021-22 school year, the board approved 46 positions. The approvals were a mix of paid and volunteer positions. For a detailed listing, see the meeting agenda on the school district website.

Other board approvals included the review of the statement of financial interests of all current board members and public officials in 2020 or 2019; the motion to approve stormwater best management practices, operation, maintenance, waiver and indemnity agreement for the CASD Alumni Field renovation plan; and additional and revised van and bus stops.

Board member Jason Bashaw reported he has met with North Catasauqua Mayor William Molchany and representatives from North Catasauqua Police Department. The North Catasauqua representatives reportedly want to forge a deeper connection with the school district and create stronger relationships with the local students.

Board President Duane Dietrich thanked the community members who attended the meeting. He cited recent tensions that are occurring in some of the other local school districts between community members and the school boards. Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish was at the meeting, just in case additional assistance was needed.

Dietrich said he was pleased this meeting was just as any other meeting. There were no strained words, only harmony, he said, adding the school board tries to make the right decisions for the students, and the community recognizes that.

“Thank you for being civil, for being adults,” Dietrich said.

In his final words, Spengler commended the entire Catasauqua community, especially the school district personnel, for doing what needs to be done for the betterment of the students.

“We don’t get caught up in all the stuff,” he said. “We just do it.”

He said he is thankful members are all able to stay focused on what is important and to “make it happen.”

The next board meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 12 in the district administration board room, 201 N. 14th St.