Before the start of the regular Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting Dec. 7, members held their annual reorganization meeting. Board President Duane Deitrich and Vice President Carol Cunningham unanimously retained their positions.

Attorney David G. Knerr was once again appointed as the CASD solicitor at the rate of $215 an hour. Board member Donald Panto was also approved to serve as the Pennsylvania School Boards Association liaison.

Additionally at this earlier meeting, the 2022 board meeting and committee meeting dates were approved.

Due to a board member’s absence, the school directors who earned seats in the November election were not sworn in, so the only voting members of this meeting were board members Lauren Cieslak, Panto, Jillian Emert, Cunningham and Deitrich.

At the start of the regular meeting, Catasauqua Middle School Principal Melissa Inselmann introduced the November Star Players of the Month. They are Carter Gonzalez, fifth grade; Amaury Sanchez, sixth grade; Kayden Simon, seventh grade; and Hailey Jenkins, eighth grade. Only Carter and Amaury attended the meeting.

In other business, board members approved the first amendment to an agreement of sale with Castle Holdings Inc. for 15.62 acres of land on the west side of 14th Street.

The board also approved a new collective bargaining agreement with Catasauqua Area Education Association, effective July 1, 2022-June 30, 2027.

“We are honored to work side by side with our teacher group,” Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler said.

He noted the group has been a solid advocate for the district and its teachers.

Regarding personnel changes, board members approved the removal of Roberta Cronce as a substitute bus driver for personal reasons. Daniel Saas was approved to be added to the substitute employment list as a substitute custodian, effective Nov. 24. James Luchansky was appointed as a volunteer assistant boys basketball coach.

Board members voted to approve increases in the substitute custodian and secretary rates. The substitute custodian rate was increased from $11 per hour to $15 per hour, and the substitute secretary rate increased from $10.75 per hour to $14 per hour.

The board voted unanimously to approve Emert as the representative on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute Board of Directors. She will serve through Dec. 1, 2022. Board members tabled the vote on the alternate board representative.

Several tax assessment appeals were approved by the board. The solicitor was approved to settle appeals by establishing a new assessed value for the 2021 tax year and a value for 2022 and subsequent tax years.

Properties and their values include 861 Marcon Blvd. at $3,421,200 for 2021 and $3,176,500 for 2022; 871 Marcon Blvd. at $1,396,400 for 2021 and $1,296,500 for 2022; 881 Marcon Blvd. at $3,002,300 for 2021 and $2,787,600 for 2022; 894 Marcon Blvd. at $3,133,600 for 2021 and $2,933,800 for 2022; 2200 N. Irving St. at $2,723,000 for 2021 and $2,528,300 for 2022; and 2202 N. Irving St., at $2,583,400 for 2021 and $2,398,600 for 2022.

A number of the board members took time to comment on how much they enjoyed the annual Turkey Day game. They thanked everyone involved with making the event, which was held on the new Alumni Field, so successful.

“The stadium took my breath away,” Deitrich noted.

Spengler mentioned how special the tradition is to the community.

Sheckler Elementary School Principal Eric Dauberman took time to recognize Jennifer Churetta, the school nurse. He mentioned how much work she is putting in right now in helping keep the students and staff safe and healthy.

“Sheckler would be a very different place right now without her,” he reported.

Spengler also added thanks go out to all the school principals and nurses for their management of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re managing very nicely right now,” he added. “We have a great team across the board.”

Board member Shawn McGinley commented on how nice it was to hear about all the charitable giving within the district. Among other reports of donations and giving, Inselmann had given a report on the recent Shop With a Cop event, and Dauberman gave an update on the elementary school’s Giving Tree initiative.

The next school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 11, 2022, in the district administrative board room, 201 N. 14th St.