At the start of the Jan. 11 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, three of the recently re-elected board members were sworn in.

Notary Stacy Zellner led Jason M. Bashaw, Dale K. Hein and Christy Cooper in taking the oath of office. Shawn P. McGinley was not present, so he will take the oath at another time.

Sheckler Elementary School Principal Eric Dauberman introduced the Students of the Month. This month, Dauberman recognized third-grade students, and their teachers were all in attendance to show their support.

The honored students were Brandon Schuster, Haila Weaver, Landon Smell, Naylanie Soler and Gracie Roth.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler reported the administration is working on the 2022-23 budget, and current revenue projections are looking strong with developments in the district.

On the agenda and unanimously approved by the board was the resolution not to raise taxes beyond the state index. The CASD rate for the 2022-23 school is 4.4 percent.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling reported the administration is working on a professional development plan and beginning to look at course needs and textbooks for the next school year.

Bashaw noted North Catasauqua Police Department is interested in being more involved with students in the district and wants to get in the schools to become more familiar with the buildings. This will help increase the feeling of community in the district with the two police departments working together, he said.

Robert Arnold, Catasauqua High School music teacher, went before the board to discuss the indoor guard’s proposed trip to Wildwood, N.J., at the end of April for its championship performances. The trip would be Thursday through Sunday, which would mean missing two days of school. He will fill out the required paperwork and submit it to the board for consideration.

The board approved the appointment of Juliana Casto as a guidance counselor at Sheckler Elementary at $70,272 and Susan Trumbore as a district office receptionist at $26,000.

Kimberly Ceccatti was appointed Casto’s mentor, at a stipend of $750.

A number of extracurricular positions were approved, including Steven Bradley, head baseball coach, at $5,399; Andrew Oswald and James Snyder, assistant baseball coaches, both at $2,671; Steven Ritter, Eric Snyder, Zachary Bradley, Andrew Brett and Colin Hawk, volunteer assistant baseball coaches; Paige Kogelman, head softball coach, at $5,399; Kip Kogelman and Erika Proctor, assistant softball coaches, at $2,671; Cathy Moore, volunteer assistant softball coach; Trajano Bastidas, middle school soccer coach, at $2,671; Kyle Rusnock, head track coach, at $5,399; Laura Gerhard, Janine Hemond and Joseph Stofko Jr., assistant track coaches, at $2,671; and Travis Brett, spring weight room monitor, at $600.

Madison Higgins was added to the substitute employment list as a substitute teacher.

The board approved the substitute rate of $130 per day for William Cecchini, effective as of Dec. 20, 2021, and Higgins, effective Jan. 12. The short-term substitute rate of $180 per day was approved to the end of the 2021-22 school year for Madison Walker and Sarah Seng.

There were five student teachers approved. From Kutztown University, there is Evan Frantz to work with CHS social studies teacher Kevin Foley and Haley Grim to work with CHS social studies teacher Alexis Sziy, both from Jan. 25 to May 11; Noah Borgman to work with art teacher Barbara Resto, Jan. 25-March 18; and Gabrielle Walker to work with Resto, from March 21 through May 11. Edwin Alvarez, from Muhlenberg College, is approved to work with biology teacher Amanda Do, effective March 28-May 11.

Devon Troxell was approved to be added to the game worker list for the 2021-22 school year.

Board members approved a motion to allow Catasauqua Area Showcase Theatre to use the CHS auditorium for rehearsals and performances in the spring. This is a one-time exception in consideration of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for CAST to use the auditorium when scheduled in 2020 or to make up that performance in 2021.

An alternate candidate was approved to represent the district on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute board of directors. Hein and Cooper were both nominated, and Hein was unanimously voted to the role.

The board re-approved the 2021-22 CASD health and safety plan in accordance with update requirements and guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Timothy Cline, a CHS junior and Boy Scout, mentioned he is planning a food drive for Catasauqua Community Food Bank for his Eagle Scout project. The drive is set for 9 a.m.-noon March 26. He asked for the school administration to advertise his efforts on the district website and to possibly send an email blast out to families with the details.

The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Feb. 8.