At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Jan. 24, Whitehall High School’s Marching Zephyr Band was honored for its fourth consecutive Cavalcade of Bands Independent Open Championships win.

Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel commended the MZB members, who performed through rain and wind Nov. 14, 2021, at Hershey Stadium and won with a final score of 95.65 - first place out of 32.

The large travel trophy that has been in the WHS band room since 2017 will stay another year.

MZB Director Matthew Tanzos Jr. said the win was the marching band equivalent of a PIAA sports championship. The school board was treated to a video viewing of the MZB’s winning performance, as well as the Sunoco commercial the band recently starred in.

Also at the meeting, WHS math teacher Mark Freeman and David Stauffer, curriculum supervisor of educational technology, were recognized for their role in WHS receiving the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for having a high percentage of female students taking the AP computer science exam.

WHS was one of only two Lehigh Valley Schools to receive this distinction.

Stauffer said the push to engage students in technology began eight years ago when coding was written into the elementary school curriculum, and the program began to flourish as those students progressed through each grade level. Due to student interest, multiple computer science courses were added over the years, including two AP computer science classes.

Also at the meeting, WHS Student Council President Alexis Quach said carnation sales at WHS are set to begin Jan. 27. The flowers are scheduled to be distributed Feb. 14. The profits will go toward the spring Mini-Thon fundraiser.

In other news, Steckel thanked the WCSB for their dedication and service in honor of School Director Recognition Month. Each board member received a certificate and small token of appreciation.

Also recognized by Steckel were Christopher Schiffert, assistant to the superintendent, and Tatiana Berrios, supervisor of educational equity, for their roles in WCSD being awarded a $25,000 Safe Schools grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The grant will be used to upgrade and add to the security camera system on campus.

Steckel announced four new members will be inducted Jan. 28 into Whitehall High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees include Jean Marstellar, Jeff Pammer, Chris Raber and Sharon Tiwold.

Steckel also wished the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute students competing in the SkillsUSA Championships Feb. 2 the best of luck and said he will be in attendance.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of member Tina Koren, who will be serving as Whitehall Township’s tax collector. Former board member Joseph Shields was appointed to the open seat and took the oath of office.

Board member Keri Kromer was appointed to fill a vacant LCTI seat.

The board approved the revised WCSD ARP/ESSER Health and Safety Plan 2022, effective Jan. 25. Kromer, Nichole Hartman and George Williams voted against approving the plan.

The plan, with changes highlighted in yellow, can be found at whitehallcoplay.org/domain/3432 by clicking on the link on the left of the page.

Also, the board approved the graduation date of June 6 at PPL Center, Allentown.

The board approved the 2022-23 WHS course catalog.

The board approved bids for 78-passenger and 30-passenger buses, as well as the 24-passenger wheelchair bus bid.

Approved retirements include Gail Kucherich, Steckel Elementary/Whitehall-Coplay Middle School health room paraprofessional; Kenneth Schneider, music teacher at Zephyr Elementary; and MaryEllen LaDuke, family and consumer science teacher at WCMS.

Resignations include Natalie Schlofer, paraprofessional at WCMS; Bonnie Freyman, cafeteria monitor at Steckel; Elizabeth Richburg, WHS adviser for Class of 2025; Abigail Hawk, paraprofessional at Zephyr; and Jennifer Simoes, physical education teacher at Steckel.

New appointments include Kevin Loht, library science teacher at WCMS, at $67,773, adjusted from the amount on the Dec. 21, 2021, agenda; Amanda Kusko, temporary dean of students at Zephyr, changing from part time to full time, with a $500 monthly stipend; Bethany Koenig, temporary dean of students at WCMS, with a $500 monthly stipend; Rebecca Reed, temporary math teacher at WCMS, at the salary of $52,299; Brandon Hampton, temporary English teacher at WCMS, at $55,315; Eric Schmitt, secretary to the assistant principals, at $34,609; and Tara Rapchak, cafeteria worker at WHS, at $14.02 per hour.

Salaried substitutes include Taylor Deutsch, first-grade teacher at Gockley Elementary, at $52,299; Robert Giorlando, elementary building substitute, at $56,120; Allison Roberts, Gockley building substitute, at $56,120; Jasmine Rompilla, elementary building substitute, at $52,299; Natalie Schlofer, Life Skills teacher at WHS, at $52,299; Savanah Stevens, elementary building substitute, at $52,299; Stephanie Popovich, third-grade teacher at Steckel, at $52,299; Rosamaria Mollica, elementary building substitute, at $56,120; Ashley Hunsicker, elementary building substitute, at $52,299; and Heather Moore, elementary building substitute, at $52,299.

Coach appointments include Christopher Bleam, head girls soccer coach, at $4,500 per year; Victoria Bobyak, head girls volleyball coach, at $4,500; John Conrad, head golf coach, at $3,136; Michael Lelko, head cross-country coach, at $3,136; Shadimon Navarro, head girls tennis coach, at $3,136; and Matthew Senneca, head football coach, at $9,138.

New teacher induction participants include Erin Scheid, mentor to Rebecca Reed, with the additional compensation of $650; Brian O’Donnell, mentor to Brandon Hampton, at $650; and Debra Polise, mentor to Lauren Culp, at $350.

Approved extracurricular advisers include Christina Stoudt, Class of 2022, at $2,036.

At the conclusion of the meeting, WCSB President William Fonzone Sr. appointed Shields as the operations and transportations committee chair and Hartman to a seat on the education/student activities committee.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Feb. 28.

Committee meetings on finance/personnel, education/student activities and operations/transportation will be held 4 p.m. Feb. 14.