The Salisbury Township School Board held its regular meeting March 16.

Topics of particular interest include the adoption of the district’s language arts program Wit and Wisdom, an enhanced network system and many new hires to fill vacancies.

Salisbury High School student representatives Allison Beckage and Bailee Neitz reported on the many accomplishments achieved by students at the high school. The theater department presented an outstanding performance of “RENT School Edition” and as winter sports come to a close the spring season has already begun. Several athletes competed in districts and will be moving on to compete at the regional level and the debate team will compete in the semi-finals at Kutztown University.

Student Soledad Lausch detailed some exciting events being planned for middle school students. Students were invited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, enjoying music during recess and trying their luck at a fun raffle to win prizes. The Interact Club and Student Council will host a fifth and sixth grade activity night April 1 which will benefit the Salisbury Middle School activities fund and a seventh and eighth grade Spring Fling is in the works for May.

Under the direction of German teacher Lauren Verna, the middle school launched its first drama club open to all students in grades five through eight. Students will learn acting and expression through a variety of activities and games.

In grade level news, students in seventh grade recently had the opportunity to visit the Franklin Institute where they visited four exhibits while sixth grade students utilized their STEM skills to create balloon cars in science class.

A math tournament called March Mathness will also be held for eighth grade students.

Read Across America Week and Dr. Seuss’ birthday celebrations were held recently and Salisbury Elementary School students Jaylynne Cordero and Cora Lakics recounted all the fun activities held. The week included Seuss alerts, mystery readers, crazy sock day to celebrate the book “Fox in Socks” and wear green day honoring the classic “Green Eggs and Ham.”

The students delighted in a March 2 visit from meLVin, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms mascot.

As spring approaches and warm weather is on its way it is time for kindergarten students to start thinking about how they will fashion their spring bonnets for the annual SES Spring Bonnet Parade.

The board recognized Jamie Roth-Gilly for her over 13 years of service to the students of Salisbury. SMS Assistant Principal Robert Sawicki presented her with a plaque and read a proclamation in her honor.

While Roth-Gilly has worn many hats during her time with the district she most recently taught ESL at SMS. The board expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation for her tireless efforts to ensure student achievement. Roth-Gilly spoke briefly and thanked the board for the privilege to serve the district and to make a difference in the lives of the children she has taught since 2009.

The curriculum and technology committee approved agreements with Valley Family Therapeutics for services through 2025 and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 20 through the end of this year. It also authorized the placement of Cedar Crest College student nurse, Monique Aguila, who will complete her clinical practicum hours at both SES and SMS. DeSales University student teacher Melanie Olivieri was also approved to work with Salisbury High School teacher James Hahn to complete her student teaching hours.

Adoption of the English Language Arts curriculum Wit and Wisdom was narrowly passed by a 5-4 vote. Board member Laura McKelvey objected to two books included in the fourth grade curriculum namely: “Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech and “George vs. George” by Rosalyn Schanzer. She read aloud excerpts from the novels and remarked that while she felt the program overall was great she could not support the subject matter described in the books for fourth grade students. She called for the board to amend the list of curriculum materials to eliminate these two books and provide alternative choices. The board discussed the matter at length. Several board members agreed they trust the district’s teachers and administrators to use their discretion in handling sensitive material.

Board member Rebecca Glenister and board president Sarah Nemitz voiced concern, saying eliminating books, “is a very slippery slope.” Board member Christopher Freas asked for clarification about the board’s policy and whether it supports a way for parents who have objections to choose alternate material. Votes against the adoption of the Wit and Wisdom were cast by members McKelvey, Thomas Spinner, Joseph Kuzo and Freas.

After the vote was taken, Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten took the time to address the concerns. She assured board members she has heard their concerns and does not want to create further division. She and her staff plan to look into alternative choices when the textbook company provides them. She also agreed a process to notify parents about books their children are reading needs to be put in place and implemented. In an effort to address the sensitive nature of topics presented, Fuini-Hetten realized the need to engage school counselors in order to prepare teachers to have tough conversations with their students when controversial material is presented.

During the operations committee portion of the meeting board members Freas, Kuzo, McKelvey and Spinner questioned expenditures for an E-Rate Network contract to extend Wi-Fi coverage outside school buildings. Members referred to previous discussions related to the necessary capital improvements and weighed the need for Internet infrastructure improvements against the physical infrastructure. As Bill Brackett, director of facilities, and Chris Smith, coordinator of technology, pointed out, extending coverage outside of the building has been requested by principals for years and it is necessary in the event of emergencies like evacuations and fire drills. The motion was passed by a 5-4 vote in favor of the E-Rate Network expenditure.

The board also approved the revised Health and Safety Plan as written with regard to changes made to the nursing suites/athletic training rooms and transportation.

The board accepted the resignation of Pamela Marth, part-time instructional assistant at SES as of Feb. 14. New employees for the district include Krista Makhoul, part-time instructional assistant at SES, Ramona Plasencia, part-time instructional assistant at SMS and VanLeer-Mercedes Reid, part-time instructional assistant at SHS.

Pending the completion of requirements, the district has hired Ashley Shiroff, full-time special education teacher at SES and Christy Cooper, full-time behavioral interventionist at SMS. Taylor Linn was approved as a volunteer assistant varsity baseball coach and Jamie Swoyer and Julie Swoyer were approved as SMS softball coaches.

March is a month that recognizes multiple groups of people as it is athletic training month, music in our schools month and social work month.

In her superintendent report, Lynn Fuini-Hetten thanked the many individuals who support our school with their professional expertise. She also announced Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union has made a $5,000 donation to the district which will be used to benefit students. Currently, plans are being made to use the money to provide a fourth grade instrumental program which had been previously eliminated. She also praised teachers and administrators at SES who organized a successful STEM Night March 14.

Eighty-three families participated in a variety of activities centered around science, technology, engineering and math skills. The families were also treated to Lorenzo’s pizza, Yocco’s Hot Dogs and the PTO sponsored a raffle and provided dessert.

The next work session meeting will be held 7 p.m. April 6 in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.