At the March 28 Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting, Whitehall Township resident Bruce Charles discussed his concerns about property taxes and district spending.

Charles told school board members he believed wants are being characterized as needs and took issue with the costs of the new elementary school, demolition of the administration building, the leasing of a temporary administration building, renovating the old elementary school and the amount of money spent on new positions and athletics.

“Retired taxpayers like my wife and I are not able to raise our revenue to pay the bills. We spend less. People like us - and most taxpayers in the district - are being crushed by everything around us,” Charles said.

Charles criticized the board for raising school property taxes at the start of the pandemic and told members the district needs to do more with less. He challenged the board to have one year without a tax increase.

“The responsibility of all in this room is to be good stewards of taxpayer and government funds. Emphasis on this is now more important than ever,” Charles said.

Charles added he has grandchildren in the district and wants the best for them, but he also wants to see less of a burden on homeowners.

According to Charles, he sent a letter to the board last year, along with some spending suggestions, and reportedly did not receive a response.

Also at the meeting, Whitehall High School Student Council member Mikayla Warren updated the board on recent and upcoming activities.

Student Council members held an activity period March 17 that featured games, an open mic, a student-faculty basketball game and other activities.

The next project is Mini-Thon, which will be held May 20, with the purpose of raising money to fight childhood cancer. Students who wish to participate can sign up at fourdiamonds.donordrive.com.

Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative President Shari Noctor updated the board on the program, stating that in March, 157 Snack Packs were given to district children.

In March, the food pantry served 241 households with 885 residents, including 369 children, 375 adults and 141 seniors over the age of 60.

According to Noctor, about 30 new households are signing up for the food pantry program each month and half in response to the robocalls the district sends out each week.

Noctor added the evening food pantry distribution scheduled for April 14 will be held 5:30-7 p.m. April 13 instead. Noctor added that, due to increased community need, more volunteers are necessary.

More information can be found at whitehallcoplayhungerinitiative.org.

In other news, Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel thanked those involved in negotiations that led to the approval of the collective bargaining agreement between WCSD and Whitehall-Coplay Educational Support Personnel Association. The agreement is effective July 1-June 30, 2026.

Steckel also announced the high school’s production of “Godspell” begins March 31 and that the third marking period ends April 4.

In other business, the board approved William Leiner Jr., former WCSD school director, to fill the position as WCSD’s board representative for Coplay Public Library, effective March 28.

The board approved the Fulton Bank Resolution to add Gabriel Dillard to the Zephyr Elementary student activity account.

The board approved the appointment of Dr. S. John Salivonchik as school dentist for the 2021-22 school year, at a rate of $6 per exam.

The board approved five additional days to be designated as local holidays in the adopted 2022-23 school calendar, including Nov. 25, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 and Feb. 20 and April 7, 2023.

Also approved was the funding of $125 per student of Whitehall-Coplay Middle School students’ tuition rate to attend the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute’s summer STEAM-focused fun and career exploration camp.

The board approved a field trip request for Marching Zephyr Band to travel to Hershey Park June 4 for the spring trip and performance, with the cost paid by students and participants.

Retirements and resignations include Jean Sommer, WCMS teacher; Susan DeJesus and Linda Heffner, cafeteria workers; and Linda Knauss, receptionist.

New appointments include Dillard, Zephyr Elementary principal, at $110,000 per year; Bethany Koenig, K-3 elementary school assistant principal, at $87,500 per year; Amanda Kusko, Zephyr assistant principal, at $92,500 per year; Michael Skrapits, supervisor of buildings and grounds, at $95,000 per year; Brandon Hampton, WCMS English teacher, at $55,315 per year; Adrienne Corrigan, WCMS salaried substitute, salary not listed; Alison Slate, WHS salaried substitute, at $56,120 per year; Dayna Younis, temporary psychologist, at $58,350; Rania Elaswad, cafeteria worker, at $14.02 per hour; Stacy Kemmerer, WCMS emotional support paraprofessional, at $20.02 per hour; and Laura Tawill, paraprofessional, at $20.02 per hour.

Coach appointments for the 2021-22 school year include Brandon Hampton, track and field assistant coach, volunteer; Jennifer Panny, track and field assistant coach, volunteer; and Frederick Romano, middle school softball assistant coach, volunteer. Approved coaches for the 2022-23 school year include Christian Malone, boys soccer head coach, at $4,500.

The board granted tenure to Valerie Reno (Chajnacki), Gockley Elementary nurse.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. April 25.

Committee meetings on education/student activities, operations/transportation and finance/personnel will be 4 p.m. April 11.