At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board committee meetings, held March 14, the board was presented with a quote from Scoreboard Media during the operations/transportations segment.

The quote was for a third digital scoreboard on Whitehall-Coplay School District’s campus. The new board will be at the Zephyr Sports Complex and will be installed before the start of fall athletics.

According to WCSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel, staff are in the process of identifying what infrastructure needs to be updated before the placement of the scoreboard. Steckel added there is no impact to the general fund due to support from St. Luke’s University Health Network.

The finance portion of the meeting had no matters on the agenda for discussion.

During the education/student activities meeting, Steckel and Christopher Schiffert, assistant to the superintendent, discussed forming the Zephyr Advisory Committee.

“This would formally create the Zephyr Advisory Committee, which would be a committee that would be the connection between the community and the district,” Steckel said.

According to Steckel, the committee would include “specific representatives from various entities within the district,” and there would be “bylaws that would be followed” to determine who would be appointed.

Steckel added the committee will begin operations in July 2022, and there will be monthly meetings with themes throughout the school year.

“We want to take the existing policy and really get things moving with this type of advisory committee, so we can involve the community and make some good decisions for the district,” Schiffert said.

Also discussed was the appointment of William Leiner Jr., former WCSB director, to the Coplay Public Library board. This will occur at the next school board meeting.

In other news, Steckel stated one of his top priorities is to establish the “profile of a graduate.” Steckel wants to identify “key characteristics” students should exhibit by the time they graduate.

“Implementing that, communicating that and really aligning all of our programing behind that profile over the next three years is going to be a major initiative,” Steckel said.

Steckel also spoke about improving campus consistency, specifically communication and procedures.

In addition, he wants to create a more personalized professional learning program for all staff on campus.

Another of Steckel’s goals is to develop the framework for the implementation of “future ready classrooms” by examining standardized-based grading and ensuring a consistent K-5 multitiered system of supports that also helps students in grades 6-12 better prepare for college and careers.

Steckel also mentioned expanding pre-K opportunities on campus.

Eight goals Steckel has specifically for the 2022-23 school year include the pandemic recovery plan, which includes continuing summer and after-school programing, identifying students who need ongoing support academically, defining the instructional models that will be offered and supporting social emotional learning and mental health, as well as continuing to upgrade campus facilities.

Second, Steckel addressed his intent to adapt and use the Navigate platform’s school safety resources for “threat assessment and school safety operations.” Staff will participate in a variety of drills and activities, and administrators will review and act on building safety assessments.

Next is equity, inclusion and belonging, a need Steckel addressed with the addition of Tatiana Berrios, supervisor of educational equity. This goal is being implemented through the use of curriculum and community connections. An equity audit is near completion, and next year, an action plan will go into effect.

Steckel also has goals regarding administration and the school board. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association is conducting an audit of WCSB policies to ensure they are current. Steckel also wants a manual created for administrators, so they can see how policies are updated.

Another goal is how grades and assessments are used, as well as how they are reported to students and parents. Steckel wants to form a K-12 grading and assessment committee.

Steckel also wants to re-evaluate the campus time schedule to prepare for the new elementary school.

Finally, the capital improvement plan will continue to work on projects like the new elementary school, and a plan for district upgrades will be created annually.

In other business, members reviewed a field trip request for the Marching Zephyr Band to travel to Hersheypark June 4 for the MZB spring trip. The cost will be paid by students and participants.

Finally, there was a revision to the 2022-23 adopted school calendar for five additional days that are designated as local holidays, including Nov. 25, Dec. 23 and 30, Feb. 20, 2023, and April 7, 2023.

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