At the May 9 special Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel commented on the success of Whitehall-Coplay School District’s first Family Night, held May 4 at Whitehall High School.

“More than 1,000 community members attended the event, and more than 40 local organizations participated, as well as our students and staff,” Steckel said. “The event celebrated the diverse backgrounds of our community and provided opportunities for families to learn, play and enjoy entertainment from our students.”

Steckel thanked event organizers Michelle Khouri, district registrar/community relations; Tatiana Berrios, supervisor of educational equity; and Justin Tice, WHS science and chemistry teacher.

Steckel also welcomed Renee Sallit, who will begin her role as director of teaching and learning over the summer. Sallit is currently an elementary school principal in the Northampton Area School District.

Also at the meeting, the board approved the 2022-23 nonunion salary schedule.

Approved retirements include Kim Phillips, bus driver, effective June 13.

Approved resignations include Hilda Beale, cafeteria worker, effective June 8, and Jerica Hart, WHS principal’s secretary, effective April 27.

New appointments include Sallit, director of teaching and learning, at an annual salary of $130,000; Brittany Gerlach, full-time 10-month security personnel at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, at the rate of $18.75 per hour; Emily Connors, full-time 10-month security personnel at WHS, at the rate of $18.75 per hour; Elizabeth Frankenfield, full-time 10-month security personnel at WHS, at the rate of $18.75 per hour; and William Krzemien Jr., full-time 10-month security personnel at WHS, at the rate of $18.75 per hour.

In other business, the board approved the transfer of Angela Mazzola to full-time attendance secretary at WCMS, effective May 4; the transfer of Kristen Riedy to full-time human resources specialist at the district office; the transfer of Matthew Shultz to sixth-grade teacher at WCMS, effective for the 2022-23 school year; and the transfer of Therese Younes to full-time library secretary at WHS, effective May 9.

Also approved was the change in status of Laura Tawill to highly qualified paraprofessional, at $20.02 per hour, effective May 2.

In accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between WCSD and Whitehall-Coplay Educational Support Professionals, part-time paraprofessionals Sonia Alkhal, Kathy Copes, Mary Grol, Michele Janotka, Tracey Marino, Bonnie Moyer, Christine Saylor, Lori Silfies and Marianne Wied will convert to full-time roles, in their current positions, effective at the start of the 2022-23 school year.

The next school board meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. May 23, June 27 and July 25.

Committee meetings on operations/transportation, finance/personnel and education/student activities will be 4 p.m. June 13, after a special school board meeting.