At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting June 27, Jeffrey Sultanik, Whitehall-Coplay School District solicitor, discussed a modification to an agenda item that stated WCSB’s intention to terminate its relationship with Whitehall Township in the collection of business privilege and per capita taxes.

Sultanik said he and the board met with Whitehall Township representatives before the meeting. He reported the district and township are working to prepare a comprehensive agreement with some changes regarding verification and the district having some input on township budgeting.

“Our most important issue is that we would have developed a comprehensive agreement on the collection of taxes. We are essentially dealing with what I have affectionately called a napkin agreement that was worked out by the former superintendent of the district, Jack Corby, and Whitehall Township, for the purposes of tax collection, and we want to have a little bit more detail asserted with it,” Sultanik said.

He noted they appear to agree on the terms but do not yet have a formal, final agreement in hand. Sultanik said they would still provide notice to Whitehall Township, but they would modify the agenda item to authorize Sultanik to negotiate a comprehensive agreement updating the March 2014 tax collection agreement.

“So, we wanted to at least make it certain that everyone knows that we are not, at this point in time, definitely ceasing that relationship, and in fact, as the result of our meeting this afternoon, we are looking to continue that relationship, but we don’t have an agreement ready as we speak,” Sultanik said.

Also at the meeting, Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel Jr. welcomed Whitehall High School Assistant Principal Michael Rile. Rile is replacing Gabriel Dillard, who became principal of Zephyr Elementary School.

Rile expressed his excitement at the opportunity and said he is thankful to have been a part of Whitehall for his whole life, as a student and as a teacher. Rile thanked the school board, administrators and teachers who prepared him for the role.

Also at the meeting, Steckel said more specifics on instructional models and the 2022-23 health and safety plan will be communicated to parents by July 20. An update to the pandemic recovery plan and any recommendations for changes to the health and safety plan will be presented at the July 25 board meeting.

The 2022-25 comprehensive plan will also be recommended for approval July 25. The plan is available for the public to review on the district website, at the district office and at Whitehall Township Public Library. The plan focuses on three goals - campus consistency, comprehensive professional learning and the development of the profile of a graduate.

“The administration and staff have been working diligently to begin the implementation of those plans, and we’re excited for what the plans have outlined,” Steckel said.

Steckel also acknowledged it was the last meeting of the 2021-22 school year and thanked the board for its support.

Steckel said, “It was not an easy year for education overall,” adding there was turnover on the board, and it was his first year as superintendent.

“Through the ups and downs, the board’s consistency and understanding that we are working toward a long-term vision has enabled the district as a whole to make progress and, most importantly, provide a high-quality educational experience for our students,” Steckel said.

Steckel also thanked PBS39, Bethlehem, for the coordination and donation of Smart Sacks, which are backpacks filled with books, and a book nook for the district registrar’s office.

In other business, the board approved a supplemental salary increase of 2% for Steckel.

The board also approved bids/quotes for insurance policies through Liberty Mutual for the 2022-23 school year containing the school package policy including fleet (auto), blanket bond insurance and equipment breakdown, at $263,409, up from $246,857 last year; umbrella insurance, at $41,466, up from $39,088 last year; and school board legal, at $36,683, up from $34,898 last year.

Other approved bids/quotes include policies through Chubb, for equipment breakdown, at $11,247, up from $9,052 last year; and cyber liability, at $13,661, up from $10,402 last year.

Also approved was the bid/quote from AmTrust, for workers’ compensation insurance, at $178,217, down from $219,095 last year when using Encova.

Approved cafeteria prices for the 2022-23 school year include $2.90 for WHS; $2.85 for Whitehall-Coplay Middle School; $2.70 for Gockley, Steckel and Zephyr elementary schools; $3.15 for premium line meals; 40 cents for reduced lunch; $1.60 for breakfast; 30 cents for reduced breakfast; and 60 cents for a la carte milk. Prices have been kept the same as they were in the 2021-22 school year.

Also approved were prices for individual a la carte items.

The board approved the Portnoff Law Associates Ltd. amendment to the agreement for collection of delinquent real estate taxes and resolution approving appointment of solicitor, interest assessment and attorney fees and collection fees added to the amount, collected as part of unpaid real estate taxes for delinquent accounts.

The board approved Portnoff Law Associates as delinquent real estate tax collector and G.H. Harris as delinquent per capita tax collector for the 2022-23 fiscal year providing bonds in the amount of $5,000.

The board approved U.S. Fire Insurance Company (AG Administrators) through Macolino Risk Management Inc. as the provider of student and athletic accident insurance for the 2022-23 school year, at $87,780, staying the same amount as the previous year. Optional student accident insurance premiums for parents are $28 and cover accidents during school time in grades K-12 and $124 for 24-hour-a-day coverage.

The board approved the renewal contract for services with Communities in Schools, beginning July 1 through June 30, 2024.

The board approved the annual Community Services for Children Inc. Pre K Counts Program agreement for the 2022-23 school year at Steckel.

The board approved the annual agreement between Lehigh Carbon Community College and WCSD for the dual enrollment program beginning Aug. 1 through July 31, 2023.

The board approved district improvement projects/agreements, including Steckel IP phone conversion project; Lutron software upgrade and maintenance agreement; Whitehall Township Public Library LED replacement project; and the purchase and installation of bus cameras by Pro-Vision.

The next school board meetings will be 7 p.m. July 25 and Aug. 22.

Committee meetings on finance/personnel, education/student activities and operations/transportation will be held 4 p.m. Aug. 8.