At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Sept. 26, Melissa Dease, a Whitehall-Coplay School District parent, expressed her concerns about the suspension of her son, after he recorded a fight on his cellphone.

Dease wanted to know why suspension, rather than detention, was the first choice of punishment. She suggested implementing a tier system for discipline and also said some students were suspended, while others received no punishment for being part of the recording.

WCSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel Jr. thanked Dease for her comments and responded to her later in the meeting.

“I just want you to know that your comments aren’t falling on deaf ears,” Steckel said. “We’ve already had conversations about your recommendations, with myself and Mr. (Chris) Schiffert (WCSD assistant to the superintendent) and the building administrators. We’re trying to improve, and we appreciate your feedback.”

In other news, Steckel thanked Director of Teaching and Learning Renee Sallit, Curriculum Supervisor of Educational Technology David Stauffer and building principals for putting out district newsletters and said a new WCSD app - called WCSD Zephyrs - is out for Android and Apple devices.

Steckel also thanked 2nd & Charles, of Whitehall, for a donation of seven cartons of books for the school libraries and St. John’s United Church of Christ, Mickleys, and the Rev. Virginia Schlegel for a donation of backpacks and school supplies.

Additionally, Student Council Secretary Mikayla Warren updated the board on Homecoming plans.

She said organizers were in the process of receiving Homecoming Court nominations from sports teams, clubs and faculty. The Homecoming football game is planned for Oct. 14. The dance will be 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Whitehall High School gym.

She added the Student Council members are working on plans for Homecoming Spirit Week.

PTO PLUS President Toni Fillman said the school book fairs went well at the meet-the-teacher nights. Fillman also said the organization is running the annual Cherrydale fundraiser, and the due date has been extended to Oct. 15 because of a late start. She added the Lehigh Valley coupon book sales are ongoing.

In other business, the board approved an agreement appointing Mary Farris as acting director of human resources at the district office, effective Sept. 1.

The board approved the 2023 early retirement incentive plan for eligible Act 93 members and the WCEA early retirement incentive plan offered Oct. 1-Dec. 22, effective July 1, 2023.

The board approved the revised 2022-23 nonunion salary schedule, effective Nov. 1.

Also approved was the revised 2022-23 school year ARP/ESSER health and safety plan.

The board cast votes to elect Michael Gossert as president-elect of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association; Allison Mathis as vice president of the PSBA board; and Karen Beck Pooley as 2023-24 section E2 adviser of the PSBA board, a two-year term.

The board approved a field trip request for 40 members of the Ski Club to travel via chartered bus to Killington Mountain Resort in Vermont Jan. 6-8, 2023, with no days of school missed, at the cost of $400 per student and no cost to the district.

The board approved the Power Factor Phase 2 proposal.

The board approved the operations and transportation committee’s recommendation for the new K-1 elementary school, upon substantial completion, to be named Clarence M. Gockley Elementary School.

The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 24.

Committee meetings on operations/transportation, finance/personnel and education/student activities will be 4 p.m. Oct. 10.