At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Oct. 24, school Director George Williams asked Whitehall- Coplay School District Solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik for an update on the Whitehall Township school tax collection contract that is being put together.

“Our saga in dealing with Whitehall Township continues,” Sultanik said. “It’s been close to a year that we have initiated negotiations with Whitehall Township regarding the collection of our taxes. They are in possession of a revised agreement that we have prepared with a number of provisions, and we have not heard back from them, notwithstanding a delay of a number of weeks.”

Sultanik is hopeful the township responds quickly to the latest draft and finalizes the contract.

“This has been taking far too long from our perspective. We will be in need of making decisions fairly shortly,” Sultanik added.

Sultanik noted the district would prefer moving forward with the township but needs the agreement to be approved.

In other business, London Club adviser and Whitehall High School social studies teacher Joseph Krempasky discussed the club’s summer 2022 trip and thanked the school board for its approval and support. Krempasky said 24 students traveled overseas to learn about World War II in England and France and visited Normandy Beach and Great Britain; spent a day learning about the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium; and visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Krempasky played a video slideshow and invited students to speak about what they learned from the experience.

“I had the opportunity to greatly build upon my World War II knowledge through visiting battlegrounds and museums,” senior Rachel Ganser said. “I also developed firsthand experience of how challenging it is to not speak the native language in a country.”

Senior Mikayla Warren said trying different foods was memorable, as she normally sticks to chicken fingers and fries.

“It was a great opportunity to be forced to eat different foods, and I enjoyed all of it,” she said.

Senior Ciara Rogers said she made lasting friendships and still keeps in touch with the seniors she met on a recent trip. Junior Joris Daub added he learned how to talk to and form bonds with new people.

Alexis Quach gave the Student Council update, saying there was a lot of positive feedback following the Homecoming dance Oct. 15. Fifteen pairs of students from various clubs and sports were nominated for the Homecoming court and walked at halftime during the football game Oct. 14. There were 629 Homecoming dance tickets sold, the most in recent years.

Quach also discussed a state conference featuring Student Council workshops that nine WHS student council members will be attending at Boyertown High School. Six students will be presenting workshops, and Quach said they will share their experiences and photos at the next meeting. The board approved the request for the overnight trip - Nov. 3-5 - with two days of school missed and at no cost to students.

Quach added WHS Principal Dr. Peter Mayes and Student Council adviser Carol Radon are working on hosting a smaller version of the conference March 10, 2023, which is a professional development day in the district. Quach said students who don’t go to the state conference will be able to get a similar student leadership experience. This will be the third conference hosted by WHS.

Quach also discussed DeSales University’s theater performance of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” at WHS Oct. 24. Senior English students and juniors in higher-level English classes attended.

Quach said the WHS theater program announced “9 to 5” as its spring musical, and the Marching Zephyr Band received its highest score this season at the Cavalcade of Bands competition Oct. 22.

Also at the meeting, WCSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Steckel thanked Kathy Ibrahim of ALDI Inc. for the coordination and donation of school supplies.

In addition, Steckel acknowledged the five building principals in recognition of National Principals Month. He also congratulated Stephen Seier, director of educational operations, and Dr. Elaine Eib, executive director at Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, on their retirements.

The board approved job descriptions for supervisor of educational equity; supervisor of ELA and humanities; supervisor of information technology; director of teaching, learning and technology; supervisor of educational technology; and supervisor of math and science.

The board approved the revised WCSD organization chart, effective Nov. 1.

The board approved the appointment of Angela Friebolin as director of personnel at the district administration office, effective Jan. 16, 2023. Steckel congratulated Friebolin on the new position and said he looks forward to working with her in her new role.

The board approved the authorization and direction for the business manager and the superintendent, subject to solicitor approval and subsequent board ratification, to execute the energy agreements, as negotiated by Provident Energy Consulting, with any potential electricity or natural gas providers on behalf of WCSD; and to facilitate the strategic purchase of electricity and natural gas based on market conditions and the advice of Provident Energy Consulting, pursuant to the terms of any approved and ratified energy agreements.

The board approved the Act 57 resolution authorizing the waiver of additional charges for the late payment of real estate taxes in certain circumstances in order to comply with Act 57 of 2022.

Approved retirements include Stephen Seier, director of educational operations, effective Dec. 5; Michael Lynn, art teacher at WHS, effective Jan. 25, 2023; and Lana Hemingway, part-time bus driver, effective Sept. 15.

Approved resignations include Karen Christ, school psychologist at Steckel Elementary School, effective Sept. 27; Rebecca Darling, inclusion teacher at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, effective Sept. 29; Laura Karns, third-grade learning support teacher at Steckel, effective Jan. 2, 2023; Grace Huang, special education emotional support teacher at Steckel, effective Oct. 18; Joseph Egan, salaried substitute at WHS, effective Jan. 2, 2023; April Norris, part-time bus aide, effective Aug. 29; Cheryl Rufe, cafeteria worker, effective Oct. 7; Angelica Abrantes, cafeteria monitor at Zephyr Elementary School, effective Oct. 21; Kelly Sulter, reading paraprofessional at Zephyr, effective Oct. 7; Luz Almonte, main office secretary at WHS, effective Oct. 14; and Karen Arcieri, bus aide, effective Oct. 21.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Nov. 21. Committee meetings on education/student activities, operations/transportation and finance/personnel are held 4 p.m. Nov. 14.