During the Feb. 14 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, school directors approved the proposed 2023-24 budgets for the district’s partner institutions.

The Lehigh Carbon Community College operational budget for 2023-24 is $59,889,555, which is a 2.1% increase from the previous year. The CASD sponsor share will be $163,210, which is a $1,196 decrease from last year.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute has a $30,704,013 budget, a 3.1% increase. The CASD share is $917,646.90 - a $7,456.46 increase.

The proposed LCTI Academic Center budget is $2,330,789, with the CASD share at $105,031. This is an increase of $13,016 from last year. The Academic Center budget increase is based on a projected enrollment of 400 students, at a cost of $5,826.97.

The Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 budget is $3,499,871, for a $123,301 increase. The CASD share is $25,070.

“All of the budgets essentially are favorable for the district, so I recommend approving,” board President Duane Deitrich said.

In other business, Sheckler Elementary School Principal Dr. Robert Kucharczuk introduced the students of the month. The honored students include fourth-graders Isabella Chaparro and Ceasar Molitorisz and second- graders Nicholas Alarcon, Maylin Hoch, Elena Bernini, Michael (Misho) Kholi and Jacob Mercado.

Board member Dale Hein later commented how much he appreciates seeing the teachers come to these meetings to support their students.

Eugenia Emert, secretary and treasurer for Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union, presented a check for $10,000 to the district. She said the funds are being donated to the district’s backpack program to benefit students in need.

Robert Arnold, music director, addressed the board about a change to the spring 2024 music department trip. The original plan was for the students to go to Disney, but Arnold reported the prices are too high. Instead, they are planning to travel to Tennessee. They will go to Memphis and then Nashville. Students will visit Graceland and the Grand Ole Opry, as well as museums and music shows.

Arnold also took a moment to recognize Catasauqua High School student Angelina Dries, who was asked to perform the national anthem Feb. 13 for the EPC girls basketball playoffs at PPL Center, Allentown. She was also asked to come back for the championship game.

“It was incredible,” Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling, assistant superintendent, said of Angelina’s performance.

In other news, Lutz-Doemling reported they are doing a curriculum review of Catasauqua Middle School’s math, science and social studies classes.

Eric Dauberman, director of academic recovery, mentioned they finalized the names of students for the district’s after-school remediation program. The program started Feb. 7 at CMS, Feb. 13 at CHS and will begin Feb. 28 at Sheckler Elementary.

Business Manager Lindsey Wallace said they are planning budget meetings, and the district has an ESSER II audit coming.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler reported they are working on the summer project plans and capital project brainstorming for the 2023-24 budget.

It was also reported the district received a School Safety grant of approximately $50,000 to upgrade the camera system at CHS. It was noted the timing was perfect for this grant since an upgrade is needed for the cameras. Spengler mentioned it was a competitive grant process, and CASD was one of approximately 160 districts to receive the funding.

Angelina said rehearsals are moving along for the school’s performance of “Pippin,” set for March 17-19. She also noted the drama parents partnered with the band parents to offer a dinner opportunity before the show March 18. For an extra $15, those with tickets to see the show can enjoy a dinner before the show in the school cafeteria.

A number of personnel changes were approved, including the resignations of Abigail Morganelli, second- grade teacher; Paul Holobowski, assistant girls basketball coach; Sarah Seidel, fifth-grade teacher; Arnold, pep band director; and Trajano Bastidas, middle school soccer coach.

Hein noted Bastidas coached his daughter about 20 years ago and commended his work in the district. Deitrich and board members Donald Panto and Shawn McGinley also echoed Hein’s sentiments about Bastidas’ years as a coach.

Extracurricular appointments include Arnold as pep band director at $300, James Wilson as Sheckler science fair coordinator at $282, Robert Skipper as assistant girls basketball coach at $4,067, Travis Brett as spring weight room monitor at $600 and John Leiderman as a CMS audio visual coordinator at $285.45. Amanda Freiler was appointed as head field hockey coach at $5,399 for the 2023-24 year.

Five volunteer extracurricular positions were also approved, including Daniel Lopez as assistant baseball coach, Tyler Monahan as assistant track coach, Cathy Moore and Katherine Haberen as assistant softball coaches and Stephan Roman as assistant indoor color guard instructor.

The short-term substitute rate of $180 per day was approved for Sarah Seng, effective Jan. 24-31; Moore, effective Jan. 26-Feb. 3; and Brian Byrd, effective Feb. 6-June 9.

Seng was also approved to change from substitute teacher to long-term substitute at Sheckler at $59,127, effective Feb. 1-June 9, retroactive to Aug. 22, 2022.

The board also approved the request to employ up to six temporary custodial workers for up to six weeks in the summer.

Two curriculum items were approved during the meeting - the CHS career planning guide for 2023-24 and the planned course of study for AP Computer Science A. CHS Principal Adam Schnug thanked the board for the approvals.

The board approved the first reading of Policy 603 regarding financial reports and statements. Solicitor David Knerr noted the district did not have a policy like this before, and it was recommended by the auditors to introduce it in the district.

Board members also approved the request to ask for permission from the Whitehall-Coplay, Northampton Area and Allentown City school districts to allow CMS and CHS students to attend summer school in those districts.

Additional approvals included the authorization to bid for fuel oil via Keystone Purchasing Network, Intermediate Unit 16; the indoor color guard to attend an overnight field trip for the championship tournament in Wildwood, N.J., at the beginning of May; a two-year Preferred EAP agreement providing employee assistance programs, effective March 1-Feb. 28, 2025; and additional or revised bus stops.

The board also approved the dedication of the Alumni Field track as the Willis C. Strein Track in honor of the late Strein, who died in 2012. Strein was a CASD teacher for 38 years and had served as the invitational relays director since 1972. He was inducted into the CASD Hall of Fame in 2008.

The next school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 14 in the district administrative board room, 201 N. 14th St.