During the April 11 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, Sheckler Elementary School Assistant Principal Dr. Carey Humes was approved to transition to Catasauqua Middle School principal.

This change is effective July 1 and was met with approvals and congratulations from the board and administration.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling credited Humes’ efforts this past year at Sheckler Elementary, including her instructional leadership, parent engagement and more. Current CMS Principal Melissa Inselmann said she couldn’t be happier about handing the role over to Humes.

During the meeting March 14, Inselmann was approved to transfer positions to become the CASD director of curriculum and assessment. The March meeting also featured a number of administration transfer and changes.

“The change that’s happening right now is so good,” board Secretary Jason Bashaw said, crediting CASD’s community-based methods, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.

Board President Duane Deitrich said how important it is to keep the momentum going and using the district personnel in the best way to keep moving the district forward.

Humes noted how thankful she was for the opportunity to move into the district during the past year and lauded the teamwork within CASD.

Additionally, Madison Higgins was approved to move from an elementary school certified instructional aide to a teacher at Sheckler. Higgins did her student teaching at Sheckler and became a building substitute before becoming an aide.

“I’ve been able to grow and learn so much,” Higgins said. “I look forward to giving back to the students and the school.”

Other personnel approvals include the 2023-24 salaries for secretaries, clerks, food service and transportation workers, custodial and maintenance workers and administration, effective July 1.

The resignation of Lisa Meckes, Sheckler secretary, was also approved by the board, effective Sept. 15.

Five extracurricular volunteer positions were approved for the 2022-23 school year, including Joseph Kovacs and Brett Sonntag as assistant football coaches; Adam Landis and Tony Cunningham as assistant girls basketball coaches; and John Stires as assistant track and field coach.

Humes recognized the April Students of the Month. The honored students are third-graders Lexi Ying, Payton Landis, Karen Boulos, Avery Geiger and Ryder Deering and fourth-graders Pierre Sankari and Janiah Galarza.

During the academics and education report, Lutz-Doemling reported PSSAs are set for the end of April and early May, to be followed by Keystone testing. She noted they are also working on end-of-year assessments and benchmarks.

Lutz-Doemling also congratulated the CMS team that recently won second place at Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21’s STEM challenge. Lutz-Doemling said she was proud of how far the district has come in recent years with its STEM/STEAM programming.

Business manager Lindsay Wallace said the district recently held a budget meeting. She said preliminary approval of the budget is expected in May, with final approval in June.

In other business, Wallace’s employment contract was approved for July 1-June 30, 2028. She thanked the board for approving her contract. Additionally, the contract for Athletic Director Thomas Moll, for July 1-June 30, 2028, was also approved.

Director of Academic Recovery Eric Dauberman reported interviews are scheduled for the CMS and Sheckler music teacher position and secondary ESL role. With Humes’ change in position, Dauberman added the district will now need to fill the elementary school assistant principal position.

Dauberman also reported the district is researching companies and comparing quotes for digital signage.

Board members approved biennial memorandums of understanding between the Catasauqua Police Department and the school district for all three schools. The Pennsylvania State Police are included with the Catasauqua High School agreement. CHS is located in Allen Township, which is state police territory.

Additional board approvals include the facilities plan committee report for CLIU 21, the establishment of the Interact Club student activity account and a tax assessment appeal for Target Corporation at Airport Center.

The next school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. May 9 in the administration board room, 201 N. 14th St.