During the June 13 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, the new Catasauqua High School principal was approved. David Todd comes to CHS from East Penn School District, where he served as an assistant high school principal since 2021.

Eric Dauberman, director of academic recovery transitioning to assistant to the superintendent for HR and operations, noted CASD had multiple applicants for the principal position. After a few rounds of interviews, Todd stood above the rest.

“He was the absolute best fit for us at this time and place,” Dauberman said.

Todd will start his new role July 1 at a salary of $123,000.

In other business, the board approved the final 2023-24 budget. The final budget is $41,545,603. Residents in Lehigh County will have a tax rate of 20.7553 mills, and Northampton County residents will have a rate of 56.1069.

“The administration did an excellent job getting us where we are with the budget,” board member Dale Hein said after the unanimous vote of approval for the budget.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler said the budget is “responsible but protects our programs.” He said it allows for comprehensive programming while maintaining a solid fund balance.

Additionally, the board approved the 2023-24 cafeteria fund balance in the amount of $1,215,947.13.

In a related move, the board voted to continue participating in the community eligibility provision for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. This will provide free breakfast and lunch for all students in the district. Prices for additional or a la carte food items were also approved.

Regarding personnel, two building secretaries were approved. Brittany Keyser will join the team at Sheckler Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, and Theresa Armbruster will work at Catasauqua Middle School, as of June 27. Both will start at a rate of $33,000.

It was noted Armbruster previously worked in food service in CASD 2019-22. She was welcomed back.

The change in employment status was approved for five current employees, including Janelle Taylor, changing from noncertified instructional aide to a substitute aide; Ghania Saliby, changing from cafeteria substitute to general kitchen help at CHS; Jessica McNally, changing to cafeteria substitute to general kitchen help at Sheckler Elementary; Zachary Turk, moving from custodial B enhanced to districtwide maintenance A; and Abbey Schiffert, moving from substitute teacher to certified instructional aide Title I teacher at Sheckler.

Two cafeteria worker resignations were approved. Carmen Argueta is leaving Sheckler, and Heather Henry leaves CHS.

Maliza Valerio, CDL driver, and Shayna Cipolla, non-CDL driver, were added to the substitute list for the 2022-23 school year. Michele Haines was approved to be added as a substitute cafeteria worker for the 2023-24 school year.

A large number of extracurricular positions were approved. These roles include football, field hockey, soccer, cross-country, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track and field, baseball, softball and debate coaches; weight room monitors; band, color guard, vocal, music and drama directors; advisers for the Brown and White, Student Council, Scholastic Bowl, National Honor Society, yearbook, STARS, Varsity C, school store, Student Forum and the Classes of 2024-26; and coordinators for activities, the newsletter, audio visual, book fair, programs and science fair. There were 106 roles approved.

Looking ahead to next year, a number of students were approved to serve as representatives to local boards. Representing at the school board meetings will be Delaney Troxell and Sophia Becker, with Augustus Serrano as an alternate. Ava Smith will be the representative to Catasauqua Borough Council, and Kaitlyn Lawton will represent on North Catasauqua Borough Council.

The board also approved the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Resolution for 2023-24. The district will receive a property tax reduction allocation of $858,329.51. There are reportedly 2,356 taxable-approved homesteads in the district, with 1,601 in Lehigh County and 755 in Northampton County.

GP Energy Products was awarded the bid for the CMS boiler tube replacement project in the amount of $99,770, and Net Communications was awarded the bid for camera installations in the district in the amount of $34,159.29.

The second reading of Policy 137 was approved, regarding the home education program.

Additional approvals included financial institutions for the 2023-24 school year, the approval or renewal of contract, insurance policies, authorization to dispose of two district buses, an amended BusPatrol agreement, additional bus stops and the Equal Opportunity Employer resolution.

The board and administration members commented on how it was a smooth end to the school year and lauded the efforts of the district team, including staff, teachers, students and families.

The July school board meeting has been canceled.

The next meetings are Aug. 2 for committees and Aug. 8 for the regular board meeting.