The Salisbury Township School Board held a curriculum and technology meeting Sept. 13. Student reports were presented, retirements recognized and various technology agreements and software applications were discussed.

The meeting began with the board and administration recognizing the retirement of two longtime custodians. Earl Heminitz, who was not able to attend the meeting, was recognized for 21 years of dedicated service to the district at Salisbury Middle School.

Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten, who worked as a middle school teacher with Heminitz, remarked how genuine he was and how she appreciated the way he went about making the school a better learning environment for students.

Douglas Lapp, who has served Harry S Truman/Salisbury Elementary School for the past 25 years was recognized for the indelible mark he left on the hearts of students, faculty, staff and community members during his tenure.

Director of Facilities Bill Brackett read a proclamation and expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciation for his years of tireless hard work, dedication and love for the students of Salisbury School District and added how much he will be missed.

Fuini-Hetten voiced her appreciation for Lapp’s commitment, spoke of his exuberant and joyous spirit and how she sees him as “a giant ball of love.”

Salisbury High School student reporter Nolan Grejda updated the board on happenings at the high school. The fall sports season for cross-country, soccer, field hockey and football are well underway and clubs such as debate, scholastic scrimmage, National Honor Society and Model UN have begun meeting. Dual enrollment classes for the fall semester at Lehigh Carbon Community College have also commenced.

SHS open house will be held 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23.

Parents are invited to meet their children’s teachers and tour the building. Upcoming festivities include a Homecoming parade and community bonfire Oct. 26, the Homecoming game Oct. 27 and the Homecoming dance which will occur Oct. 28.

Mark your calendars for Nov. 9-12 as the Salisbury Theater Club presents its fall play “Hay Fever.”

Salisbury Middle School students Payton Kao and Gianna Olds report the annual SMS school fundraiser has begun. The fundraiser is online and students have the opportunity to raise money for the school and a chance to win prizes for their efforts.

Students are being encouraged to join one of the many clubs offered in the middle school. Clubs meet approximately once per week and provide students a chance to participate in a wide variety of activities while engaging with their peers.

SMS Open House will take place Sept. 28. Parents are encouraged to tour the building and meet the middle school staff.

Field trips in the offing include a seventh grade trip to the Renaissance Faire and an eighth grade tour of Lehigh Career & Technical Institute.

Salisbury Elementary School students Connor McKelvey and Molly Stolarik informed the board the first week of school went well and they are happy to be back. Kindergarten students enjoyed a PTO sponsored Popsicle playdate at the open house Aug. 23. Families of kindergartners took the time to meet other kindergarten families, meet teachers, see the classrooms and ride on a school bus.

Open house for grades 1-4 was held Sept. 7 and T-shirt Day was held Sept. 8.

During the curriculum and technology section of the meeting Assistant Superintendent Kelly Pauling informed the board about some minor changes to an agreement with Next Generation Science Exemplar System regarding how professional development is to be paid out. The professional development will be used to help with the transition for the new science standards for teachers in grades 6-12.

Pauling also provided an updated list of all the technology applications used throughout the district to supplement programs already in use. Some technology subscriptions have been discontinued due to a reduction in federal funding and decisions for elimination were based on usage.

Pauling continued with a teaching and learning update focusing on summer student programming. At least seven programs were offered throughout the summer and she provided a breakdown of participation in each program as well as how each was funded.

She also informed the board that thanks to the leadership team, a $15,000 grant for SES was secured. The grant money will be used to strengthen core reading instruction as well as the intervention program in an effort to identify students with specific learning disabilities.

The dual enrollment participation offered to 11th and 12th grade students is approximately 80 students. Grant money has been made available to provide tuition assistance for students who participate in dual enrollment with LCCC and advanced placement opportunities offered by SHS staff in conjunction with partner universities.

A new project in the works through Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit is the Chief Science Officer Program which offers a select number of students the opportunity to identify local issues and work with regional scientists and their peers to solve problems. Science department chair Megan Basile will serve as a mentor for the students in the program.

Chris Smith brought the board up to speed on the upgraded Internet capacity from 1GB to 10GB. The upgrade required the design of a new firewall and the technology department is still working on completing the entire process. Equipment delays have hindered the implementation process.

Apple Classroom has also been synchronized with the existing Sapphire program in an effort to help teachers with classroom management of student information and schedules.

Professional development with Apple has been scheduled and comes at no cost to the district. Food services and transportation have also been integrated so as new students enter the system information is readily available.

The next meeting of the curriculum and technology committee will be 7 p.m. Oct. 18. This meeting will take place at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, 4500 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville.