At the Dec. 5 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling presented a donation of American flags and certificates from U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael “Slice” Gilmartin. Gilmartin is a 2015 graduate of Catasauqua High School.

According to Lutz-Doemling, Gilmartin recently visited the district while home from a seven-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region and made the donations of the flags, which had been personally flown by him on a fighter jet, to each of the district’s three schools.

At the Nov. 14 board meeting, Catasauqua Middle School Principal Dr. Carey Pammer thanked Gilmartin and noted several of the middle school students had written him letters.

Since Gilmartin was unable to attend the meeting, he sent a letter, which was read by Lutz-Doemling.

The letter shared Gilmartin’s thanks to the district for all of its efforts and work to improve the lives and futures of the students. He said how grateful he was to the staff at the high school for helping him achieve. He said he is looking for ways to give back to the district, which includes the donations and his participation in career exploration and education efforts in the schools.

“He contributed to the lifelong learning Catasauqua is all about,” Lutz-Doemling said in appreciation for Gilmartin’s efforts in the district.

In other business, Sheckler Elementary School Principal Dr. Robert Kucharczuk introduced the Students of the Month. The recognized students include fourth-graders Javien Santana and Izabella Ortiz and first-graders Cameron Dotterer, Brett Freiler, Savannah Judy, Isaiah Osorto, Abigail Khouri and Maya Carter.

The school board graciously accepted a donation of $10,000 from Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union. The check was presented by Eugenia Emert, LVECU secretary/treasurer, and Jillian Emert, LVECU membership officer. Jillian Emert also serves as the school board vice president.

Lutz-Doemling thanked LVECU for the donation. Board President Dale Hein noted this is not the first time LVECU made a large donation to the district. It was reported the district has received this donation for the past few years.

The first reading of an updated policy regarding acceptable computer use was approved. Solicitor David Knerr noted it had been 12 years since the last update to the policy and changes mostly included updating the language to keep up with the times and technology resources.

Knerr also noted he discovered there were five policies in the district regarding acceptable computer use. To simplify matters, he suggested deleting four of them and combining all applicable information and updates into policy 824. Policies being deleted are 223, 324, 424 and 524.

The board agreed and approved the changes, as well as the first reading of the updated policy.

In continuing the budget process, board members voted not to raise taxes beyond the state Act 1 Index of 7%.

Regarding personnel changes, Robert Steckel was approved to serve as interim CMS principal from approximately Feb. 1-April 25, 2024, at a rate of $500 per day. This will fill the void during Pammer’s maternity leave.

Steckel said he previously served as a school administrator in Easton for years. He has been an instructional assistant in CASD for the last three years. He thanked the board for its support and said how excited he was to serve the district in this capacity.

Additionally, Daniel Kotran was approved to change positions within the district. The current STEAM teacher will move on to fill the role of coordinator of instructional technology and federal programs, effective July 1, 2024.

“It’s an honor,” Kotran said. “I love this district. I’ve had amazing administrators as role models.”

He will be filling the space left by the retirement of Kathy Kotran, who had served the district for 27 years. Her retirement was approved at the Nov. 14 meeting.

“I look forward to working with you,” Lutz-Doemling said to Daniel Kotran.

She said she is sad to see Kathy Kotran leave but knows Daniel Kotran is experienced and ready for this move.

Two new appointments were approved. Zachary Edelman is joining the district as a noncertified instructional aide at Sheckler Elementary at a rate of $138 per day. Brandy Smale will serve as general kitchen help at CMS at a rate of $14.52 per hour.

Additions to the substitute employment list include Jill Allison Gruver, cafeteria substitute, and non-CDL driver substitutes Cindy Heckman and Michael Smith.

A number of appointments within the board were also approved. Jillian Emert and Hein were voted to retain their roles as CASD representative and alternate representative, respectively, to Lehigh Career and Technical Institute’s board of directors.

Secretary Jason Bashaw was nominated and approved to fill the vacancy on Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21’s board of directors to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of former member Duane Deitrich’s term on the school board.

Board members also approved an agreement with Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 for a SentinelOne subscription. This is an antivirus subscription, which also helps track and handle suspicious behavior.

“It will be a great asset for our cybersecurity,” network manager Paul Reilly said.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 9, 2024, in the district administration office, 201 N. 14th St.