At the June 11 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, board members approved the final budget for the 2024-25 academic year in the amount of $44,351,456.

The tax rate will be 21.6836 mills, or $2.16836, per $100 of the assessed valuation of all real estate for residents of Lehigh County and 61.3196 mills, or $6.13196, per $100 of the assessed valuation of all real estate for Northampton County residents.

The board also approved the final cafeteria budget of $1,516,803.60 for the 2024-25 year, along with lunch prices.

In a related matter, the board approved the district to take part in the community eligibility provision of the national school breakfast and lunch programs, which provides free school meals for all CASD students.

At the recommendation of David Knerr, district solicitor, the board approved a number of policy updates. First readings were approved for policy 128 regarding nondiscrimination, policy 210 about medications, policy 254 regarding toileting and incontinence and policy 824 on acceptable computer use.

Changes to policy 128 reflect updates to federal regulations and include clarifications about sex discriminations, specific information on protecting and handling pregnant students, changes on how to conduct investigations and more. Policy 824 was updated to add more language and information regarding social media.

Knerr reported the nursing staff requested the updates to policies 210 and 254. The medication policy was largely putting their current procedures and processes down on paper, Knerr said. He also noted the policy says over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements and similar products are considered medications and need the proper permissions. Policy 254 details how to handle students with special needs or requirements or have bathroom accidents.

Knerr asked board members to send him any thoughts or concerns about the policies, so they can have final approval at the August meeting in time for the start of the school year.

The second reading of the bullying and cyberbullying policy was approved.

A number of personnel changes were approved, including the retirement of Mary Frantz, administrative assistant to Catasauqua High School counselors, and the resignations of Catasauqua Middle School Principal Carey Pammer and CDL substitute driver Yomara Singh.

Interim CMS Principal Robert Steckel was approved to continue in the role at $500 per day until a new middle school principal is found.

New appointments include Danielle Cooper, CMS administrative assistant, and Heather Henry, CHS general kitchen help. Kawaunna Waldron was approved to change from noncertified instructional aide to the office clerk to the CHS athletic director. Director of Student Activities and Athletic Director Thomas Moll said he is looking forward to having her start.

“Thank you for the opportunity,” Waldron said. “I’m ready for the next level in my professional growth.”

Five mentor teachers were approved to help new staff members acclimate to the district. Tiandra Riegel will work with Tara Flamisch in first grade, Elizabeth Miller will work with Melissa Grube in kindergarten, Laura Kotran will work with Meredith Miller in third grade, Abbey Schiffert will work with Erin Rapp in first grade, and Joseph Henrich, certified instructional aide and freshman focus teacher, will work with Christopher Gerhard, CHS assistant to the principal.

Wanda Reitz was approved as a cafeteria substitute and Luis Ossers Sanchez and Angel Zhumi Arpi as non-CDL driver substitutes. Deonte Wilson was approved as a volunteer assistant football coach for the 2023-24 year.

A number of extracurricular positions were approved, including the head football, field hockey, boys and girls soccer, cross-country, cheer and volleyball coaches; 11 assistant football coaches; three assistant field hockey coaches; four assistant boys soccer coaches; one assistant coach each for girls soccer and cross-country; three assistant cheer coaches; two assistant volleyball coaches; and the summer weight room monitor.

Other club and activity advisers, including marching band directors, color guard instructors and more, were approved.

A number of coaching approvals, including basketball, wrestling, baseball and track, were tabled until the August meeting.

Moll shared a concern about tabling the approvals since a number of the sports hold summer workouts and practices. A separate motion was made to approve those coaches on a volunteer basis to work in the district until the official approval in August.

The list of coaching and band instructor stipends for the 2024-25 year was also approved.

Student representatives were approved to the board of education and Catasauqua and North Catasauqua borough councils. David Janoski and Ayden Wellington will serve as representatives to the school board with Lillyana Gacitua and Zoe Roth serving for Catasauqua Borough and Maya Osorto and Kadince Waldron for North Catasauqua.

The school board approved bus transportation for Catasauqua Borough’s summer program to help transport students and chaperones to Oasis Miniature Golf Course and Lehigh Valley Zoo. The borough will incur all driver and fuel expenses.

Other approvals for the 2024-25 academic year include the equal opportunity employer resolution, insurance quotes, a number of contracts, game worker rates and game ticket prices.

The board and administration thanked the district team for a successful end to the school year. Building principals detailed end-of-year events, and board members reflected on a year of cooperation, learning and growing together. While simultaneously discussing what a successful year they had, administration members were already discussing planning and goals for the future.

The July board meeting has been canceled. The next meetings are buildings and grounds 4 p.m. Aug. 7, followed by athletics and academic committee meetings. The next regular business meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 13 in the district administration board room, 201 N. 14th St., Catasauqua.