The Salisbury Township Board of Directors held an Aug. 21 regular school board meeting which included the approval of many new district employees and a tax waiver granted to Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church.

To start the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickisher showcased the newest Forecast5 treasurer’s report which presents revenues and expenditures in a detailed manner and will assist the board in their decision making process.

During the curriculum and technology committee portion of the meeting, the board approved targeted assistance plans for both Salisbury Elementary School and Salisbury High School. These plans are a one year designation based on the performance of one or more subgroups on standardized tests.

Approval was granted for Lehigh University psychology practicum student teacher Olivia Fatoon who will work with school psychologist Dana Kosman.

Additionally, agreements with The Center for Humanistic Change, Catasauqua Area School District and Allentown School District were approved to provide liaison services for the Student Assistance Program, life skills support program placement and an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth placement, respectively.

An agreement was approved for ACE ABA software to be used in the autistic support classroom.

Lastly, the board granted approval for an overnight band trip to Williamsburg, Va. in June 2025.

The operations committee sought the approval of the board for the 2024-2025 student transportation program with Paragon Transit and the establishment of the student activity account for Salisbury High School Girls Volleyball. Both motions were passed.

During the finance committee portion of the meeting, approval was granted to waive $3,728.74 in taxes on seven acres of land owned by the Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church which in the eyes of the county has recently been deemed taxable even though both the church and the township are nontaxable.

The township provides a small donation to the church to use the land as a yard waste drop off center. The church has filed an appeal to the board of assessments and a ruling is pending. The township has decided to waive the taxes in lieu of use of the land and has recommended the board do the same.

The board also approved a revised list of the 2024 per capita tax which will yield $315 in new taxes.

The board approved many changes during the personnel committee portion of the meeting. Resignations included Taylor Fite, part-time health and physical education teacher at Salisbury Middle School, Kylie Casper, full-time behavioral interventionist, Kaitlyn Bird, Salisbury Elementary School building substitute and Norma Jane Brennan, SHS varsity softball coach.

New hires receiving approval include full-time ESL teacher Clare Murphy, full-time instructional assistant Laura Mamay, full-time utility and maintenance Hector Roman, full-time long-term substitute nurse Danielle Walter, full-time long- term substitute nurse Carly Smith, full-time elementary teacher Melissa Unger, full-time learning lab teacher Amy Huber, full-time long-term substitute business/IT/computer science teacher Christine Russell, part-time instructional assistant Nicole Squires, full-time administrative assistant Sara Foust and part-time instructional assistant Amber Goodwin.

Coaching positions approved by the board are as follows: Kevin DiZenzo, assistant middle school football coach and Carissa Llagas, SMS cheerleading coach.

The transfer of Norma Jane Brennan from SES library/media specialist to SHS assistant principal was approved as well as the transfer of part-time art teacher Melody Beneito to full-time long-term substitute learning lab, SMS.

The board also approved an increase in hours for health and physical education teacher Julianne Giardina from part-time to full-time at SMS and Leanne Adamcik, from part-time to full-time instructional assistant.

Building substitutes granted approval are April Ziegler and Preston Kuscan, SMS and Tracey Saab, SHS.

The following mentors teachers were approved: Holly Borthwick for Christine Russell, Angela Xander for Clare Murphy, Angela Mosely for Julianne Giardina, Alexandra Serson for Carly Buccigrossi, Christine Tripp for Carly Smith and Danielle Walter, Megan Basile for Christopher Butynskyi, Cassi Williams for Amy Huber, Jean Schey for Melissa Unger, Denise Magditch for Melody Beneito and Diane Kasaczun for Kressa Dowling and Rebecca Woodward.

Contract agreements for school psychology services were approved with Diane Johnson, Kristen Truman and Lakia Kearson.

The board adopted policies related to electronic devices, admission of beginning students and family and medical leaves during the policy committee portion of the meeting.

An agreement with Pennsylvania School Boards Association policy review and administrative service contract was also approved to assist in keeping up with the increasing number of policy and regulation changes.

During board reports Lehigh Carbon Community College board member Sam DeFrank explained some of the duties of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s newly created State Board of Higher Education as well as some of the changes being made for the benefit of students such as a seamless transfer of credits to reduce costs and streamline the path to achieving a degree at any Pennsylvania state institution.

New moneys have been set aside for scholarships to help retain Pennsylvania graduates in high demand fields and additional funds have been earmarked for dual enrollment programs.

DeFrank also reported the number of incoming students for the fall semester has decreased dramatically.

Director Joseph Gnall asked for clarification on the state of sports programs at LCCC. DeFrank informed the board this year will be the last year for collegiate sports programs due to the $300,000 deficit the programs created. Going forward, sports programs will be strictly intramural which will provide an athletic experience for students without the high cost.

Sarah Nemitz, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute board member, outlined the three main issues facing LCTI as addressing the waitlist, defining a vision and plan for future programing and refining the process for managing enrollment.

She also informed the board there are three new programs available for students in the areas of Protective Services, Emergency Health Sciences/ Vet Tech and Future Teachers.

In her superintendent’s report Lynn Fuini-Hetten recognized the hard work that went into making summer school programs successful to help students prepare for the upcoming school year.

She also briefed the board on the many capital improvement projects completed or near completion over the summer including replacing the middle school roof, library carpeting and improvements to the gym.

Salisbury Elementary School underwent an extensive water mitigation project as well as replacement flooring on the lower level and painting and improvements to the gym area all while regular summer maintenance projects such as mowing, power washing and cleaning simultaneously occurred.

The district is applying for a School Safety & Physical Wellness grant in the amount of $129,320 with a focus on physical safety. If the grant is awarded, the money will go to erecting fencing around the SES front playground and improvements to the camera system at the high school.

Fuini-Hetten revisited the issue of graduation rates due to a change in the data as two students completed coursework over the summer and graduated and one student labeled as a dropout actually transferred to another district. These three changes boosted the graduation rates from 86.5% to 88.5%.

The district is seeking Wall of Honor nominees for 2024. If you are interested in nominating a worthy Salisbury graduate the deadline for applications is Oct. 1.

The August edition of the Salisbury Township School District Community Update has launched. In it will be “Ten Things Every Parent/Guardian Should Know” and a reminder there is no charge for breakfast or lunch this year.

In other good news, Fuini-Hetten announced Salisbury has applied for and has been awarded a Great PA School Designation.

The Salisbury Township School Board will next meet 7 p.m. Sept. 11 for an operations and finance committee meeting. A curriculum and technology meeting will be held 7 p.m. Sept. 18 followed by a regular school board meeting.