The Salisbury Township Board of Directors held a curriculum and technology committee meeting Sept. 18. During the meeting, board members honored two retirees, heard updates from student reporters and district administrators shared highlights of instructional programs as well as an overview of the comprehensive planning.

The meeting started off with well wishes and some tears as the district said goodbye to Director of Student Activities Monica Deeb and Administrative Assistant Cherie Pennella. Deeb has worked tirelessly for the district for 25 years and was credited with advocating for new programs and collaborations with other districts so more students could have opportunities to participate.

Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten commented Deeb has the ability to connect with all students on a personal level whether they participate in sports, band, theater or any other activity. She knows students’ siblings and families and genuinely cares about their successes. She touted the relationships Deeb cultivated with the Colonial League and St. Luke’s University Health Network for the benefit of students and the district and she vowed to continue these partnerships in her absence.

Deeb held back tears as she spoke of her pride in serving Salisbury as it’s first director of student activities and went on to thank every administrator she has worked for and recognized the many people she has worked with throughout her career especially Salisbury High School Principal Heather Morningstar, former school board member Russ Giordano and his wife Sandy and her dad “Pops.”

Deeb’s partner in the athletics and extracurricular department, Administrative Assistant Cherie Pennella also received recognition on her retirement as she has served 19 years in the district in both the high school and Salisbury Elementary School.

Deeb remarked she is so grateful for Pennella for her kindness and support over the last 10 years and for never saying “no” while Fuini-Hetten admired her positive attitude no matter what was asked of her.

Pennella reminisced about her years in the district and the pleasure of seeing students grow up and serving the people she met through her work.

Student reporter Claire Nichols highlighted the many sports competitions since the start of the season and noted 10 Salisbury athletes attended the Colonial League Leadership Conference which focused on how to be leaders in their communities.

The Salisbury theater department recently began rehearsals for the play “Our Town” which will be performed Nov. 7-10.

In club news, the Key Club, in conjunction with The League of Women Voters, will sponsor a voter-registration drive at the main entrance to the high school Sept. 28.

The National Honor Society will hold a blood drive 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 2 in the auxiliary gym at the high school.

Homecoming festivities will begin Oct. 4 with an in school pep rally and a parade 5:15 p.m. starting at Salisbury Elementary School culminating at the stadium with a homecoming football game against Saucon Valley. The homecoming dance will be held in the auxiliary gym Oct. 5.

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute student Josh Orach reported a mandatory uniform policy will be strictly enforced this year at LCTI and an open house will be held 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14. He advised attendees to come early as parking is limited.

Lillian Kemmerer and Sia Lausch brought the latest Salisbury Middle School news to the board starting with fall fundraising efforts to raise money for student activities.

Seventh grade students will be attending the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Oct. 1 which aligns with an upcoming social studies unit.

A reminder for middle school parents open house will take place 6:45 -8:30 p.m. Sept. 26.

Salisbury Elementary School students Zarah Tavarez and Malik Bader reported on memorable events and happenings such as kindergarten orientation tours and bus rides, a PTO sponsored Popsicle party for kindergarten students and their families, the first T-shirt day of the school year, open house and picture day.

The next portion of the meeting was reserved for a teaching and learning update led by Kelly Pauling. Pauling informed the board the district is in the third year of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Future Ready Comprehensive Planning. In an effort to provide more in-service at the elementary level, Principal Zac Brem and two elementary teachers visited Flux Space which offers ideas as resources to improve science instruction as well as technology, engineering and math.

Pauling relayed definitive answers related to the new science assessments which will not be administered in grade four. Instead, fifth grade students will be administered the science Pennsylvania State Assessment Test but it will only be a field test and no accountability will be recorded.

Biology tests will remain the same but will be moving online as will all tests by the 2025-2026 school year.

The SHS science department has reviewed course offerings and is recommending ninth grade biology be moved to 10th grade and an environmental science/ecology course be offered in ninth grade. Honors biology will continue to be offered in ninth grade.

Brem announced Salisbury Township School District will hold a multicultural celebration Oct. 9 at the high school where a range of cultures will be celebrated. Food will be provided by local restaurants and families are encouraged to bring foods special to their families to share with others. The night will include student curated music, activities and raffle prizes.

Brem also reported SES has been working on a yearlong process of improving the multitiered system of supports for specific learning disabilities and have completed a rubric to be submitted to the state for review.

A pilot program focused on a research-based phonics program from the University of Florida Literacy Institute will take place in first grade which will assist students who demonstrate a need for additional practice.

Pauling, Brem and a team of Salisbury teachers have been asked to present their methods using MTSS to strengthen core instruction at a MTSS forum in Hershey for teachers across the state in October.

At the middle school level, a systematic support grant was received focusing on math in grades 5-8 and work is continuing as the learning lab is being developed for use in grades 6-8.

At the high school level, math continues to be at the forefront as the Foundations of Algebra curriculum was written over the summer and will be implemented this year. The math department is also exploring the intervention program Math180 which is being considered for special education students.

Pauling highlighted the ongoing progress being made on the comprehensive plan. A draft of the plan should be ready for board review by January or February 2025 and final approval will be needed by March 30, 2025.

The next curriculum and technology committee meeting will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 13. All meetings are held at the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road.