The Salisbury Township School Board of Directors held a regular school board meeting Nov. 13 where several personnel changes, agreements of service and an agreement to not raise school district taxes above the Act 1 Index rate for the 2025-2026 school year were approved.

Chief Financial Officer and Board Secretary Dawn Nickischer reported the audit, currently being reviewed for quality control, is in the last stage of the auditing process.

The board approved several agreements of service between Salisbury Township School District and Behavioral Health Associates, Gifted Nurses, Judge Healthcare and Family Therapeutics as well as an agreement with CHA for design and construction administration services to upgrade the fire alarm system in the middle school.

Finance committee Chair Ian Riccaboni brought two items to the board for approval. The board approved a list of additions/changes to the district’s 2024 per capita tax netting the district an additional $495 and an agreement that resolves to not raise the rate of tax above the Act 1 Index rate for the 2025-2026 school year.

Several personnel changes were approved by the board including the resignations of Carissa Llagas, full-time special education teacher at Salisbury Elementary School, Kyle Gangeware, part-time instructional assistant at Salisbury High School and Eric Snyder, head wrestling coach.

New hires include Michael Anthony, assistant girls basketball coach at Salisbury Middle School and April Ziegler, building substitute at SMS.

The board also approved a four-year contract for Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2029.

Rebecca Glenister, chair of the policy review committee, brought Policy 826 - HIPPA privacy to the board for a first reading. The final review of a policy 5D.1 for reimbursement for travel expenses was approved.

Student activity advisers and student representatives for the 2024-2025 at both the middle school and the high school were approved by the board.

During the board reports portion of the meeting, Lehigh Carbon Community College board member Sam DeFrank noted budget issues were reviewed and the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence use in higher education were discussed. As a result of advances in AI technology, LCCC is currently writing and adopting many policies relating to student conduct and student protection.

Glenister’s Pennsylvania School Boards Association report listed some sobering statistical information on Pennsylvania’s cyber/charter schools.

According to the report, every one of Pennsylvania’s cyber/charter schools are in need of some level of support or improvement according to the state’s accountability system. Over half of these schools are currently operating under expired charters as the Pennsylvania Department of Education does not have the ability to oversee or financially support these schools. Cyber/charter schools are the greatest drivers of property tax increases and Pennsylvanians continue to pay approximately $1 billion each year to support them.

In response to this information, Fuini-Hetten wondered how schools can operate without a charter leading Director Sarah Nemitz to suggest the board investigate whether the charter schools in the district have current charters.

In her superintendent’s report, Fuini-Hetten noted she recently attended a school safety planning summit through the Superintendent’s Advisory Council where she was able to visit the Pennsylvania State Police Academy Training Center and learn about how the philosophy of the state police aligns with school resource officers to increase school safety.

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Pauling organized a legislative breakfast with a discussion focusing on the future impact the recent election may have on state priorities.

Fuini-Hetten also reported surveys in both English and Spanish have been sent out to families for the purpose of gathering information to be used for several projects including the comprehensive plan and the three-year math improvement plan.

The district has recently received money from a school safety/mental health grant. Six foot high fencing with a secure entry system will soon be erected around the SES playground.

A generous donation has been made by East Penn Manufacturing to the Salisbury Education Foundation to help support education enrichment and enhance programs for the benefit of Salisbury students. The money will be used to fund summer programs.

Fuini-Hetten thanked elementary leadership and SES students for organizing a successful Veterans Day celebration complete with a breakfast and other activities to celebrate local veterans.

The district will be closed for Thanksgiving Nov. 27 through Dec. 2.

The next meetings of the Salisbury Township School Board will take place Dec. 4. A reorganization meeting will begin 7 p.m. followed by operations and finance committee meeting and a regular school board meeting. All meetings will be held in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.