Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education held its reorganization meeting before the regular business meeting Dec. 3. The reorganization went smoothly, with Dale Hein and Jillian Emert retaining their roles as president and vice president, respectively, by unanimous vote.

Lauren Cieslak was also chosen to resume her role as Pennsylvania School Boards Association liaison. Attorney David Knerr was also appointed to remain working as the district solicitor, at $250 an hour.

The 2025 meeting dates for the board and committees were also approved.

At the start of the regular school board meeting, Catasauqua Middle School Principal Patrick McNulty congratulated the Roughies of the Month for October and November. The October Roughies of the Month are Zakiri Rivera, fifth grade; Kayla Smith, sixth grade; Daneirys Ortiz Malave, seventh grade; Joseph Araujo Shade, eighth grade; and Kaylynn Altreche, related arts. The November Roughies of the Month include Salome Ramirez, fifth grade; Keats Ramstine, sixth grade; Payson Bortz, seventh grade; Ruby Moore, eighth grade; and Cayden Caban, related arts.

In other business, the school board and administration thanked Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union for its donation of $10,000 for the Catasauqua Community Cares Program, which provides food to students in need during weekends and holidays.

Business Manager Lindsey Wallace reported they are reviewing the district’s capital projects and financing. Some of the major projects include the Catasauqua High School roof, concession stand roof, the weight room and additional parking for the transportation facility. She reminded the board members the district received a $1 million grant to assist with the roof replacement project.

Wallace also reported they are looking to make adjustments to the district investments to maximize returns.

Melissa Inselmann, director of curriculum and assessment, noted the district will be taking part in the state’s new Firefly program to add benchmark testing to help students prepare for standardized testing and help the district keep track of areas that may need more attention. She also noted the process to develop the 2025-28 comprehensive plan is underway.

Jonathan Kiefer was approved to serve as a business education mentor teacher for Kimberly Flueso.

A number of extracurricular coaches were approved, including Laura Gerhard and Michael Rusnock, girls wrestling head coaches, at $1,300 and $3,500, respectively; Travis Sterner, volunteer assistant baseball coach; Adam Landis and Jason Schneck, volunteer assistant boys basketball coaches; Cassandra Rodriguez, volunteer assistant girls basketball coach; Caleb Staub and Chad Beller, volunteer assistant wrestling coaches; Ashley Benner, volunteer swimming coach; and Madison Walker, volunteer indoor track and field coach.

The board approved the resignations of Landis as an assistant girls basketball coach and Cody Velez as a noncertified instructional aide at CMS. McNulty shared his thanks and appreciation for Velez and wished him the best in his future.

Janaira Prieto and Philip Campbell were added to the substitute employment list as non-CDL drivers.

The short-term substitute rate of $190 per day for Kaitlin Phillips for a time period of approximately Nov. 20-Dec. 6 was approved.

The job descriptions were approved for the wrestling coordinator and the girls, boys and junior high wrestling coaches.

Board members voted on which of their colleagues would represent the CASD on the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute board. Emert will continue in this capacity, with Jamie Nattress replacing Hein as the alternate.

The next regular school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Jan. 14, 2025.