The Salisbury Township School District Board of Directors held a regular school board meeting Jan. 22. Contracts were renewed for the district’s assistant superintendent and chief financial officer and contracts were awarded for the library configuration security upgrade projects.

After the board granted approval to pay bills, board minutes and the treasurer’s reports, Director Carol Klinger made a motion to approve several curriculum and technology items.

The board granted approval for student teachers from DeSales University to work with staff members at Salisbury Elementary School. They are as follows: Jillian Dwyer will work with Christina Horn, Katie Gergits will work with Kristy Wied and Kailyn Hansen will be mentored by Shannon Stokes.

The board also approved an affiliation agreement with East Stroudsburg University that will bring future student teachers to Salisbury.

Lastly, approval was granted for the members of the professional development committee for the 2025-2028 comprehensive plan. The committee includes Tateyanna Ruiz, Elizabeth Young, Patty McClain, Carrie Ballek, Amber Sams and Mary Bishop.

During the operations committee portion of the meeting, the board approved contracts for the library reconfiguration and security upgrades project to CMG of Easton, ASL Mechanical, Inc. and Diefenderfer Electrical Contractors, Inc. The total contract award amount is $374,525.

Also approved was elected tax collector compensation, Act 80 Comparison Services authorizing BerkOne to complete the 2025 ACT 80 process on the district’s behalf, approval of a three-year contract with Google Workspace for Education in the amount of $11,250 and an audit in the amount of $4,000.

Director Ian Riccaboni made a motion to approve the 2023-2024 audit and the 2025 insurance proposal from Willis Towers Watson. The motion passed.

Next on the agenda were several personnel committee items.

The board approved a three-year contract for Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickischer effective Jan. 22 through June 30, 2028.

A three-year contract was also approved for Assistant Superintendent Kelly Pauling effective July 1 through June 30, 2028.

New hires included Aiden Boyle, part-time instructional assistant, Carly Smith, full-time school nurse, Hira Bhatti, building substitute, Robert Fiedler, head varsity wrestling coach and middle school wrestling coach, Destynie Lichtenwalner, assistant cheerleading coach, Brian Fehnel, head softball coach and Ed Hoffman and Bill Held, co-assistant softball pitching coaches.

New teacher mentors approved for 2024-2025 include Kaitlyn Kolasensky and Leah Saliby for Angela Hagenbuch and Michael Dorward for So Choi.

The following gameworkers were approved for the 2024-2025 school term: Arnaldo Lopez, Paul Oswald, Angela Hagenbuch, Bevin Beckage, Stephanie Schwab and Amanda Wolf.

As part of her board report, Director Laura McKelvey explained the operating budget for the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit and sought board approval noting that although the overall operating budget increased Salisbury’s contribution, the budget decreased for a total of $28,890 in 2025-2026 down from $30,054 for the 2024-2025 school year. The motion passed.

The board also approved the operating budget for Lehigh Carbon Community College which reflects 12 consecutive years in flat funding from supporting school districts. It was also mentioned LCCC is continuing to see a decline in both the number of enrolled students and credits earned.

Director Rebecca Glenister, who sits on the board for Pennsylvania School Boards Association, reported a Texas company is looking to get approval for a teacherless AI driven cyber charter school established in Pennsylvania. Due to the lack of accountability for Pennsylvania charter schools, it is attractive for companies to try to establish schools here in Pennsylvania. Students will spend two hours per day on a for-profit AI platform and the rest of the day on life skills development and personal interests. The company is currently seeking approval.

In her superintendent’s report, Lynn Fuini-Hetten acknowledged the board for their service and highlighted some of the generous donations the school has recently received for the benefit of students. The Salisbury Education Foundation recently received a $50,000 donation from Vinart and the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union has donated $10,000. The money will be used to support summer programming and graduation.

She also noted the Salisbury Education Foundation has awarded five $750 mini-grants to teachers for projects allowing students to participate in projects that extend beyond the curriculum in the areas of reading, art, engineering, learning labs, technology and math.

The next regular school board meeting will be held Feb. 19 immediately following the curriculum and technology committee meeting which begins 7 p.m. All meetings will take place in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.