During the Feb. 11 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, the school board members approved the first reading of two policies. Policy 236 pertains to threat assessments, and policy 805 is regarding the use of force by school security personnel.

Policy 236 is a state law requirement regarding student behavior that may indicate a threat to the safety of other students, themselves, employees, facilities, the community or others. Policy 805, as requested by the district insurance carrier, pertains to school resource officers or other school security who may carry firearms and details requirements on the manner in which school security personnel can use force while performing duties, with the goal to minimize force in lieu of other reasonable methods.

In other business, the board approved the Lehigh Carbon Community College 2025-26 budget of $62,569,671. The CASD sponsor share is $162,221, an increase of $388. The board also approved the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 budget of $1,729,075, with a CASD sponsor share of $25,282 — a $472 increase.

The Lehigh Career and Technical Institute’s proposed 2025-26 budget of $33,499,540 was also approved. The CASD sponsor share increased $16,762,15 to $993,964.95. The LCTI Academic Center budget is $2,720,871, based on a projected enrollment of approximately 400 students at $5,969 a student. The CASD share is $110,132, an increase of $5,462.

The board also approved the administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors as financial adviser, Raymond James as underwriter, Fox Rothschild LLP as bond council and David Knerr as solicitor, in conjunction with the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance capital improvements.

Catasauqua Middle School Principal Patrick McNulty introduced the CMS Roughies of the Month for December 2024 and January. The honored students for December are Julian Carey, fifth grade; Nour Mamari, sixth grade; Alexander Bernini, seventh grade; Trever Hartzell, eighth grade; and Alisha Prez-Porrata, related arts. The January Roughies of the Month are Sylvia Murzdeck, fifth grade; Katelynn Beatty, sixth grade; Ryha Miller, seventh grade; Viviana Carvajal, eighth grade; and Claire Snyder, related arts.

The school board approved the intent to retire for Christopher Gerhard, Catasauqua High School assistant principal, at the end of the 2024-25 school year after 22 years in the district. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling wished Gerhard the best in his retirement. She shared her appreciation for his leadership and dedication throughout the years.

“He is an all-around fantastic leader,” Lutz-Doemling said.

The resignation of Rebecca Lozada, a noncertified instructional aide at Sheckler Elementary School, was approved, effective Jan. 25.

The board approved Brett Snyder, new speech and language teacher and educational specialist, to work with mentor teacher Dana Flynn. Madisen Shriver, of Eastern University, will work with Kristine Kostura in special education Feb. 12-March 2.

Changes in employment status were approved for Samer Alsaman and Maria Rivera to move from non-CDL substitute drivers to CDL substitute drivers and Karolyn De Los Angeles to move from non-CDL substitute driver to non-CDL driver.

Patricia Nassia, guest teacher; Jill Smerdon, substitute teacher; and Loreni Samchez, non-CDL substitute driver, were all added to the substitute employment list.

The board approved the substitute rate of $45 an hour for specific office tasks for Kristen Bloszinsky from approximately May 20 until Aug. 11.

A number of extracurricular positions were approved, including Eriberto Diaz and Ronald Armstead III as assistant football coaches, Hunter Reitz as an assistant baseball coach, Natalie Schlofer as an assistant track and field coach, Paige Kogelman as an assistant softball coach and James Alexander as the head middle school soccer coach.

Six student custodial summer workers were approved.

The administration was approved to ask permission for CASD students to attend summer school in the Allentown, Northampton Area and Whitehall-Coplay school districts, at a tuition rate to be designated by their school boards.

The board approved the awarding of the lawn care bid for unlimited cuts and trims for three years to Zachary Bittner and Perfection Landscaping and Lawn Care. The contract amounts are $54,000 for 2025, $57,000 for 2026 and $58,000 for 2027, for a total of $169,000.

Additional approvals include the CHS career planning guide for 2025-26, the authorization to bid for fuel oil via Keystone Purchasing Network Intermediate Unit 16, the service agreement with EAP to provide Employee Assistance Programs March 1-June 20, the contract with Raptor Technologies for the Raptor Emergency Management Suite for $8,900, a three-year elite license service agreement for a Just Play account from March 1 to Feb. 29, 2028, and a performance-based energy savings agreement with McClure Company, pursuant to the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act for roofing updates to CHS and the concession stand.

The next regular school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 11 in the district administration board room, 201 N. 14th St. Additionally, a financial and budget meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 19.