During Whitehall-Coplay School Board’s meeting March 24, Steckel Elementary School teacher Emily Lepore introduced some of the students who are involved in the STEM program. Reportedly, more than 100 third-graders are involved in this program, which is completely free to students.

“We’re here to share some exciting things we’re doing in the STEM program,” said Caleb, a third-grade student at Steckel.

“We get to use fun tools in activities that help us form important skills like problem solving, coding and teamwork,” said Vonnie, another third-grade student.

The students went on to explain what specifically they do in STEM, including helping robots get through mazes, using coding to help the robots move, programming robots online so they can do tricks and more.

“These activities help us become better problem solvers and teach us how to work together as a team,” Caleb added.

“Thank you for listening to us talk about the amazing things we’ve been doing,” Vonnie said. “We hope that you will continue to support programs like this that help us grow, learn and become better problem solvers for the future. Thank you.”

The goal of STEM is to push students to think critically, be creative, work collaboratively and communicate with one another.

The meeting continued with public participation.

“I return this month to follow up regarding the questions I asked in January, and I was promised answers,” township resident Bruce Charles said. “I want to remind this board that transparency, which I talked about in the past, is paramount.”

Charles said district spending needs to be reduced, prudent financial decisions need to be made, and the board members need to learn to say no.

“We need to ensure our budgets are reviewed for waste, nonsense and unneeded spending,” Charles said.

He recommended the board reduce all budgets by 10% in 2025-26.

“We have another spring carnival planned, but we continue to raise taxes,” Charles said, citing an example of his idea of wasted money. “Continuing to reach into taxpayers’ pockets is unacceptable and insulting.”

Charles asked the board how much money has been spent for digital scoreboards and what the revenue generated from these scoreboard advertisements are. He provided his email for the board to contact him with the answers.

“A 10% reduction would certainly be a problem,“ board President William Fonzone said.

Fonzone and the board explained that reducing budgets by 10% could mean cutting funding from school programs like STEM.

“You will see in the presentation at our next committee meeting as we start in April. We will present the budget,” Fonzone said.

“Just send me the answers,” Charles yelled from the crowd. “I’ve been coming for years. Nothing gets done. The only thing that gets done is my taxes are increased every year. If STEM has to get cut, then we have to cut it.”

“That’s easy to say,” Fonzone said. “We’re not debating. You will see the presentation in April.”

“Mr. Charles, I do have all that information for you,” Superintendent Chris Schiffert said. “You haven’t been back; otherwise, I would have sent it much sooner. I did do that the night you asked for it, in relation to the digital scoreboards.”

Charles left his email with the board to send him the information he has requested about revenue generated from digital scoreboard advertisements.