The Catasauqua Area School District is currently reviewing the results of a needs assessment survey that was administered through the district website in the spring.

"We started to analyze those results," district Superintendent Robert Spengler said at the Aug. 6 school board meeting. "We're starting to shape that out."

Spengler presented to the board the top 10 areas survey participants expressed an interest in, including the grade transition beginning in fifth grade, class size, technology, full-day kindergarten, course remediation opportunities, advanced course offerings, flexible academic programs, the financial health of the district, district facilities and technology-based instruction and resources.

"These are the big areas we're seeing in terms of needs," Spengler said. "We need to plan in these areas."

Spengler told the board some areas the district will plan for next academic year, however, he did note areas such as the grade transition for fifth-grade students will be top priorities for this year, as the board considers moving fifth-grade classes into the Sheckler building

Board member Sally Reiss said she was under the impression the school district was current with technology.

"We have zero dollars budgeted for technology," Spengler commented.

Spengler also said the district needs to begin considering offering advanced courses for students.

"We really need to bolster our advanced offerings," Spengler said. "We're really behind."

In other business, the board approved the Catasauqua Middle School boiler replacement project bid in the amount of $333,000.

"I'm pleased with that number," Spengler said.

The project is expected to be completed between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1.

The board also approved Jennifer Keppel and Lisa Roth to serve as Catasauqua Middle School assistant field hockey coaches, Susan Arndt and Penny Hahn as assistant volleyball coach volunteers and Abby Cunningham as the head girls' volleyball coach.

Also approved was the settlement of a tax appeal for a new assessed value of $2,750,000 for Sun Allentown Lodging LLC, 3400 Airport Road.

"It was assessed significantly higher, but that's what they're [Lehigh County] saying it's worth," said district Solicitor David Knerr of the property.