At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Sept. 10, Dr. Sandy Rex, director of curriculum and instruction at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School, spoke to the board about the Ready, Set, Read summer reading program that was offered to a select group of students from kindergarten to third grade.

The program helped elementary school children improve their phonics, reading comprehension, fluency, writing and vocabulary skills. It was funded though a Title I grant, and elementary teachers Amanda Woolslayer and Bethany Koenig presented videos and pictures of the progress of the 70 children who participated.

The program ran three days a week for three weeks, and 11 teachers worked in small groups to help the children develop the skills necessary to succeed in school.

“I think we all know that early reading and all of the literacy skills are so important. Additional class support is always needed,” Rex said.

Bob Hartman, Whitehall High School athletic director, recognized Leah Coleman, a golfer in her senior year, for winning Coordinated Health’s Athlete of the Week, which provides a $500 scholarship.

Hartman also discussed the newly formed Captain’s Council that began in the spring with the goal of teaching leadership skills to team captains.

The board voted to approve the following for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association 2019 election: Eric Wolfgang, president-elect; Art Levinowitz, vice president; Maura Buri, eastern at-large; Amy Goldman, section 8 adviser; and Richard Frerichs, William S. LaCoff and Nathan G. Mains, insurance trustees.

Contracts approved by the board include purchases of three 2019 78-passenger buses, for the price of $267,660, and three 2019 30-passenger buses, for the price of $175,221, from Rohrer Bus Sales, Duncannon.

The board approved field trip requests for Matthew Tanzos, high school band director, to travel to Chichester High School, Boothwyn, Sept. 15 to perform in a Cavalcade of Bands competition; Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia Sept. 17 for a pregame parade; and Pittston Area High School Sept. 29 to perform in a Cavalcade of Bands competition.

The board approved field trip requests for Edward Hong, high school choir director, to travel to Boston for a choir exchange May 2-5, 2019.

Donald Ryan, middle school band director, was granted permission to travel to Hershey Park for a performance May 11, 2019.

Toni Fillman, of the Whitehall-Coplay PTO Plus, said a general meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Steckel Elementary School cafeteria.

The school board will hold committee meetings 4 p.m. Sept. 24.

The next regular school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Oct. 8.