At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Nov. 12, the board voted to approve full-day kindergarten, beginning in August, for the 2019-20 school year. The decision to build a new elementary school, rather than add six additional classrooms, was made based on a feasibility study by Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects.

“While renovations would initially cost less than new construction, Gockley is already 40 years old, requiring significant maintenance and increased energy costs, which cannot be addressed with renovations,” Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent Dr. Lori Hackett said.

Although full-day kindergarten was originally going to be implemented during the 2020-21 school year, parents who attended an informational meeting in February questioned why it couldn’t be accomplished sooner.

The school board and contractor decided full-day kindergarten could begin earlier by attaching portable classrooms to Gockley Elementary School. The completion of the new elementary school is slated for 2022 and will still house both kindergarten and first-grade students.

“Research overwhelmingly indicates that student achievement, measured by the number of students reading at grade level by third grade, significantly impacts students’ future academic success,” Hackett said.

There will be an informational meeting for kindergarten parents 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, 2019, at Gockley.

The high school and athletic complexes will also be upgraded.

In other news, members of the Whitehall High School Marching Zephyr Band and director Matthew Tanzos attended the meeting and were congratulated for their first-place win Nov. 11 at the Cavalcade of Bands competition at J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown. The band retained the title of American Open Class Champion for the second year in a row.

Also at the meeting, Nicholas Demjan, high school Student Council president, discussed plans for the next Mini-Thon, which will tentatively be held March 1, 2019. This year, Steckel and Zephyr Elementary students will be joining the high school students during set times. The theme is “Waving Goodbye to Childhood Cancer.”

Toni Fillman, PTO Plus president, announced the annual PTO holiday party will be held 5-8 p.m. Dec. 13. Santa will be present, and there will be opportunities for pictures.

In other business, the school board voted to approve contracts with Holiday Inn for proms that will be held May 18, 2019, and May 16, 2020.

The board approved a field trip request from Justin Boandl, high school science teacher, for the Science Olympiad team to compete in the Science Olympiad competition at Juniata College, Huntington, April 27, 2019.

Tanzos’ request for the Marching Zephyr Band’s spring trip April 27, 2019, to Philadelphia was also approved.

The board approved the cost estimate, location B plan and solicitation of contracts for the portable elementary classrooms.

The board accepted the resignations of Atoya Smith, intensive learning support paraeducator at Gockley; Keri Kromer, library secretary at Gockley; and Arielle Rodriguez, emotional support paraeducator at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School.

Compensated professional leave extensions for the second semester of the 2018-19 school year were granted to Karen Dojack, reading specialist at Steckel; Andrew Kline, English/language arts teacher at WCMS; Erin Piff, learning support teacher at WCMS; and Taylor Stefanyak, health/physical education teacher at Zephyr.

New appointments included Natalie Woodward, intensive learning support teacher at Steckel, and Megan Colletti, school nurse. Salaried substitutes included Kaitlyn Mack, learning support teacher at WCMS; Erin Reichenbach, reading teacher at Steckel; Steven Swann, English/language arts teacher at WCMS; Amy Wood, health/physical education teacher at Zephyr; Amanda DeFelice, intensive learning support teacher at Steckel; and Megan Desthers, reading paraprofessional at Gockley.

Also approved were Penny Lauer, Gockley library secretary; Arcangela Villa, Gockley intensive learning support paraprofessional; and Taylor Bess, volunteer assistant coach for girls’ basketball. Cafeteria workers approved for positions at the middle school included Irene Eddinger and Khola Jarrah, as well as Sara Issa at the high school.

The board approved teacher induction participants Julie Banner and Lora Luchansky as mentors to Megan Colletti, Donna Genevese as mentor to Erin Reichenbach, Mary Bellamy as mentor to Steve Swann, Clare Persing as mentor to Kaitlyn Mack and Kenneth Schneider as mentor to Amy Wood. Mentors will each receive compensation of $325.

The school board will hold committee meetings 4 p.m. Nov. 27 and Dec. 17. There will be a reorganization meeting 5 p.m. Dec. 4, followed by a special board meeting 5:15 p.m. The next regular school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Dec. 10.