Before the start of the June 19 Northwestern Lehigh School Board meeting, President Bill Dellicker noted that Mary Anne Wright was in the audience.

She was one year into her retirement as superintendent.

Dan Macauley and DJ Wolbert, from the Northwestern Lehigh Education Foundation, attended the meeting to present a check in the amount $164,000 to the district.

The money will be used for mini grants, Chromebooks for the younger grades, and work to be done at the middle school fitness center.

This brings the total amount of donations to more than $1.5 million.

Superintendent Jennifer Holman said theirs is one of the most successful foundations and the district appreciates their efforts.

Police Chief Brian Tobin was the inaugural officer on the school’s force. After a year of service he is moving on.

Holman said he made both the students and visitors feel safer and he has a talent to get along with everyone.

Tobin said he was impressed with everyone he met. He was given everything he needed.

Tobin said they should be proud of their school.

Dellicker, speaking as a grandparent and board member, said Tobin was a role model for the kids.

“We felt much safer with you here,” Board member John Casiano said.

Four students were on hand to see the changeover, and when they walked out, one boy said, “You were awesome. You said ‘Good morning’ every day.”

His replacement is Jonathon Nederostek.

He has 25 years experience with the Pennsylvania State Police, including at Troop M, Fogelsville and Bethlehem, and at Villanova University.

He will take his position seriously,” Holman said. “He has a genuine interest in students.”

Nederostek said the school district means everything to him.

Tessa DeJesus, a member of Girl Scout Troop 6030, attended the school board meeting to explain a project she planned to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award.

She chose the project to keep students in touch with nature.

With outdoor classes, students will get fresh air and an unused school area will be updated.

She wants to fill in muddy areas with mulch or gravel.

DeJesus is planning 4-foot by 2-foot garden boxes and she will plant perennials so they do not need replanting every spring.

Included will be black-eyed Susans, lavender, mint and asters.

DeJesus suggested an environmental club for ongoing maintenance of the space.

Activities will be adding birdhouses, go birdwatching, hiking trails and planting the last garden box. The Environmental Club would have officers and all must be in the eighth grade, though the area will be open to all grades.

She plans eight benches with handles for easy movement

Funds will come from car washes, cookie dough sales and store donations.

Uses will be for the club to hold meetings in the lab, language arts teachers can use it as a quiet place for reading or writing and biology teachers can use it to examine and discuss plants and bugs.

Her grandfather, Kenny Stoudt accompanied her to the meeting.

A new assistant superintendent, Troy Sosnovik, was appointed. He has experience as a director of personnel and emergency management technician. Sosnovik said he wanted to thank the search committee.

“My family and I are proud to be here,” he said. I can’t wait to start work in July.”

Actually, he brought his laptop and sat down and started work immediately.