The Salisbury Township School Board of Directors held a regular school board meeting April 23. The board approved personnel changes and agreements for services and heard several board member reports as well as a superintendent’s report.

After payment of the bills, the board approved several curriculum and technology agenda items including a 5-year dual enrollment agreement with Kutztown University, a May 18-19 overnight trip for the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science meeting in State College and the approval of purchase of new science textbooks at the high school.

The board granted the approval of Muhlenberg College student teacher James Hopke who will work with Salisbury High School social studies teacher Barry Frick and a resolution for the renewal of the charter for the Arts Academy Charter Middle School.

Outgoing Arts Academy Charter Middle School Executive Director Bill Fitzpatrick introduced incoming executive director Bill Eisenhart and remarked he appreciated the open relationship with the Salisbury Township School District.

Eisenhart thanked the board for their help in getting the new charter together and building on what they have been working on at the school for the last 13 years. He said he is looking forward to continuing to work together in the future.

Board President Joseph Gnall brought five operations committee agenda items to the board for approval including a food service procurement plan, an Apple lease agreement, a technology buyback in the amount of $404,250 with SecondLifeMac, a 5-year copier lease with Marco for replacement of copier machines and a proposal with NavigatHCR to complete the district’s Affordable Care Act reporting. All motions were approved.

During the finance committee portion of the meeting, the board approved committing of the June 30 fund balance after the completion of the 2024-2025 audit. These amounts include $3,873,575 unassigned fund balance, $250,000 assigned fund balance, $17,324,389 committed fund balance and $23,741 non-spendable fund balance.

The board also approved additional school per capita tax in the amount of $300.

The personnel committee approved the retirement of Rachel Reinecke and the employment of extended school year staff members Lucy Reinsmith, Erin Alulis and substitute Paige Mathieu.

Also approved was the addition of substitute instructional assistant Lianna Weil and the deletion of substitute guest teachers Charlotte Britto, Cynthia Dematto and Tracey Saab as well as substitute instructional assistant Rosanne Roman.

The board approved 25 proposed policies for final reading and adoption beginning with Policy 103 through 342.

During board member reports Director Laura McKelvey brought several Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit items to the board for approval. The board approved a facilities plan, an agreement with online Overdrive/SORA library consortium in the amount of $2,275 and agreement to participate in the Technology in Education legal counsel consortium for 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Lehigh Carbon Community College liaison Sam DeFrank reported that summer and early fall headcount and credit hours remain on a downward trend although the fall counts may change as students continue to make decisions about where to attend in the fall.

DeFrank said the budget process will begin in June and continue through September with a final presentation to the board Nov. 17.

He also noted the college has applied for $3.6 million in grants and has received $1.8 million. Fifteen grants are still pending.

In her report, district Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten reported on the Skills for the Future breakfast she and Assistant Superintendent Kelly Pauling attended. She noted there was a good deal of discussion about the disconnect between the need for workers in high demand jobs such as health care and manufacturing and the courses students want to attend. Student preferences do not match up with the job opportunities in the workforce.

Fuini-Hetten also attended the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Leadership Forum where she and fellow administrator Tonya Swavely presented their process for comprehensive planning utilizing focus groups, survey data and communication procedures as a model process for the state and other intermediate units.

Fuini-Hetten and Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickischer recently attended the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials Conference which focused on finances, facilities management and finance management.

She also highlighted several roundtable discussions she participated in which were held at both DeSales University and Penn State on subjects ranging from student teacher stipend and preparing school leaders for their roles as principals. Additionally, she also attended training entitled Navigating Behavioral Threat Assessment Landscape.

Fuini-Hetten gave an overview of the recently released 2025 State of Education which highlighted the top five challenges in education — mental health, budget pressures, staffing shortages, school facilities issues and academic challenges.

Salisbury residents, employees and school district alumni are invited to enjoy a free community breakfast at Salisbury High School 9-11 a.m. May 17. Registration is required at www.salisburysd.org/breakfast or call 610-797-2062, ext. 100 by May 9.

The Salisbury Township School District will hold an operations and finance committee meeting 7 p.m. May 9. A curriculum and technology meeting followed by a regular school board meeting will be held 7 p.m. May 14 in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.