During the Sept. 9 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, board members approved a new agreement for digital scoreboards in the district. Bob Hartman, of Digital Scoreboards LLC, presented the proposed seven-year agreement to the board. The agreement includes a seven-year annual payment of $49,900, with an annual reimbursement from DS Media of $35,900.

The agreement includes two digital scoreboards with trim kits and control systems, the Cloud-based Scorevision software, a graphics package, on-site tech, training, the removal and/or disposal of existing scoreboards, installation, a seven-year parts/five-year labor warranty and more.

It was noted the software and boards can also be used by physical education teachers in class, so the district can get more use out of them. Hartman also reported there is an opportunity to use student-driven content, especially with the fresh, new graphics provided.

The board heard about other quotes received before voting unanimously for the Digital Scoreboards contract and media license agreement.

“I think it’s a great thing for the school,” Thomas Moll, director of student activities, said after the vote.

In other business, the board approved the second reading of policy 313, which included updates to the drug and alcohol use and testing policy for CDL drivers. Additionally, board members approved the first reading of policy 314, regarding drug and alcohol use and testing policy for non-CDL drivers. Solicitor David Knerr said the language is largely the same between the two policies and the same criteria is used for both sets of drivers.

In response to a question by a resident, Knerr noted this action to add a policy for the non-CDL drivers is preventive and not reactive. He reported the district is not having trouble with its drivers but wants to have a policy in place just in case something happens in the future.

In related driver information, Moll reported the only real issue the athletic program is experiencing right now is with transportation. He noted they need more drivers, so the coaches and teams have had to get creative and be flexible with the transportation schedule.

Board members approved the retirement of Stephen Kalata, a non-CDL driver, effective June 30. It was reported Kalata started with the district in 2008.

Additionally, the resignations of noncertified instructional aides at Sheckler Elementary School Christine Saylor and Stacie Pisano were approved. Jared Schneck was appointed to fill a noncertified instructional aide role at Sheckler at $148 a day.

The board approved student teachers and shadows to work in the district. Michaela Dineman, of Muhlenberg University, will work with Jenarosa Auriemma-Brinkley and Brett Sontag in social studies Sept. 8-Oct. 17; Marian Saman, of Moravian University, will work with Charles Matz in art Oct. 20-Dec. 5; Zachary Morris, of Kutztown University, will also work with Matz from Sept. 12 to Nov. 14; and Grace Baroun, of Lehigh University, will work with Michaela LaBar in English Aug. 26-Nov. 28.

Board members approved a number of extracurricular positions for the 2025-26 school year, including Jonathan Kiefer as a volunteer Catasauqua High School debate adviser, David Harth as head girls soccer coach at $3,014, Roger Straub and Madison Walker as assistant girls soccer coaches at $3,012, James Alexander as assistant boys soccer coach at $3,201, Briell Carvalho as assistant girls volleyball coach and Alison Brandecker as assistant marching band director.

The board approved the addition of the assistant boys soccer coach, assistant volleyball coach and assistant marching band director.

Board members voted for their choices for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association officers.

District administration was approved to go out to bid for a nine-passenger van.

Two CASD grounds and maintenance employees were approved to take heavy equipment training services at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute.

Director of Curriculum and Assessment Melissa Inselmann noted classroom diagnostics will be happening shortly. Additionally, she noted many professional developments are underway.

Assistant Superintendent Eric Dauberman said the district is in the request for proposal process for an architect for the possible Sheckler addition project. He also noted the bid process will start soon for the CHS HVAC project.

Business Manager Lindsey Wallace reported there is still no state budget, but she hopes they will finalize the budget no later than October. She noted the district is financially stable with local revenues through the end of the calendar year, but things will get tight if they don’t get state funding by then.

Student representative Dante Hatcher-Wilson came to the meeting after his soccer game to introduce himself to the board. He noted he transferred into the district for high school and is happy and comfortable at CHS.

Additional board approvals included overnight student activity trips, the establishment of the Class of 2029 student activity account, conference and seminar attendance for Matz and band director Robert Arnold and additional revised van and bus stops.

Karla Fryslin, district copy center, transportation secretary and technology support, brought a concern before council. She detailed a recent incident where she got hurt after slipping and falling on some water on the stairs at Sheckler. She was concerned this could have been a larger issue if one of the students slipped instead of her.

Fryslin said she believes the water could have come from one of the water bottles carried by the students. She said this is a potential safety issue and detailed the benefits of using water fountains instead of individual bottles. She reported the district-provided technology may experience less liquid damage if not put in backpacks with water bottles, less risk of spillage in classrooms and on the floor and less mid-class bathroom breaks, which interrupt education time.

The next school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in the district administration board room, 201 N. 14th St.