During the Feb. 10 Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education meeting, the board approved the 2026-27 budgets for Lehigh Carbon Community College and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21.

The LCCC combined operating debt service and capital budgets total $63,604,133. The CASD sponsor share is $170,739, an increase of 5.3%.

The LCTI general operating budget is $1,786,006. The Lehigh and Carbon counties district contributions are $819,040. The CASD share is $27,521, an increase of 8.86%.

Sheckler Elementary School Principal Dr. Robert Kucharczuk introduced the Students of the Month. The honored students are Chip Mulicky, Ian Hillenbrand, Mila Gacitua, Sydney Deering, Declan Biechy, Charlee Mieles, Charles Cortes and Zoe Onody.

Michelle Mozingo, senior designer at Alloy5, provided an update on the Sheckler Elementary addition project. She noted they are currently in the design and planning phase and are connecting with the borough for necessary approvals.

She also reported, in their effort to create floor plan options, Alloy5 took into consideration a number of details provided from teachers and administration. Some of these factors include prep space for teachers, sight lines, the staging area for IU students and the transitions from the existing building to the new addition. This feedback was incorporated while also working to keep much of the same format of the existing classrooms.

The board members approved the classroom layout option and the Pelorus Group as the construction manager/firm for the project. Pelorus was reportedly unanimously recommended by the buildings and ground committee.

The board approved the retirements of two longtime employees, effective at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Kimberly Ceccatti, a guidance counselor, has been with the district 20 years, and school nurse Donna Tercha has served for 23 years. The board and administration shared their appreciation for both the retirees, noting they touched the lives of a large number of the students through their work, and they will be missed.

Nicole Guide was approved as a noncertified instructional aide at Sheckler.

A number of substitutes were added to the substitute employment list. They include non-CDL substitutes Nixalys Castellano, David Walker, Andrew Cengeri and Jeffrey Burger and guest teachers Craig Millard, Sofia Barbour and Abigail Stoudt.

The resignation of Cecilia Ramirez, a noncertified instructional aide at Sheckler, was approved.

The board approved extracurricular appointments for the 2025-26 school year, including Michael Sanders as volunteer assistant drama director, Rodney Berger as volunteer assistant baseball coach, Vincent SantaMaria as Catasauqua Middle School book fair coordinator at $155 and James Luchansky as CMS school store adviser and CMS Student Forum adviser, at $468 for each.

The Catasauqua High School career planning guide was approved. Director of Curriculum and Assessment Melissa Inselmann reported the guide has been redesigned and is more user friendly. It also updated courses and credits for graduation, modernized course names and more.

“This is a wonderful resource for our students and families,” board member Lauren Cieslak said.

The board also approved the administration to seek permission from the Allentown, Northampton Area and Whitehall-Coplay school districts to allow CASD students to attend summer school in their districts. That tuition will be the responsibility of the students’ parents/guardians.

The first reading of policy 233, regarding suspensions and expulsions, was approved by the board. Solicitor David Knerr noted changes include the process for a student to deny a hearing if wanted and lowering the state compulsory school age from 18 to 17.

Other board approvals included the authorization to bid for fuel oil for the 2026-27 school year, donations of a digital piano for the music program and nameplate decals and embroidered head wraps for the CHS weight room, a right of way to PPL Electric on borough property to fix a downed wire, the official resolution for the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program and for students to attend the FBLA State Academic Competition and Leadership Conference April 13-15 in Hershey.

Business Manager Lindsey Wallace noted the budget process continues, and they have a meeting scheduled with the district’s financial adviser, Brad Remig, of PFM. She also noted they reprioritized the capital projects plan.

It was reported the athletics committee discussed options for the future site of the Turkey Day bonfire. The bonfire had been canceled last year due to safety concerns from the fire chief. Robert Zakos, a member of Catasauqua Borough Council, told the board he can help explore options from the community for the event.

Cieslak noted the Pennsylvania School Boards Association is offering four scholarship opportunities for high school seniors. They are for students pursuing studies in education; public safety, criminology, forensics or related fields; policy, political science or nonprofit management; or the arts.

Board member Christy Cooper reported the North Catasauqua small Town USA carnival has been planned for 6-10 p.m. June 10-13.

The board and administration shared their appreciation for the district grounds, maintenance and custodial crews for their efforts during the recent snowstorm. Additionally, board member Jeremy Smale recognized the crossing guards for their increased vigilance, and board member Eric Delabar gave kudos to the bus drivers for navigating the snowy streets.

Anthony Alcalde, the new Catasauqua Borough mayor, attended the meeting to introduce himself to the board and offer support whenever possible. He and Zakos, who regularly attends meetings, shared their belief in the importance of keeping the school and community connected.

The next meetings are set for 7 p.m. March 10 for the regular board meeting and 7 p.m. March 18 for a special budget meeting. Meetings are held in the district administration board room, 201 N. 14th St.