The Salisbury Township School District board of directors held a regular school board meeting Feb. 18.

The meeting began with a brief discussion concerning the 2026-2027 school year calendar.

In an effort to standardize the calendar across the county, Lehigh Valley superintendents recommended significant changes from previous calendars that include an earlier start to the school year for teachers and students and a two-week break Dec. 21 through Jan. 3, 2027.

Director Laura McKelvey raised concerns in two areas starting with the inconsistency created at the end of the year as each district ends on different days.

The last day for Salisbury students will be June 9 while other area school districts such as Whitehall and Southern Lehigh will end June 3 and 4, respectively.

In her view, an inequity among employee groups will have been created because administrators will benefit from the new calendar by realizing an extra three days off.

Teachers will work the same 188 days and start school the school year earlier as in-service days will begin Aug. 18.

Director Joseph Gnall felt the intention behind the changes was to make the calendar more consistent across the Lehigh Valley and not as McKelvey has implied to give themselves more time off.

Director Ian Riccaboni noted there are different levels of responsibilities and expectations for administrators and they work on days they are not scheduled to work and at times beyond a structured work day.

Directors Rebecca Glenister and Sarah Nemitz agreed teachers also work well beyond the school day and they did not intend to diminish their role in any way but comparing teachers to administrators is like comparing apples to oranges.

Director Thomas Spinner suggested tabling the vote until the next meeting but ultimately a roll-call vote was called resulting in a 6-3 vote in favor of the new calendar with McKelvey, Riccaboni and Spinner casting dissenting votes.

The board also passed a K-12 guidance plan, the local holiday resolution for the 2026-2027 school year, a LearnWell agreement to provide educational services for a student and an overnight trip for Salisbury twirlers to participate in a competition April 30-May 3 in Wildwood Crest, N.J.

The board also passed a motion by Spinner to approve a list of additions, deletions and change of address to the district’s per capita tax list in the amount of $510.

During the finance portion of the meeting Riccaboni made a motion to commit portions of the fund balance for specific projects such as $4 million to the Salisbury High School HVAC system. The motion passed.

Several resignations were approved by the board during the personnel committee portions of the meeting including Christine Bucks, part-time instructional assistant, Jonah Miller, JV football coach and Chase Anthony, middle school girls basketball head coach.

Caroline Davis was approved to serve as a school psychologist intern for the 2026-2027 school year.

A memorandum of understanding was approved for an assistant to the coordinator of technology/transportation for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years.

Andrew Makhoul and Cara Sepcoski were approved as special education AI specialists.

New coaching hires include Rachel Heckler who will serve as the middle school softball coach and Dylan Croisette, assistant varsity football coach.

Also approved by the board are guest teachers Jacob Foehrkolb and Craig Millard.

The board approved several policies for final reading and adoption brought to the floor by Glenister of the policy committee.

Gnall began his student activities report by recounting the success of the swimming, wrestling and unified bocce teams who are competing in championship play.

Gnall then made a motion to establish a girls soccer booster club and for the development of a girls varsity volleyball team for the 2026-2027 school year. The soccer booster club was approved but a lengthy discussion ensued over the motion to approve the girls volleyball team.

McKelvey raised two questions for Director of Student Activities Sarah Oswald. The first question posed was whether it would be difficult to field other fall sports teams if volleyball is added as an option for girls.

Oswald responded she did not anticipate a problem as there were between 25-35 girls interested in the varsity program and coaches do their best to share athletes so girls can be involved in dual sports during the same season.

McKelvey raised financial concerns and wanted assurances that “we are adequately funding the current athletics and activities before we add more.”

She called for more transparency about how $11,000 will be allotted and what equipment the school district will supply for various sports before adding another team.

She recommended the board defer the vote on the matter until more information is made available.

Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickischer, who works closely with Oswald on the budget, remarked the money for the stipends are a shifting of funds from positions that are not being filled such as middle school head and assistant soccer coaches, J.V. boys and girls tennis coaches and a head diving coach.

Gnall called for a roll-call vote on the matter which yielded a 5-4 vote in favor of the establishment of the girls volleyball team. Dissenting votes were cast by Directors Barbara Chomik, Joseph Gaither, McKelvey and Spinner.

In her superintendent’s report, Lynn Fuini-Hetten thanked school counselors, bus drivers and school resource officers for all they do in our schools as each group was recognized during the month of February for their contributions to the school community.

She also announced a $50,000 donation to the Salisbury Education Foundation was received from Andrew Wright of Vinart Dealerships. The donation will be used for the summer STEAM program.

The next regular school board meeting of the Salisbury Township School District directors is scheduled 7 p.m. March 11 following a curriculum and technology committee meeting.

All meetings are held in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.