Lehighton Area School District

The Board Meeting included a presentation by SitelogIQ detailing a comprehensive facility assessment, which indicated that Lehighton's facilities are in very good condition with notable low deferred-maintenance costs compared to peer districts. Priority recommendations included paving projects, replacement of aging HVAC rooftop equipment, and addressing needs at the Administrative Building. SitelogIQ also detailed grant opportunities, such as the Public School Facilities Infrastructure Grant (PSFIG). The Nutrition Group provided an update on the 2025-2026 initiatives, noting strong participation and profit for the previous year. The Board approved the agenda and subsequently held a public comment period, during which the Lehighton Area Memorial Library requested a $10,000 donation (which was approved in part), discussions occurred regarding educational opportunities for military children, non-curricular student clubs, and facility use fees for the Good News Club. Financial matters included the approval of the renewal of a line of credit, purchase of camera support equipment, acceptance of donations, amendment to the Business Managerial Services consulting agreement, approval of budget transfers, food service fund transfers, health insurance account funding updates, and renewal of the dental contract (which faced two 'No' votes). Personnel actions included accepting the retirement of an Elementary Center Counselor and approving a Resolution to Elect a District Superintendent, following the removal of an early severance package. The Board also approved several candidates for athletic coaching/managerial positions and extracurricular advisorships. In reports, the Student Board Representatives provided updates on athletics and activities. Policy items involved the first reading of several policies and final approval of others. An MOU for evaluation services with Palmerton Area School District was approved, alongside several School Enrichment Journey requests and Uses of School Property. Under Old Business, a discussion on Policy 317 regarding disciplinary procedures was tabled. Under Communications, a Director raised concerns regarding expenditures and stipends related to the NEF STEM curriculum program, moving to forward a complaint to the District Attorney's Office, which failed to pass on a vote.

The Workshop Meeting covered several operational and policy matters. Key discussions included public comments regarding proposed policy changes on school director visits, specifically addressing the scope of access and student interaction. The Academic Affairs Committee discussed the retroactive approval request for the 'Trees for Troops' enrichment journey. The Policy Committee debated the management of 'opt-in' procedures, the need for curriculum transparency, and various cell phone usage restrictions for students, proposing alternatives like 'go dark bags' or utilizing existing middle school practices. Policy 620 revision was confirmed for a second reading in the next meeting, and four other policies underwent their first reading, with specific concerns raised about alcohol inclusion in substance abuse definitions. The Finance Committee reviewed the CCTI 2026-2027 budget (noting no cost increase), planning for future insurance brokerage reviews, issuing an RFQ for GESA, and setting a date to interview legal counsel for investigative services. The Buildings & Grounds Committee discussed the annual Red Cross Facility Use Agreement, ensuring clarity on cost recovery for utilities during emergencies. The Personnel Committee reviewed data on teacher absences and substitute availability, noting higher leave usage on Mondays and Fridays, and approved professional development funding for a PIMS data summit. Finally, updates were provided on the Library Agreement finalization and the ongoing traffic signal project status with PennDOT.

The Special Board Meeting was convened primarily to address the resignation of Board Member Sean Gleaves and the subsequent appointment of a replacement. The agenda was approved despite a suggestion to remove an item regarding the appointment. Following the acceptance of the resignation and declaration of the vacancy, the Board discussed the candidates who submitted letters of interest, with significant public comment focused on the potential appointment of David Bradley. Motions were made and subsequently tabled to appoint David Bradley and Tom Zimmerman. Ultimately, a motion to appoint David Bradley passed by a vote of 5-3. Following the vote, three dissenting Board members departed. Board comments addressed the controversy surrounding the appointment, the hypocrisy of recent appointment procedures, and the belief that David Bradley's presence would hinder future collaboration. The Superintendent emphasized the need to set aside polarization to focus on student well-being and fiscal responsibility.

The Reorganization Meeting involved several key organizational actions. The Board Secretary called the meeting to order, followed by the reading of the Notice of the Organization Meeting, which included verification that members received five days' notice by mail sent on November 25, 2025. The process for electing a Temporary President was executed, resulting in J. Glaush being elected by acclamation. Following this, the election certificates were discussed, and the oath of office was administered to the five newly elected Board Members. The main agenda item was the election of the Board President, which resulted in A. Matika being elected based on a roll-call vote. Subsequently, H. Neff was elected as Vice-President, and L. Frey was elected as Treasurer. The Board also addressed procedural matters by authorizing the use of the current signature stamp until a new one is received, as concerns about accountability were raised. Appointments were made for the Carbon Career and Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee Representative Alternate (W. Howland) and the CCAVTS Authority Representative to the Operating Committee (H. Neff). Finally, D. Hartley was appointed as the Lehighton Area Memorial Library Representative, and the Workshop and Board Meeting dates for the 2026 Calendar year were approved.

The workshop meeting addressed several key agenda items across various committees. The Public Comment segment focused heavily on the District's cell phone policy, with extensive discussion about tightening restrictions during instructional time, referencing national trends and existing policy updates. The Academic Affairs Committee recommended an agreement with Lackawanna College for dual enrollment courses at a cost of $100 per credit, and presented a proposal for optional afterschool professional development focusing on improving ELA instruction, citing significant middle school proficiency gaps. The Committee also confirmed plans for the Winter Credit Recovery program and presented positive Beginning of the Year benchmark results for Kindergarten literacy skills (88% at or above benchmark). The Policy Committee held first readings for policies including Curriculum Review and Affirmative Duty to be Informed, and discussed the second reading of several other policies, pulling Policy 620 regarding Fund Balance for further work due to financial concerns. The Finance Committee heard recommendations to award the trash collection contract to Waste Management, discussed engaging Gross McKinley as special counsel for an investigation, and reviewed contingency agreements with Soliant and Bayada for substitute nursing staff. The Athletics Committee accepted coach resignations and discussed candidates, with a significant focus placed on developing clear, written criteria for awarding varsity letters across all sports. The Personnel Committee addressed an MOU for substitute nurse rates, new employment candidates, and several upcoming staff professional development opportunities. Finally, the Technology Committee reviewed a renewal quote for endpoint detection services under the BEAR Program, and the Board held a lengthy discussion regarding moving from an opt-out to an opt-in survey policy, ultimately deciding to gather more data.