The Lehighton Area School District board of directors met Monday night, taking action on a range of financial, personnel and programmatic matters. Approved items include:

• Conrad Siegel for GASB 75 services for compliance with the annual audit.

• Berkheimer Associates to collect school real estate, per capita and occupation taxes for Weissport should the tax collector position remain vacant for the 2026-27 tax year.

• Barksdale Photography’s contract for the 2026-27 school year.

• An agreement with Ehrlich for districtwide weed control at a total cost of $4,400.

• A 5-year contract with Automated Logic for districtwide building automation to manage energy and HVAC systems for the 2026-27 through 2030-31 school years. The district currently pays 80% of parts costs under a contract; without it, costs would be 100% plus $272 per hour for labor.

• A Gravely Pro Turn 372 Zero Turn Mower for purchase from Hillside Small Engine LLC at $13,548, including a 5-year or 1,250-hour warranty.

• The board acknowledged that its solicitor, Fox Rothschild LLP’s Education Department, will become the Education Group of McNees, Wallace & Nurick LLC effective April 1, with no changes to terms, rates or personnel.

Funding

• An anonymous donation of $6,800 toward protective fencing for the high school orchard, a $500 donation from the Lehighton Orioles for the Class of 2026 All-Night Party, and multiple ice packs from Giant for after-school food programs.

• Food service fund transfers from the state and federal government for February 2026, totaling $147,150.33, including $104,633.37 in federal lunch reimbursements and $28,305.88 in federal breakfast reimbursements.

• Science Olympiad funding for the middle school and high school teams to compete at the state tournament April 25 at Penn State Altoona.

Contracts

• Renewal of the CSIU Financial Information System for 2026-27, covering fund accounting, human resources, payroll and SCview. The prior year’s cost was $42,497.22.

• Contracts with Maxim Healthcare and Focal Point Medical Staffing for 1:1 nursing services, if needed.

• Revised extra duty services contracts for activity advisers and athletic coaches.

• Pre-approvals for six employees for continuing education courses, with reimbursements ranging from $865.50 to $1,731 per course.

Personnel

• Meghan Sander as a middle school lunch aide at $12.52 per hour; Ashley Dillon and Marijane Petit-Clair to split a homebound education position; Mary Boaz as a mentor at $37 per hour; Terry Haberman and Rachel Quinn as 1:1 athletic aides at $37 per hour; and Karla Costenbader-Kovach as a 1:1 athletic aide at her current hourly rate.

• Savana Serfass as a substitute teacher.

• The resignation of Marissa Andrews as middle school special education department head, effective March 9.

Policies and programs

Three policies were advanced for first reading and public comment: Policy 101 (Mission Statement/Vision Statement), Policy 122 (Extracurricular Activities) and Policy 240.1 (Contests/Academic/Performance Competitions).

Five policies received second reading and final approval: Policy 010 (Governance Policy on Board Member Communications), Policy 102 (Academic Standards), Policy 105 (Curriculum), Policy 113.2 (Discipline of Students with Disabilities) and Policy 131 (Behavior Support).

Three summer camps: Math Warriors Camp (June 22-July 10), Soaring Readers Camp (July 20-Aug. 7) and BRAVE Camp (July 6-31), all held on weekday mornings.

An intergovernmental agreement with Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 for special education services for 2026-27.

Numerous school enrichment journeys including middle school Science Olympiad travel to Penn State Altoona April 24-26, the FBLA state competition in Hershey April 12-15, the senior class outing to Camelback Resort on May 15 and a pre-K field trip to the Lehigh Valley Zoo on May 27, among others.