The Panther Valley School Board on Wednesday moved quickly through a lengthy agenda.

The board approved the proposed 2026-27 operating budget for the Carbon Career & Technical Institute, in which Panther Valley will see a $41,856 decrease in the contribution.

It also approved operating and program services budget for the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, which also had decrease of $148 for the district.

The board also approved the Lehigh Carbon Community College operating and capital budget for 2026-27, which had an increase of $14,257 for the district.

Board member Mike Alabovitz, who sits on the CCTI joint operating committee, said that its budget is going in the right direction, and a lot of changes Panther Valley recommended last year are taking place.

“We’re hoping to have a proper relationship going forward,” he said.

Other actions

The board in other business approved:

• Resignations from Christine Kostecky, elementary school nurse, effective Jan. 16; and Savannah Butala, paraprofessional, effective Jan. 21.

• Hiring Victoria Smith as an elementary school nurse effective Feb. 2, at a salary of $47,686, per the union contract.

• Conferences for Gregory Kosciolek, Melissa Schoenberger, Lanae McKelvey, Lisa Mace and Nicholas Jaeschke totaling $1,224.09.

• Courses for Alysha Neff, Julie Gower, Mary Barndt, Amber McFadden, Christine Presley, Richard Evanko, Jillian Frank, Matthew Neifert, Victoria Yazwinsky and Paula Jones.

• General fund bills of $3,788,197.21, and cafeteria fund bills of $21,582.79.

• A list of spring sport workers for 2025-26 who receive $30 per event. All clearances are on file.

• Writs of execution on a property in Summit Hill, $6,553.55, and two in Nesquehoning, $3,199.26 and $18,775.06.

• Closed all existing accounts with FNB Bank, effective Jan. 31, and transferred all balances to the district’s primary Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust bank account. Business Manager Greg Gauronsky said the move will allow the district to earn more interest and also make auditing practices easier.

• Theresa Williams and Chrisanne Powell as mentors for new teachers Jonathan Byers and Jillian Frank.

• Evelyn Hydock as a homebound instructor for 2025-26 and approved homebound instruction for a ninth-grade student from Jan. 8 to Feb. 19.

• Tenure for N. Jaeschke, beginning Jan. 19. He has completed three years of service with six satisfactory ratings.

• Revising the start dates for Jonathan Byers, eighth grade science teacher, and Joseph Zukowski, student success specialist, to Jan. 5, and S. Butala to Dec. 15.

• A contract with Bayada Home Health Care for student nursing services. The service is for a diabetic student.

• Emma McGeehan as a “highly qualified” paraprofessional at a rate of $14.97 an hour, retroactive to Jan. 5.

• A general services agreement with Matrix Behavior Solutions LLC.

• Moving Kayla Kiraly and Joseph Damiano, intermediate school teachers, to master’s degree column of the union pay scale effective Jan. 22.

The board will hold committee meetings on Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m. The next board meeting is Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

Board President Daniel Matika also suggested the board consider having a student ambassador, and Alabovitz acknowledged and thanked Bitfarms Ltd. for its contributions to the school.

The Canada-based company provided sweatshirts for every student in the district, as well as additional gifts for students, and funds for teacher supplies during the holiday, he said. The company also supported the school’s food pantry.