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

• The 403(b) adjustment payments owed to retirees who had received paper checks rather than direct deposits for benefit payments, resulting in lost earnings penalties.

• An elliptical machine donated to the district by David Krause, to be placed in the weight room.

• The 2026-27 Feminine Hygiene Products Program grant of $3,696.99 from the state budget, to be distributed through nurses’ offices, restrooms and homeless liaison hygiene kits.

• A second vision benefit contract incorporating the terms of the newly negotiated Lehighton Area Educational Support Personnel Association agreement.

• Food service fund transfers from federal and state reimbursements for August 2026, totaling $45,170.28, including $30,738.55 in federal lunch reimbursements and $9,616.60 in federal breakfast reimbursements.

• Payment of bills totaling $5,389,769.27, including $1,430,115.22 in non-negotiable general fund payments; $2,381,889.97 in regular checks; $3,485.88 in debit card charges; $1,461,331.23 in August payroll; and $68,775.83 in food service fund payments. The EDM business administrator services invoice was pulled from the payment pending receipt of an itemized bill.

Personnel

• Kathleen Martin as high school FBLA adviser and Kevin Kotch as middle school FBLA adviser, each at a stipend of $1,800.

• The resignations for retirement of Joseph Yescavage, middle school science teacher with 30.84 years of service; Timothy Sharrow, middle school health and physical education teacher with 36.88 years of service; and Terry Haberman, high school learning support teacher with 30.84 years of service — all effective at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

• Pre-approval of two continuing education courses for one employee, covering an educator’s guide to managing discipline problems and an educator’s guide to ADHD, at up to $602 per credit.

• New hires including Lindsey Newhard as licensed practical nurse at a prorated salary of $34,402; Breanna Belcher and Joshua Kemmerer as part-time cleaners at $13.50 per hour; Amy Quigley and Deborah Rex as elementary center lunch aides at $12.52 per hour; and Cory Hartsell as after-school lobby supervisor at the high school at $37 per hour.

• Tenure for eight teachers: Mackenzie Rosenberger, Andrew Hozza, Kacie Rankovich, Zachary Searfoss, Lori Hoppes, William Schoener, Brie Holst and Jessica Lawrence.

• Lawrence Falk as an additional school bus driver for George’s Transportation Company.

• Seventeen candidates for the 2026-27 substitute list, including nine substitute teachers, one substitute nurse, three substitute paraprofessionals, one substitute cleaner and three substitute lunch aides.

Students

• Approved four early graduation requests.

• A subscription with National Student Clearinghouse for StudentTracker at an annual cost of $525.

• An affiliation agreement with Wilmington University for experiential learning placements for nursing students.

• A PHEAA High School Remote Access agreement giving the district access to student FAFSA completion data, a new state requirement.

• An agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network for athletic training coverage at postseason events hosted by the district.

• Fifteen school enrichment journeys, including middle school Science Olympiad trips to Mountain View Middle School in Mechanicsburg on Feb. 13 and Penn State Wilkes-Barre on March 10; a sixth-grade band trip to Allentown Symphony Hall on Oct. 15; and multiple elementary field trips to Yensers Tree Farm and Mazezilla in September and October.

• Use of school facilities by the Good News Club with Child Evangelism Fellowship on Thursdays from Nov. 19 through March 18 at the middle school, and Tuesdays from Nov. 17 through March 23 at the elementary center.