Hazleton Area SD board approves routine agenda items, removes two items; thanks donor, congratulates students
Summary
The Hazleton Area School District board approved multiple consent and operational items, removed two agenda items, accepted a resignation, and recognized a donation of a bus and several student achievements; all listed agenda motions passed by voice vote.
The Hazleton Area School District Board of Directors approved a series of routine personnel, curriculum, finance and operations items by voice vote and recognized a private donation of a school bus and several student achievements.
Board members announced two agenda removals: item 42 and item 89 were pulled before votes. The board also accepted the resignation of a football coach (identified in the meeting as Mr. Bookman) and said it will advertise to fill the position.
Board members publicly thanked Tom Wanek for buying a bus for the district; the board said the district’s only obligations for the donated vehicle are to provide a driver and fuel. The board also highlighted student awards: winners from the Arts and Humanities Academy placed in the regional advertising design and photography contest, the Hazleton Area FBLA had 67 regional winners and qualifiers for the state leadership conference, and a high-school writing contest produced a school-wide entry that will yield a free copy of the published anthology. The HAHS swim team collected two full truckloads of winter clothing and supplies for the Heartwood Center, the board said.
Routine approvals were carried by voice vote with "aye" and "ayes have it" recorded for each item. The board approved minutes from the Dec. 19 meeting and the December 2024 treasurer's report. The district superintendent and administration presented and the board approved personnel and program items across curriculum, special education, security, nutrition, technology, student activities, athletics, extracurriculars, finance and superintendent items.
Votes at a glance - Minutes (Dec. 19): Approved by voice vote (motion by Mr. Binomo; second by Mrs. McBride). Outcome: approved. - Treasurer’s report (Dec. 2024): Approved by voice vote. Outcome: approved. - Curriculum / Career Center (items 1–14): Approved (motion by Mr. Chapman; second by Mrs. McBride). Outcome: approved. - Special education / English language (items 15–19): Approved. Outcome: approved. - Security (items 20–22): Approved (motion by Mrs. DeCosmo; second by Mr. Zeller). Outcome: approved. - Nutrition (items 23–26): Approved (motion by Mr. Chapman; second by Mr. Bonamo). Outcome: approved. - Technology (items 27–28): Approved (motion by Mrs. DeCosmo; second by Mrs. McBride). Outcome: approved. - Student activities / athletics / extracurriculars (items 29–31): Approved. Outcome: approved; board noted resignation of a football coach and plans to advertise. - Finance (items 32–41): Approved. Outcome: approved. - Payment of bills: Approved (motion by Mr. Buenomo; second by Mr. Chapman); item 42f had been removed. Outcome: approved. - Superintendent items (items 43–52): Approved. Outcome: approved. - Items 53–70: Approved. Outcome: approved. - Items 71–84: Approved with clerical revisions noted by the board (e.g., corrections to names and leave codes). Outcome: approved. - Items 85–92: Approved excluding item 89, which was removed. Outcome: approved.
The board recorded that a small number of agenda items were revised on the floor (for example, employee names and leave designations were corrected) and that item 89 was removed entirely. All recorded approvals were carried by voice vote with "aye" and no recorded roll-call objections.
The board adjourned after public comment and remarks from board members about athletic facilities, building maintenance during cold weather, and academic performance concerns in several inner-city elementary schools.
