JERSEY SHORE — A proposed new half-credit one semester course in the high school’s Business Education Department was introduced by David Bittner, director of career and technical education (CTE) in the district. Bittner presented information about the course to members of the school board at their meeting this week.

The course, “Business Communications,” will be a required course for all students in the business CTE programs, including those in the entrepreneurship, accounting technology and marketing programs.

According to the course description, it would focus on “improving student career readiness skills for written and verbal communication as they relate to the field of business. Students will create professional documents including emails and memos as well as presentations such as briefings and speeches. Connections with the local business community and Chamber of Commerce will be established to support student learning in this area.”

The primary resource for the course, Bittner said, would be Business University, an online platform that the business educators are proposing will serve as a primary resource for all of the business courses.

“So, while there’s no direct cost associated with offering this course, this new course will use the same business education platform that we’re proposing to purchase to support all of the business education classes at the high school,” Bittner said.

The course will be advertised as part of the scope and sequence of courses so that any student coming into the entrepreneurship program would see that in grade 11 they’re going to take business communications that year, Bittner added.

During the business portion of the meeting, under personnel, the board approved: the drama director, musical director and homeless liaison job descriptions; the appointment of Jan Wasson as assistant boys’ tennis coach with a $2,380 stipend; and James Joy as a volunteer baseball coach for the 2024-25 school year.

The following spring sports coaching staff and stipends were approved: Joe Dunn, head varsity baseball coach, $5,125; Mitch Cornelius, head middle school boys’ soccer coach, $2,875; Darrin Bischof, head middle school girls’ soccer coach, $2,875; Chris Lorson, head softball coach, $5,125; Frank Stetts, assistant softball coach, $3,975; Seth Hensler, head boys’ tennis coach, $4,407; Bob Fox, head boys’ varsity track coach, $5,330; John Bresnock and Ronald Sander, assistant boys’ varsity track coaches, $3,198 each; Monica Richards, head girls varsity track coach, $4,797; Chris Eck, assistant varsity girls’ track coach, $3,198; Kim Corson, 1/2 assistant girls’ varsity track coach, $1,519; and Collin Glorioso, head junior high track coach, $2,932.

An update to the co-curricular wages list for the 2024-25 high school musical production was approved. They are: Tim Greene, lighting, $638; Scott Alexander, sound designer, $638; Tanner Shade and Jeff Klugh, stage managers, $638 each; Charlotte Bierly and Nicola Paulhamus, public relations, $334 each.

An out-of-state field trip to Costa Rica, scheduled for June 18 -25 was approved. Four chaperones and 24 students are scheduled to go on the trip.

A letter of agreement between the district and the Meadows Psychiatric Center for student educational services for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years was approved. Termination of the agreement is contingent upon a 30-day written notice by either party.

The following items were approved for sale on Municibid.com: composters at the Administration Building; Miller spot welder at the Maintenance Shop; and library bookshelves from the High School library.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Administration Building, 175 A&P Drive.