WHITEHALL, Pa. – The Whitehall-Coplay School District Board of Directors received feedback on a recently enacted school busing policy for some charter school students Monday night at the administration building.
During public comment, some speakers discussed a new transportation policy for charter school students. Specifically, the board has enacted moving charter school children ages 12 and older to LANTA public transportation. That policy was not on the agenda at Monday night’s meeting, despite this lots of charter school staff and parents turned out to the meeting to express their concerns and ask the board to reconsider.
“We’ve been working with LANTA to partner and look at stops within Whitehall Township and looking at the process of getting students to their respective buildings,” Superintendent Christopher Schiffert said at a June 8th committee meeting.
The plan calls for each charter school student to receive a bus pass. Some students will be required to obtain a transfer to a different bus. The bus passes also allow Whitehall-Coplay to review bus ridership. The plan is set to start for the 2026-2027 school year.
Parents with kids at charter schools who rely on Whitehall Coplay School District bussing are speaking out.
“We deserve to understand how this decision was made, what safety factors were considered, and whether there are better alternatives that protect both students and taxpayers’ dollars,” says a parent.
“While the decision to supply LANTA passes to charter school students works to assist the school fiscally, the decision fails to protect the safety of the students,” one woman, whose child would be impacted by the move, said.
“It’s not safe for them to go on a public bus, they’re gonna be riding it with everybody else,” says one parent.
“A middle school student should not be expected to leave early, make transfers, wait at public stops, cross busy roads and return home much later than a normal school bus route,” another women said.
“While some ideas look great on paper, their execution reveals the true complexity of bringing them to life and often falls disastrously short,” said resident Guy Pascarella.
“Using the LANTA trip planner, I’ve determined that there is no bus route in the mornings that will get my daughter to her school on time. There are only two potential routes that get her close to school, and both rely on her walking two miles across hazardous roads such as MacArthur Road or Lehigh Street,” says another parent.
The policy is a cost-cutting move for the district.
Local charter school leaders and parents are hoping their voices can be heard and that the policy can be reworked or even reversed.
“We just wanna make everybody aware of exactly what they have decided to approve and just make sure that they understand the hardship for some of our families,” says Susan Mauser, CEO of Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School.
The Superintendent did not comment on the policy at Monday night’s meeting.
Administrator Pay Raises
The board approved pay increases for two administrators.
Schiffert and Assistant Superintendent Renee Sallit each received 3% contractual salary increases for the 2026-2027 school year under the bill.
Policy Changes
The board approved on first reading changes involving teachers’ daily lesson plans.
The amendments include requiring teachers to have lesson plans, “…readily available according to district expectations.”
Another change would require teachers, “…to be thoroughly prepared for each daily lesson. If a teacher utilizes long-term planning, such as a unit of work, the overarching plan must be broken down to clearly outline the specific instruction for each daily lesson.”
Lunch Prices
Directors approved revised ala carte prices for the 2026-2027 school year. Under the plan, the cost of elementary and secondary school entree without sides will be $3.25. A complete adult meal will be $5.25, which includes an entree, two sides, and either milk or an eight-ounce water.
The changes impact drinks, fruits and vegetables, baked good, snacks, yogurt, fruit cup and breakfast.