Board Meeting - February 26, 2001
Minutes
BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT FEBRUARY 26, 2001 BOARD
OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Bethlehem Area School
District was held on February 26, 2001, beginning at 7:03 p.m., in the
Auditorium, at East Hills Middle School, 2005 Chester Road, Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania.
MEMBERS PRESENT
The Board Secretary called the roll: Members present: Directors Amato, Craig,
Gallagher, Glancy, Leeson, Venanzi, Williams, and Koch - 8. Members absent:
Director Heske - 1. Student member representatives Katie Jo Righi and Georgia
Varvarelis were also present.
OTHERS PRESENT
Others present: Thomas J. Doluisio, Superintendent of Schools; Katrina
Osterhoudt Filiatrault, Solicitor; Stanley J. Majewski, Jr., Board Secretary;
administrators; members of the press and other interested citizens and staff
members.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
At this point in the meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
SILENT MEDITATION
President Koch requested that the audience observe a moment of silent meditation.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
Mr. Doluisio reported the following executive session of the board:
¥ An executive session of the Board of School Directors was held this evening.
Various personnel matters were discussed.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
No one wished to address the Board of School Directors.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS UPDATE
Mr. Doluisio informed the board and community that the district recently received
two grants. The district received an "Educate America Grant" in which Bethlehem
Area School District and the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School were
awarded an Educate America Grant for $255,000. Out of the 192 applications
statewide, the Pennsylvania Department of Education funded only 32 grants, mostly
to empowerment districts. This was the only grant funded in Northampton County.
At the vocational-technical school, the grant will be used to pay the unbudgeted
costs of ninth grade aides. At the Bethlehem Area School District, the grant
will be used to fund staff development and technology to help meet academic
standards, particularly at Broughal Middle School, Liberty High School, and
Freedom High School. The second grant received was a grant entitled "Students
Achieving Standards" grant. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with its Link to
Learn initiative, awarded the Bethlehem Area School District a "Students
Achieving Standards" grant for $445,346 to implement Project ASCEND which stands
for "Achieving Standards for Children with Exciting New Dimensions." This was
the third highest SAS grant awarded in the Commonwealth and the only one awarded
in Northampton County. The grant will help students in grades three, four, and
five to meet academic standards in math, reading, and language arts. Project
ASCEND will provide staff development, computers, and curriculum software to all
BASD elementary schools, but will focus on meeting academic needs of students in
Donegan, Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, and on meeting the needs of the highly
mobile students throughout the district. These grants were obtained through the
efforts of Scott Garrigan, Iris Cintr—n, and their staffs. He congratulated Dr.
Garrigan and Mrs. Cintr—n.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Mr. Doluisio, on behalf of the district, welcomed Jack McCallum, whose attendance
was part of a Moravian College communications class.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Committee Ð Director Glancy reported on the Finance Committee meeting of
February 12. A deed of dedication for William Penn Highway right of way was
discussed. Mr. Villani informed the board that the district owns a tract of land
that Bethlehem Township has requested be deeded to them because the road right of
way is located along the southerly side of William Penn Highway. This property
is to be dedicated to Bethlehem Township, then PennDOT, for the purpose of road
widening. The deed transfer will be authorized with the approval of agenda item
18 this evening. A presentation on Northampton Community College was given by
Dr. Arthur Scott, updating its operations and giving an overview of its proposed
budget for 2001-2002. Bethlehem is the largest school district contributing to
the budget and has the most students attending. The district's share for the
2001-2002 NCC budget is $1,679,050, representing an increase of $40,870 or a 2.49
percent increase from last year. This item is also on this evening's agenda.
Curriculum Committee Ð Director Williams reported that the Curriculum Committee
of January 8 was canceled due to snow.
Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Ð Director Williams announced that the IU meeting
will take place on Wednesday, February 28.
Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School Ð Director Craig reported that the
Vo-Tech Board meeting scheduled for February 9 was canceled. The next meeting
will be next week, for the month of March.
Human Resources Committee Ð Director Gallagher reported that the Human Resources
Committee met on February 12. Dr. Bonnie Coyle of St. Luke's gave an overview of
the student survey, grades 8 to 12. The remainder of the meeting was in closed
session.
Northampton Community College Ð President Koch reported that the monthly meeting
of the Northampton Community College Board of Trustees was also canceled. The
next meeting will be Thursday, March 1.
Bethlehem Recreation Commission Ð Director Leeson reported that the Recreation
Commission met on February 8. The basketball season is in full swing with 31
teams participating. The ice rink is very busy. All lessons are full. The ice
rink's party room has been very popular and is now being used as a changing room
for some of the hockey teams. They are trying to develop a schedule with the
local hockey organization to have their games and practices at the rink next
year. This would possibly generate gross income of around $100,000. There was
discussion on cross country skiing in the golf course. That is absolutely very
feasible. Charlie Brown said it would be very easy to create the ski area.
There was another discussion on developing some facilities for extreme sports Ð
rollerblading, skateboarding, and biking. This discussion came about as part of
an initiative from Mr. Doluisio and his initiative came from some of our students
who expressed a need for facilities. Mr. Doluisio took the initiative to get the
interested parties together. From that, the Recreation Department is considering
facilities to meet this need. More student input and some reasonable plans on
what they would like within existing facilities are needed.
Facilities Committee Ð Dominic Villani reported that the Facilities Committee met
on February 5. A construction update on the Marvine and Donegan sites was given.
A number of this evening's agenda items were discussed. The board was informed
of the Freemansburg Elementary School situation in that the students will be
remaining at Freemansburg South while the district performs the rest of the
necessary work identified with the school restoration.
STUDENT REPORTS
Liberty High School Ð Georgia Varvarelis reported that Liberty's student
government was very active during the winter holiday. Two families were
sponsored through the Salvation Army. Animals were purchased through a program
to help feed families in less fortunate countries. Senior citizens visited
Liberty. Students went Christmas caroling. There was a winter pep rally. There
was a concert in the newly renovated auditorium. Voices echoed beautifully
throughout the auditorium.
During the past month, the student government raised money through a matchmaker
program, which is a survey students filled out and were matched with the best
compatible partner. It was a great success. Last weekend, the boys' workshop
took place. Both high schools and the middle schools participated. Liberty's
guys were featured in the Morning Call and Express Times. Liberty's guys did an
excellent job in their performance, along with Mr. Burkhardt joining in with
their songs. They blew the audience out of their seats.
Liberty's sports teams also had a very good season. The girls' basketball team
is going to the districts. The wrestlers are also going to regionals. Liberty's
Science Olympiad team had six first place winners who are now going to Penn State
for states. The swim team went to districts and some of the swimmers are going
to the state championships. The orchestra is leaving on Wednesday to perform in
Puerto Rico.
Students have had a busy month, showing school spirit.
Freedom High School Ð Katie Jo Righi reported that February has proven to be
another exciting month for the students and faculty at Freedom High School.
Valentine's Day stirred up emotions; various organizations were waiting to spread
Valentine's Day cheer. The Latino Leadership Organization delivered freshly-cut
roses to all of their lucky recipients, along with the National Honor Society
which delivered Happy Valentine's Day lollipops to various students and faculty
members. There was also a Valentine's Day dance to commemorate the holiday on
February 15 in Freedom High School's gym.
Freedom had yet another action-packed pep rally to get students excited for the
upcoming sporting events. The pep rally included fabulous performances from the
dance team, freshman, JV, and varsity cheerleaders which got the crowd eager and
anxious for the game to come. The Freedom versus Liberty basketball game, held
at the Liberty High School Memorial Gym, was certainly a night to remember.
Freedom was in the lead a good portion of the game; however, Liberty was not far
behind and took the game away from Freedom at the very last second, with an
ending score of 48 to 49.
The National Honor Society is holding their annual students versus faculty
basketball game on March 1, at Freedom's gym. Starting at 7:30 p.m., popular
faculty members will face off against the hopeful students of the National Honor
Society. The proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
The Student Council is sponsoring the "Have a Heart" campaign for the American
Heart Association. Their goal is to cover the main lobby with hearts by the end
of February. Hearts can be bought for one dollar from any Student Council
member.
The Freedom High School Theater Company is getting ready for their spring
musical, "South Pacific." Cast and crew are working long and hard to perfect
their production for debut on March 30, 31, and April 1.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Directors Craig and Williams to approve the minutes of the
January 22, 2001, Special Board Meeting and the January 29, 2001, Regular Board
Meeting. The motion carried by voice vote.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Doluisio presented the recommendations of the administration.
NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Mr. Doluisio reminded the board of the curriculum presentation to be held Monday,
March 5, and Wednesday, March 7. On Monday from 5 to 5:30 there will be a
Facilities Committee meeting. Academic Standards will be the topic from 5:30 to
9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday.
Director Craig announced that the vo-tech school had their VICA competition in
Allentown last week. The Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School did very well in the
competition. A number of students, from both Liberty and Freedom, placed very
high in competition in many areas. More information will be available at the
next monthly meeting.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
No one wished to address the Board of School Directors.
ADJOURNMENT
Directors Gallagher and Leeson moved to adjourn the meeting which carried by
voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
Attest,
Stanley J. Majewski, Jr. Board Secretary
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