Regular Board Meeting - August 18, 2003
Minutes
BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2003
REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Bethlehem Area School
District was held on Monday, August 18, 2003, beginning at 7:02 p.m. in the
Auditorium of East Hills Middle School, 2005 Chester Road, Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania.
MEMBERS PRESENT
The Board Secretary called the roll:
Members present: Directors Amato, Haytmanek, Heske, Koch, Leeson, Venanzi, and
Williams - 7. Members absent: Directors Craig and Gallagher - 2.
OTHERS PRESENT
Others present: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, Superintendent of Schools; Rob Sonnenberg,
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 Williams requested that the audience observe a moment of silent
meditation.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
President Williams reported that an executive session of the Board of School
Directors was held this evening. Student discipline and litigation were
discussed.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
President Williams offered courtesy of the floor to visitors. Speakers are asked
to come to the podium, stating their name and address. Personal attacks are not
permitted. It is not the custom for the board to enter into a dialogue about
concerns. However, the board does listen with care to issues raised. Speakers
will be responded to, in some form, by the administration. The following person
addressed the Board of School Directors:
1. John Schafffer, 36 East Ettwein Street, Bethlehem, stated that he e-mailed
Dr. Lewis. He explained that he has a son who attends Liberty High School
and is a freshman football player. Mr. Schaffer wanted to verify where the
football games are being played and why the games are not at the stadium
anymore. They were told they would be playing on the practice field that was
resodded. Evidently, the head coach at Freedom doesn't agree with that. They
are being pushed out to the front of Freedom which is not a proper football
field for young men to be playing on.
Dr. Lewis stated that he shared Mr. Schaffer's e-mail with the board. The
BASD field at Liberty had suffered extensive damage from usage last year from
30 plus games being played on it. The board has opted to permit varsity games
to be played on that field in order to give it adequate time to regenerate
and to permit the Liberty/Freedom soccer games. It came to roughly 17 or 18
games, depending on the home and away schedules. Dr. Lewis stated that the
teams' games were to be played at Freedom.
Mr. Wittenberger stated it was his understanding that the games will be
played on Freedom's field which was refurbished recently. Some games will
also be played in the front of Freedom High School, the old freshman field.
The majority of the games will be on the Freedom field.
Dr. Lewis told Mr. Schaffer that the location will be verified. The intent
was to try to regenerate both fields and to limit play because it takes time
for the sod to knit.
Mr. Schaffer stated that he is an assistant coach at Northeast. He thinks it
is a mistake that the night games for the four middle schools were
discontinued. The students looked forward to playing at the stadium. Some of
these boys will never make it to the high school level. The band members
also look forward to playing in the stadium.
Dr. Lewis stated appreciation of the comments. The board would like those
fields to regenerate. Somebody will not have an opportunity. He feels badly
about that. Lastly, a project is being pursued to install a different kind
of surface that would allow unlimited use.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Dr. Lewis stated that the opening of school for students will be September 2.
Several events will occur during the prior week for returning teachers.
In-service is scheduled for August 25, 26, and 27. He invited the board to the
opening convocation on Thursday, August 28, for professional staff at 8 a.m.,
support staff at 10:30 a.m. There will be a keynote speaker. Friday will be
teacher preparation day.
Dr. Lewis provided an update on a topic in the press - adequate yearly progress.
There have been several meetings at the cabinet level, three times with
principals. Mr. Villani and Dr. Nelson are heading those sessions to identify
what was convoluted data the district received from the state on August 5. After
interpreting that data and trying to ascertain the combination of variables that
might place a school on the list of not meeting adequate yearly progress, it was
determined to file six appeals of the 10 schools that have been identified out of
the 22 schools within the district. Mr. Villani received information today that
the state has now changed their rounding method which suggests that at least two
of those schools, possibly three, will be impacted in a positive way because
numbers regarding attendance and participation will be rounded up. The schools
were listed there in the first place because of a fraction of a point due to two
students having a bad year of attendance. The six appeals have been sent. Dr.
Lewis stated that, nonetheless, the district takes these obligations seriously.
Every single variable is being examined. Principals have been cautioned that
simply because we are fortunate to have 12 schools clearly meeting targets, that
those targets will change, students will change, teaching staffs will change, and
we must be vigilant to maintain quality programming in all of our schools.
Dr. Lewis stated that he hopes to begin a process of sharing a monthly update on
the progress at the Northeast Middle School. Progress has been made in spite of
very wet weather. Dr. Lewis showed slides of the Northeast project which included:
- Removal of an exterior fuel tank which had to be removed under code.
- Excavation of an underground detention basin, on top of which will be a parking
lot. The design, which is a credit to Mr. Fazil and the D'Huy firm, has recouped
the land that is normally seen in the form of a physical basin with a fence
around it that is lost to use, simply because we need to detain storm water so
that run-off is controlled in 50 and 100-year storms, depending on the
municipality.
- Installation of data, electric, communications ductwork.
- Installation of the new fuel oil tank.
- Beginning of work on the pad and the compaction required for pouring the pad and
the support footers.
- Backfill of the underground basin.
- Placement of the subbase for the parking lot.
INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT
Mr. Gregory MacGill, Liberty High School band director, passed out a sheet of
comments students sent as thanks to the hosts of the orchestra during their stay
in Puerto Rico.
Mr. MacGill introduced Iris Cintron, an integral part of the exchange program.
Mrs. Cintron stated that in working and assisting Mr. MacGill and Mr. Long in
organizing the orchestra trip to Puerto Rico in 2001 and 2003, they worked
cooperatively with the Puerto Rico Department of Education which arranged for
visits on both occasions. The first time the orchestra visited Puerto Rico, the
Department of Education housed the students in one of their boarding performing
arts schools, paid for ground transportation, some meals, and got discounts at
specific touring sites the group wanted to see, as well as arranging for
performances in three of their specialized music high schools. On the recent
visit, their Department of Education again made arrangements for the orchestra to
visit and perform in their schools and hosted our students one evening as they
heard the Puerto Rico Symphonic Orchestra. This was a very positive cultural
experience of great benefit to all students - from here and the students in
Puerto Rico. The Liberty High School students learned a lot about Puerto Rico
and its culture. Mrs. Cintron stated she was very happy to be able to assist
Liberty High School's orchestra and musical organization.
Mr. MacGill stated that Mrs. Cintron provided invaluable help, along with Ellie
Vasquez who was the translator to help in Puerto Rico. Mr. MacGill stated that
since 1979 there have been nine exchanges with Barrie, Ontario, in Canada. The
last two exchanges have been with Puerto Rico. The orchestra visited the
specialized schools of music. Great friendships have been made along with
unparalleled experiences. Mr. MacGill thanked the board for extending the
opportunity.
Mr. MacGill introduced Kevin Long, assistant director. Mr. Long stated that the
video shows the orchestra and the small bagpipe group, called The First Company.
Within the double block system during an orchestra rehearsal, a split is made
into a string orchestra and a wind ensemble made of the wind players and
percussionists from the orchestra. With that small band, a lot of the government
type jobs are done: reunions, school board functions, Stabler Arena, and now the
trip to Puerto Rico.
A video presentation was viewed by the audience showing highlights of the
orchestra's trip to Puerto Rico. Tim Murray, a student at Liberty, created this
video. Director Haytmanek questioned a scene in the video showing a young man
whose hand Mr. MacGill shook. Mr. MacGill explained that the young man is a
guiro player from San Juan. The guiro is used a lot in salsa bands.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BETHLEHEM AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL Director Koch reported that the
vo-tech board met on August 5. Most of the meeting had to do with the
restructuring and voting on a new job description.
The vo-tech board met again on August 12 for some fine tuning of the job
description. The remainder of the time was in executive session discussing
employment issues.
PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION Director Koch said, although she has not
yet taken official office with the PSBA, she was invited to attend a special
summer retreat in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, for strategic planning. She was
very impressed. The people got right down to business from check-in time to
after ten o'clock at night, then started early in the morning. They work hard.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE President Williams reported that the
Board of Trustees of the Northampton County Area Community College met on August
7. In committee, reports were received on various programs, curriculum, and the
recommendation for continuing. This was the first meeting in Dr. Scott's
presidency.
HUMAN RESOURCES President Williams stated that the human resources committee met
on Monday, August 11. In open forum there was a question as to the reporting and
liability with regard to pregnant teenagers. A report will be forthcoming on
that issue. The remainder of the meeting was in executive session at which time
the superintendent evaluation was conducted.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Directors Venanzi and Heske to approve the minutes of the
May 12, 2003, Public Budget Hearing; July 7, 2003, Special Board Meeting; and
July 28, 2003, Regular Board Meeting. The motion carried by voice vote.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Lewis presented the recommendations of the administration.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
No one wished to address the Board of School Directors.
ADJOURNMENT
Directors Heske and Venanzi moved to adjourn the meeting which carried by voice
vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Attest,
Stanley J. Majewski, Jr.
Board Secretary
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