Regular Board Meeting - March 15, 2004
Minutes
BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 15, 2004
REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Bethlehem Area School
District was held on Monday, March 15, 2004, beginning at 7:07 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, Rowe, Venanzi,
and Craig - 8. Members absent: Director Williams - 1. Student member
representative Caleb Schwarzbach was also present.
OTHERS PRESENT
Others present: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, Superintendent of Schools; Jeffrey T.
Tucker, 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 Craig requested that the audience observe a moment of silent
meditation.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
President Craig reported that an executive session of the Board of School
Directors was held this evening. Litigation, personnel, and student discipline
were items of discussion.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
President Craig offered courtesy of the floor to visitors. Speakers are asked to
come to the podium, stating their name and address. Public comment in the first
session is limited to 30 minutes. Speakers are limited to three minutes each.
The board requests that, when possible, all individuals supporting a like
position on a topic select a speaker to present their views to avoid repetition.
If that is not possible, all are welcome to speak. As per school board policy,
generally, speakers are limited to taxpayers or residents of this school
district. At the conclusion of the regular school board meeting, another block
of time will be allocated for public comment. At that time, the same rules will
apply. It is asked that speakers observe proper decorum, without personal
attacks towards a specific individual or individuals. It is not the custom for
the board to enter into a dialogue at these meetings about concerns. However,
the board does listen with care to issues raised. Speakers will receive
responses, in some form, by the administration. The following persons addressed
the Board of School Directors:
1. Peter Hrycenko from Allentown asked to speak. President Craig referred to
the ruling requiring speakers to be taxpayers or residents of Bethlehem Area
School District and apologized for not being able to make an exception. Mr.
Hrycenko explained he was not aware of that policy and that he had signed up
in an appropriate manner.
2. Laura Kuehner, 4294 Kathi Drive, Hanover Township, Gale Tenaglia and
Georgia Lesh introduced themselves. Ms. Kuehner thanked the board and Dr.
Lewis for holding this forum to pay heed to concerns of parents and teachers
regarding an issue everyone cares deeply about - the education of our
children. On February 5, Dr. Lewis visited Hanover School to meet with
parents and teachers. He discussed an issue of growing concern -
overcrowding. She thanked him for the visit and hopes that he came away with
their pride as teachers and parents of the quality of education at Hanover
and their mission to continue this tradition of academic excellence. At the
meeting, Dr. Lewis summarized the district's position on the issue of
overcrowding at Hanover as follows:
No additional space will be added for specialists. Hence, there is no plan
to address the issue of lost academic time experienced in specialists'
classes and the constraints this places on classroom and support teachers.
Asa Packer Elementary School will be used to house kindergarten as needed.
Kindergarten children will be moved to a store front location or a teacher's
aide will be added to an upper grade decreasing the number of classes from
three to two. Adding classrooms at Hanover is not currently planned. If the
projected growth is proven and sustained, three options would be considered:
(1) adding one or two portable units for grades one through five, (2)
building onto the school, or (3) redistricting.
Ms. Kuehner and her group wanted to respectfully make clear to the members of
the board that the group finds this approach unacceptable. As evidenced by
signed petitions from parents and teachers being presented, the group
requests that each child enrolled at Hanover Elementary attend Hanover and
nowhere else beginning in September 2004 and thereafter. Hanover should be
expanded to provide sufficient classroom space as well as dedicated space for
specialist classes beginning in 2004 and thereafter. A detailed short-term
and long-term plan should be developed and implemented by the board as soon
as possible in close consultation with parents and teachers to resolve all
overcrowding issues at Hanover.
Ms. Kuehner stated that Hanover found itself in the precarious position of
needing 14 classrooms in mid August, a couple of weeks prior to the start of
the school year. With only 13 classrooms available, the decision to house a
third kindergarten class at Asa Packer caused serious immediate problems. A
new teacher had to be hired, classrooms restocked, specialists' schedules
rearranged over two buildings, parents notified of the change and their
concerns addressed all within two weeks. For the children who would now
attend Asa Packer, the kindergarten registration and orientation day attended
at Hanover was for naught. They would now be bussed to a new location and be
taught by a teacher they had never previously met and be forced to acclimate
to a new environment. Ironically, May's kindergarten registration indicated
being only two students shy of requiring this extra class. Yet, all planning
was left until the last moment. The parents will no longer support the
"Band-Aid" solution of teaching students off-site because students off-site
are at a significant, avoidable disadvantage despite the best efforts of all
teachers. Students are bussed back and forth to participate in some school
functions while missing others. They miss out on interaction with the rest
of the school such as partnering with third grade reading buddies.
Transitioning and socialization will start all over again next year when they
return to Hanover. Teachers and administrators are adversely affected as
real efforts to communicate and feel part of Hanover must be made. Team
teaching becomes a challenge across two locations. Specialists run back and
forth carrying Hanover supplies with them. First grade teachers cannot
observe and evaluate these students to plan for the coming year. The Asa
Packer teacher cannot attend a full staff meeting and get to her class on
time. Parents also face difficulties feeling like they are part of the
Hanover community. As some of the teachers of Hanover elementary have said,
all the shuffling doesn't make sense. Dealing with the issue of overcrowding
in this reactive mode may treat some of the symptoms of overcrowding such as
being one classroom short, although not without serious negative effects as
outlined. However, it will not address other serious symptoms of
overcrowding which, based on the district's own student population
projections will only worsen in the coming years. Unless Hanover is expanded
and a plan to address this issue in the short term and the long term is
developed, the ability of teachers to teach and students to learn will
suffer. That is something the parents will not tolerate.
Ms. Kuehner provided some examples. Currently, Hanover is without dedicated
rooms for specialist classes. When academic integration (AI) meets in a
classroom, students spend 44% of instructional time for set up and clean up
of computers. The AI teacher is frustrated. Students at Hanover are
learning significantly less than students in schools with a dedicated, loaded
computer lab. For example, hands-on time is low; there is not time to
practice typing; there is no time to teach a topic in-depth.
3. Georgia Lesh, 1105 Brentwood Avenue, Hanover Township, stated that in art
and music, 20% to 30% of class time is lost due to set up and clean up
resulting in art teachers being more focused on time than they should be.
Due to the lack of a dedicated room, art projects have become significantly
limited because there are no sinks, no place to store projects in progress,
and no large tables to work on. In addition to decreased teaching and
learning time, lack of space precludes teachers from preparing for classes in
a quiet area, discussing sensitive matters with parents in a private setting,
conducting interventions in a private setting with a student which are
currently conducted in the hallways to the unacceptable embarrassment of the
student. Regarding implementing extended units in special projects, planning
as a team efficiently, and storing records and materials in a secure place -
seven of the support and specialist teachers do not have a desk at Hanover.
Teachers are unable to teach their students the best way they know how,
simply due to the lack of space. This not only directly and adversely
impacts on the quality of education every child at Hanover Elementary School
receives, it also is leading to frustration on the part of teachers who
professionally cannot do all that they know they could to better educate
every child. Hanover parents can testify to this shortage of space from
their own work at the school. Parents are actively involved in the school
and log many hours tutoring students, publishing books, helping with special
projects, and numerous other activities at the request of teachers. As such,
parents not only see on a daily basis the unacceptable overcrowding at the
school and adverse impact on teachers and students, but experience the impact
themselves as their ability to help is hindered. All these pieces add up,
making the education Hanover offers today less than what it was in years
prior. The parents submitted a document detailing the overcrowding problem
in the school. The parents also formally invited the board and
administration to visit Hanover Elementary School to see conditions. Ms.
Lesh stated that they know each person that was elected to serve on the board
is dedicated to the education of the children and professional development of
all teachers. This is why the parents are very hopeful they will move
forward quickly to cure the cause of overcrowding at Hanover Elementary
School. The parent group looks forward to working with the board on
implementing a detailed short-term and long-term plan to remedy this
situation.
Dr. Lewis thanked the parent group for the informative presentation and
documentation. At the request of Joyce Mante, Mrs. Kostem and he met with a
group of representative parents on December 15. Also, on February 5, as
noted, a meeting took place with approximately 69 to 70 parents at Hanover to
discuss these overcrowding issues. He assured the parents that the board
will, at their facilities meeting, as they do with all other buildings within
the district, review enrollment projections. That is done on a timeline that
this district has used, working with our engineer and facilities personnel.
At such time Hanover will be reviewed, as will all buildings. At that point,
parents are also welcome to attend.
Mrs. Lesh remarked that the group did not receive some requested information
between the time of the December meeting and the next parent meeting
concerning the specialists' schedules. Mrs. Kostem will provide the
requested information.
President Craig suggested setting up a time for the board to tour the school.
Director Heske commented that two board members are from Hanover Township.
He stated that he visits Hanover School every year and intends to do so again
this year. He remarked that he is also chairman of the facilities committee
and assured the parents that they will "get their day in court."
4. Joyce Mante, 6135 Muhlenberg Court, Hanover Township, stated that as
president of the Hanover PTA for three years she wanted to support what the
Hanover committee has put together. Hanover parents, like many parents
throughout this district, are actively involved in the school and consider it
important to take an active role in their children's education. That is what
brings parents here tonight. She believes all parents want is to be part of
the conversation and decision about how this situation is handled. Everyone
felt very unprepared for what happened this year, although there are reasons
for that. None want to go through redistricting. Most would prefer to
continue as they are rather than to change schools. There is a great deal of
loyalty to the school. The consensus among those parents who have made their
feelings known to her is that there are viable alternatives between where
they are and redistricting. Some of those have been discussed. The parents
would like to be involved in that. She appreciates the invitation given to
the facilities committee meetings. The committee has worked really hard to
put together the information packet. She urged the board to look closely at
it and visit the school.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS UPDATE
Dr. Lewis announced that the district was notified by the Lehigh Valley Business
Education Partnership that PPL has made a $125,000 contribution to the Bethlehem
Area School District's Regional Academic Standards Academy. Dr. Lewis
acknowledged Mr. Berg who has been a school district supporter on that board and
a force behind this type of funding initiative. This contribution was submitted
under the guidelines of Act 4 of 2001 which is known as the Educational
Improvement Tax Credit Program where businesses can make contributions to
educational improvement organizations and receive a tax credit. Our business
partners continue to join and fund our efforts. Spillman Farmer Architects has
also been recognized as a donor by the state and will be making a contribution
shortly.
Dr. Lewis announced that the staff and principal at Calypso Elementary School
have been successful in acquiring a mini-grant from Pennsylvania Department of
Health and PA Safe Kids Coalition for $2,500 to implement a school safety and
youth violence program. He complimented Dr. Conard and her community school
team for doing a lot of great things to stimulate community involvement programs.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
President Craig thanked Dr. Lewis for arranging for a tour of the Academic
Academy today and Directors Koch and Leeson for joining him there. They saw some
positive things happening to some students who, without the chance at the
Academy, may show some real negative results down the road. They met some
wonderful students. It was like being back in the classroom again. He really
enjoyed it. He thanked the staff and Dr. Lewis for making the tour available.
Dr. Lewis acknowledged Directors Leeson and Koch for joining President Craig and
spending a couple of hours visiting at the Regional Academic Standards Academy.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Dr. Lewis reported that the Northeast Middle School construction project is
moving along. Slides shown included:
-Heavy equipment being moved in
-An emergency recovery unit being raised by a crane to the roof
-Chillers and other units are beginning to be put in place
-Installation of underground branch and feeder conduits for the auditorium and
stage
-Installing the metal stairs to the auxiliary gym
-Walls going up in the gym
-Underground utilities in the kitchen - quite an extensive array of floor
drains, tub drains, basin drains, water feeds, etc., all generally run within the
substructure
-Temperature control wiring to the air handling units
-Power and communication underground conduits - an array representative of miles
of conduit that are laid throughout the structure
-Backfilling and grading of the loading dock areas
-Installation of split face, the finished product block, has begun
-Preparing the boiler room floor for concrete
-Setting the window frame for the fitness room
-Installation of elliptical top window for the classroom wing
PRESIDENT CRAIG WELCOMED COLLEGE GROUP
President Craig remarked that a group of what appears to be college students was
in the audience, probably from a class regarding school boards and public
meetings. He welcomed the group to the meeting and extended an invitation to
feel free to ask any questions.
INSTRUCTIONAL REPORT
Dr. Lewis mentioned that Director Venanzi is very much a part of the Illick's
Mill Project being reported on this evening. Dr. Lewis stated the project is
dear to his heart because he thinks it represents what integrated teaching is all
about.
Mr. William Burkhardt, Principal of Liberty High School, stated that the Illick's
Mill Partnership has exciting news to share.
Miss Dolan stated she is a very happy and proud teacher at Liberty High School.
Miss Dolan and her students provided a preview of a presentation to be given in
San Diego, California, in April, because the Illick's Mill Project was awarded
the Bush Gardens/Sea World/Fuji Films Environmental Excellence Award. A $10,000
gift comes with that award. Three of the young people who presented at the
meeting wrote the application. Andrew Werkheiser, who worked the Powerpoint,
helped tailor this version for the board and it will be worked on again to get it
ready for the San Diego presentation.
Members of Miss Dolan's class introduced themselves: Andrew Werkheiser, a junior
at Liberty High School; Adam Longenbach, a senior at Liberty High School; Katie
McIhaney, a senior at Liberty High School, and Paul Brones, also a senior at
Liberty High School.
Mr. Brones stated that in Monocacy Park, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, stands a
three-story building with a history that is rapidly changing. The effort has not
been easy, but with the community's help, it has been and will continue to be
successful. He explained that the group of 23 Liberty High School seniors and
juniors is dedicated to restoring Illick's Mill into an environmental education
center. The Illick's Mill Project runs the business of the Illick's Mill
Partnership, a nonprofit consortium of Wildlands Conservancy, Monocacy Creek
Watershed Association, the Audubon Society, the City of Bethlehem, and the
Bethlehem Area School District. He showed a picture of the Illick's Mill Project
Class of 2003-2004 standing in front of the mill at Monocacy Park, noting the
wearing of hardhats because of the work being done on the construction site.
Mr. Longenbach explained that it is believed that, once the historic mill is
restored, it will be a home base for environmental education for the Monocacy
Watershed. Visitors will learn about the importance of protecting Monocacy Creek
and the mill's environment and honoring the history of many generations behind
it. A picture was shown of the class of 2001-2002 lined up across the top of the
waterfall at Monocacy Creek. These students were the first of the project, the
ones who got everything started.
Miss Katie McIhaney described a slide showing the amount of money raised from
2001 until the present. The 2001-2002 class raised $203,786. Each class has
raised more than the last. She asked the audience to keep in mind that the
figure seen for the 2003-2004 class is only as of January 4. The graph shows the
amounts grossed. Although a total of $808,200 since 2001, much of the money has
gone toward architectural planning which is complete and phase one of the
restoration which is nearly complete. Other expenses will include computers and
software. Money has also been spent on environmental education projects. The
current balance is $500,000, most of which will be spent on restoration.
Mr. Brones stated the class is looking forward to the day that Illick's Mill
looks as good as the architects have planned. There are many reasons this
restoration is important. Centrally located in our community, the mill is an
eyesore located in an attractive, well-utilized park. The state of Pennsylvania
will soon be implementing tough environmental education standards that cannot be
met in our community without a centralized location for environmental study. Mr.
Brones stressed that the mill needs restoration before time and vandalism take a
greater toll on this important landmark.
Miss McIhaney stated that Illick's Mill has unique architectural features. One
photo showed a "cat's hat" where the miller would hang ropes and chains to allow
materials to be raised and lowered in and out of the mill. The architect's
plans, which are about 180 pages long, will showcase and enhance these important,
historic features but will change the mill's exterior appearance very little.
The class considers the restoration a kind of recycling project with only
environmentally friendly materials being used and reuse of existing materials and
recycled materials whenever possible.
Mr. Longenbach explained that for three years the Illick's Mill students have
been working to find out the history of their mill. Through submission and
resubmission of a National Historic Registry application, students have become
the community's experts on Illick's Mill. He stated that he and Mr. Brones have
made many trips to the courthouse, Moravian Archives, and Bethlehem and Easton
Public Libraries. They know the following facts: Illick's Mill was built in
1856 by John Peter. The clerestory was added in 1887. This extra level is a
sort of fourth floor. It was learned from the Society of the Preservation of Old
Mills, SPOM, that having a clerestory on the mill is extremely unique and sets
Illick's Mill apart from other mills. The clerestory is probably a sign that the
mill was, at one time, doing very well financially. But by 1917, due to
increased competition from large midwestern mills, the mill was finally closed.
Mr. Brones started a new slide. The mill sat vacant through the great
depression. In 1933, the Civil Works Administration built Monocacy Park.
Illick's Mill continued to deteriorate until 1965 when the Liberty High School
Philosophy Club led by Bob Thompson turned the building into a popular teen
hangout and music center. A photo showed a Liberty High School student painting
the ceiling of the mill. A photo showed a typical psychedelic band as was
popular until the mill was closed in 1973 due to excessive drug activity. The
20-acre nature sanctuary was later established across the street from the mill.
The Bethlehem Jaycees turned the mill into a Halloween haunted house in 1982. In
the early 1990s, the Illick's Mill Foundation raised money to stabilize the
structure and replace the mill's roof.
Miss McIhaney stated that in 2001 the class inherited the Foundation's mission of
creating a public space at Illick's Mill, but decided to truly focus plans to
create a nature center in the restored mill. Every student will accomplish
something positive for the environment during their stay at Illick's Mill,
whether participating in a cleanup or stream bank restoration project, uprooting
a nonnative species and replacing it with a native species, identifying the
natural fauna and gaining a good appreciation for nature. The curriculum of
Illick's Mill will meet the needs of watershed community. Environmental
education at Illick's Mill will result in positive, proactive change in our local
environment.
Mr. Longenbach stated that the Monocacy Creek is a special body of water and the
watershed is a home to a variety of animals. Lately, the group has been focusing
on lizards and amphibians. Monocacy watershed is also home to red-backed
salamander, two-line salamander, red-spotted newt, and a new species found for
the first time in the watershed by Illick's Mill Project students, Adam Poole and
Nick Christof, the spotted salamander. A photo taken by Nick Christoff showed
Adam and Brian Fritz conducting salamander surveys. The Monocacy is also one of
only a handful of creeks that support native trout in Pennsylvania and has a
state rating of high quality water, fishery, and is designated the scenic river,
even though we know it is not technically a river.
Mr. Brones stated that we are not the only ones in Pennsylvania who need to
improve our environmental education. The Pennsylvania Academic Standards for
Environmental Education charge public schools with teaching, challenging, and
supporting every student to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire
the knowledge and skills needed to understand, protect, and preserve the
environment. The classroom center will make it possible to accommodate 60
students at a time. Classes will take field trips to the center for hands-on
learning activities.
Miss McIhaney commented that our community ought to appreciate the Monocacy Creek
Watershed because of what an important ecosystem it is. She showed a photo of a
red-tailed hawk taken in the watershed. More interesting is the fact that,
within yards of the mill, one of the National Audubon Society's watched list
species, the seaside sparrow, was spotted at the Monocacy Nature Center on April
28, 1982. It is not even listed as probable in Pennsylvania and was the first
documented sighting of this bird in Pennsylvania. It remains the only
Northampton County record of a seaside sparrow.
Mr. Longenbach explained that, once the environmental education center is opened,
the Illick's Mill Project goals will change. Goal one will be to protect and
restore the water quality in the Monocacy Creek. Work has begun on this goal by
testing the water of the creek twice a week and monitoring the results.
Monitoring is done for phosphates and nitrates, dissolved oxygen, and
temperature. The second goal of the project will be to protect wildlife and
migrating species that depend on the creek and its surroundings. Three stream
bank restoration projects have already been completed. More are planned with
future classes. These projects involve planting native plants on the bank to
keep harmful runoff from entering the creek. This also ties in with goal one.
The final goal of the project is to educate the community on environmental
preservation and protection at our environmental education center.
Mr. Brones stated that the students have learned a lot in their first seven
months with the project, valuable skills that are not learned through traditional
teaching methods. The project counts towards English, history, and elective
credits. The project at Liberty High School is broken up into four different
subject-oriented teams: the community development team; the history, art, music
team; the membership team, and the financial team which organizes grant-writing
and tracks finances using a computer program. All the teams work together to
reach their final goal - restoration of the mill and environmental education.
Miss McIhaney stated that their project works in and for the community and has
been recognized in newspapers, magazines, and documentaries. Students try to get
as much publicity as possible to raise awareness for their cause. The annual
festival, "River Fusion," and their project have been recognized in Pulse Weekly,
Lehigh Valley Magazine, NEA Today, Christian Science Monitor, and the Morning
Call and Express Times. Two documentaries about the students and the Illick's
Mill Project have been aired on the local public television station - one by
Greenworks Television and another produced by WLVT's Tempo Television. Another
documentary is currently being made by Broadcast Images with support from the
Humanities Council.
Mr. Longenbach stated that the students think they have done a good job at
finding good people to support their efforts. He showed a picture of their
architect, Christine Ussler, owner of Artefact, an architect with knowledge about
historic preservation and environmentally sustainable development. Executive
director and teacher, Miss Karen Dolan, is an award-winning teacher, president of
the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, and vice president of the Monocacy Creek
Watershed Association. Many board members have been personally involved with the
mill, including three generations of the Illick family. All board members are
local leaders who care about nature, the city of Bethlehem, Illick's Mill,
Bethlehem students, and the Monocacy Creek.
Mr. Brones stated that since 2001 the group has won many environmental and
educational awards. Recently, their executive director, Karen Dolan, was honored
as a woman of the year in Bethlehem. Other awards include the Excellence in
Education Award, the Best Buy Teacher Award, and the Environmental Excellence
Award which the three students will officially receive in San Diego this April
along with a $10,000 check toward the restoration. Their project has also become
a model for other similar projects across the country. Samantha McDonald, a
Pacific High School student from Sitka, Alaska, wrote to them stating that their
school heard about them in the April edition of NEA Today and decided to restore
a local building and turn it into a building to honor their Inuit heritage. Ms.
McDonald stated the school has set a great example and has been a positive
inspiration to Pacific High.
Mr. Longenbach stated that what was once a vision is now becoming a reality as
final touches are put on phase one and proceeding into phase two. The group has
raised roughly three-quarters of a million dollars. If all things go to plan,
Illick's Mill Environmental Education Center will be open in the fall of 2005.
Once open to the public, Illick's Mill will serve as a community school for all
things natural and environmental such as bird watching, habitat preservation, fly
fishing, water quality monitoring, stream bank restoration, and simply
appreciating all that nature has to offer. All this will happen in the center of
our beautiful city. None of it could have been possible without the support of
this school board. Mr. Longenbach thanked the board for believing in the
Illick's Mill Project.
Director Venanzi stated that these students are amazing. Everyone is so proud of
them. She wished them to have a great time in San Diego.
President Craig remarked that these students certainly blow the image that
today's students aren't involved. As president of the board, he thanked the
students for the presentation. It is a great thing that is going on. The board
certainly supports it. It will be a great day when it is completed and can be
used on an everyday basis for educational purposes.
Director Venanzi stated she is sure Miss Dolan and the students would love anyone
to come visit anytime and see the classroom. It's amazing.
Director Leeson congratulated the class for their new award.
Miss Dolan gave t-shirts provided by the Bush Gardens/Sea World/Fuji Film folks
to the board.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE Director Venanzi reported that the Curriculum Committee met
Monday, March 8. During open forum Director Koch requested a review of the
visitations to the charter schools. Dr. Lewis stated an update will be given
during the April curriculum committee meeting. Director Leeson inquired if this
was the year to review the math program and the timeline for doing that. Mr.
Villani informed her that Mrs. Victory had begun reviewing the curriculum with
the teachers and that revisions would be made over the summer. Director Leeson
inquired about grading of minority graduation rates following an article in the
newspaper. An explanation was given. It was also noted that some students leave
the schools without giving notification and the district has no way of tracking
where they have gone. Director Leeson also noted that in an article in the paper
Reading Recovery and Academic Academy programs were stated as being only for
minorities. That is not true. The programs are for any children in our schools
that need help in those areas. Director Koch requested a report on the ratio of
female to male students graduating in each ethnic category. Mr. Villani and Mr.
VanDoren provided a presentation on the graduation project update. Tonight the
board will vote on whether to permit participation of home schooled children in
our sports or extracurricular activities.
FACILITIES COMMITTEE Director Heske reported that the Facilities Committee met
on Monday, March 1. After discussion, the board unanimously agreed to bring all
facilities-related agenda items to the meeting tonight for approval. The
committee also reviewed and recommended for approval some bid awards for capital
improvements. Construction projects planned for this summer, except the
transportation facility oil tank pad area repair and the Education Center fire
alarm access system, are out for bid. The board heard and discussed at length a
presentation on the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium turf. The board
agreed that the administration and Mr. Yasso can proceed with finalizing
agreements for board consideration that would have no cost impact to the school
district for this project. The board gave approval to proceed with the plans
for Freedom High School additions and cafeteria/kitchen layout. The board
authorized the use of the football practice field as a staging area and
authorized a new parking area which includes adjustment of the fields to be
developed as an alternative bid. The board also requested that the
administration provide a cost and options for a parking deck. Mr. Fazil reported
that trees will be installed along the road frontage on the William Penn Highway
and Myers Road. The cost of these trees will be paid for by the Lehigh Valley
Industrial Park as part of their agreement with the township.
President Craig remarked that arrangements are being made for the board to go to
Allentown to tour the Allentown School District Stadium to get an idea of what is
being discussed. He emphasized, as reported by Director Heske, that the idea is
being presented with outside sponsorship, not cost of taxpayer dollars.
FINANCE COMMITTEE Director Koch reported that the Finance Committee met on
Monday, March 1. There was an open forum. The main item was the presentation by
Dr. Joseph Mickley of the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 2004-2005 budget.
He presented the budget and reviewed all services offered by the Intermediate
Unit. The Intermediate Unit's total general operating budget is $2,333,880 which
represents a 9.3% increase from the current year. Of this total, the 13
districts receiving Intermediate Unit services contribute a total of $443,490,000
through subsidy withholding. The Bethlehem Area School District's share of the
general operating budget will be $92,636, a total increase of $822. This budget
is part of this evening's agenda.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Director Koch reported that the Board
of Trustees of the Northampton County Area Community College met on March 4 and 5
in a retreat. The board strategically planned how to best expand the college's
efforts in Monroe County.
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Director Haytmanek reported that the Human Resources
Committee met on Monday, March 8. The open forum involved a review and revision
of the district's board policies. Several new policies were adopted that had
been recommended by the Pennsylvania School Board Association to conform to
requirements of the "No Child Left Behind Act." The remainder of the meeting was
in executive session.
COLONIAL INTERMEDIATE UNIT 20 President Craig reported that the IU meeting took
place on February 25. A legislative report was given by Dr. Loreen Stout, a
legislative liaison from Montgomery County IU 21, providing a summary of recent
House and Senate actions. Dr. Mickley highlighted a Pennsylvania State Board of
Education initiative surrounding the changing of the belief system in 20
lighthouse schools in an effort to close the achievement gap. Dr. Mickley
briefly discussed the position paper surrounding "No Child Left Behind" and the
March 1 press conference. Dr. Mickley shared information from the user survey of
IU programs and services. Dr. Mickley shared a letter of appreciation from the
County of Northampton, Department of Human Services, for a luncheon and a tour of
the Second Chance Academy which was held in February.
STUDENT REPORTS
LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL Caleb Schwarzbach stated that life at Liberty is in
transition between the winter and spring seasons. The winter sports season ended
well for Liberty with athletes competing at state championships in swimming and
wrestling. The spring sports season is now underway. Tryouts and practices have
been taking place for the past week. Liberty's theater presentation of "Hello
Dolly" is scheduled to be performed this spring. Liberty's young actors are busy
rehearsing for opening night. Classes at LHS are also experiencing the same
bustling pace as the extracurricular activities. Students and teachers are now
nearing the end of the sixth marking period and preparing for the last quarter of
the school year. Last Thursday, Liberty hosted parent/teacher conferences and
students enjoyed a half-day while teachers prepared for their meetings with
students' parents. This week marks an important date for Liberty's seniors as
the class of 2004 will be electing their class speaker for graduation. Later
this week, the Grenadier Band will be giving a public concert in the Memorial Gym
on Friday and Saturday evenings. The month of March will close with the second
round of PSSA testing for all Liberty juniors. Lastly, the first week of April
will mark the election of the faculty speaker for graduation. The faculty
speaker will be selected by the Liberty staff during the April 5 faculty meeting.
Also, in April student government and class officer elections will be held to
decide the student leaders for the 2004-2005 school year. These elections will
conclude classes before the Easter holiday vacation and prepare the Liberty
community for the final stretch of the school year.
Directors Venanzi and Leeson remarked that Mr. Schwarzbach has omitted to mention
that he was one of the participants in the state swimming competition. He came
in thirteenth. Next year he will be going to Cornell.
FREEDOM HIGH SCHOOL President Craig stated that Danielle Knecht is in Ireland
with the Freedom High School Band and majorettes. Alternate student
representative, Catherine Simonetta, is also with that group.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Directors Leeson and Heske to approve the minutes of the
February 23, 2004, Regular Board Meeting. The motion carried by voice vote.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Lewis presented the recommendations of the administration.
No one wished to address the Board of School Directors.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS
Directors Venanzi and Heske moved to adjourn the meeting which carried by voice
vote.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
Attest,
Stanley J. Majewski, Jr.
Board Secretary
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