BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Monday, March 10, 2003

 

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, March 10, 2003, at 6:00 p.m. in Superintendent's Conference Room A of the Education Center. Present were Curriculum Committee Members, William Nelson and Monty Perfetti, and Board Members, Loretta Leeson, Craig Haytmanek, Charlene Koch, Margaret Williams, Rosario Amato, Julie Venanzi and Joe Craig. Also in attendance were Superintendent Joseph A. Lewis and Assistant Superintendent Michele Kostem.

 

 

Illick's Mill Project

 

Liberty High School Teacher Karen Dolan reported to the committee that at eighteen months into the project, the architectural and construction design planning phase of the project is complete. She distributed samples of some of the student work. Students involved in this project earn credit toward their twelfth grade English and History courses. They are divided into four teams to plan and develop the process of restoring the 1856 Grist Mill. The four teams are: Corporate Development, Membership, Community Development and History, Art, and Music (HAM). Students are provided with team check lists to review the planned process and help determine their progress. Ms. Dolan was very optimistic about reaching the projected timeline, and added that they are financially solvent at this time. They will continue to receive financial help from the various corporate sponsors and grants, as well as planned fundraisers.

 

In response to a question from Mrs. Leeson, Mr. Burkhardt said that this project relates directly to the Government and Economics curriculum and provides the students with direct interaction with local government officials. It gives students the opportunity to gain a closer connection to the Bethlehem community and allows them to be involved in the protection and preservation of the history of the community.

 

High School Extra Curricular Participation Requirements

 

Freedom High School Principal Tony Villani told those present that a committee of secondary school administrators met to discuss and tighten up the existing requirements, and to provide more consistency among the entire school population. He distributed and reviewed the main points of the proposed policy and the implementation procedure. It was noted that our district is taking a more stringent stance by allowing students only one failed subject. In our district, the overall percentage of students not able to participate in activities due to academics is only 1.25%.

 

Mrs. Leeson asked how coaches not teaching in the district are notified of students not able to participate in activities. Mr. Villani said that coaches receive notification of student absences, detentions, etc., in writing and by making phone calls. A specific procedure will be put into place.

 

Mr. Amato commented that he would like to see the suspension policy be more consistent throughout the various areas of extracurricular activities in the district.

 

Dr. Lewis said this proposal will be put into policy format and presented for a vote.

 

Open Forum

 

In response to a concern from Mrs. Leeson about raising the PSSA test scores, Mr. Burkhardt and Mr. Villani told her that at both high schools, administrators met with the junior class to motivate them and stress the importance of the PSSA test scores. It was also noted that the grade twelve retest is no longer voluntary and will be given to all students in the future. Semester classes are also reassigned according to student need, and math instruction has been doubled for vo-tech students.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

 

 

Minutes Prepared By: ________________________________________

                                    Lynda Ruth, Confidential Secretary