BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

Monday, February 9, 2004

 

 

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, February 9, 2004, at 6:00 p.m. in Superintendent’s Conference Room A of the Education Center. Present were Curriculum Committee Members Anthony Villani and Richard Agretto; Board Members Rosario Amato, Joseph Craig, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Diane Rowe, Julie Venanzi, and Margaret Williams. Also in attendance were Superintendent Joseph Lewis, Michele Kostem, Dr. William Nelson, Monty Perfetti, and representatives of the press.

 

OPEN FORUM

 

1.   Mrs. Koch gave a PSBA update of February’s meeting. She noted that Governor Rendell addressed the group. He informed them that he is going to back the referendum requiring a vote on school districts’ budget increases. Mrs. Koch recommended that members of the board meet with local legislators and/or write letters requesting they not vote for this referendum. The other board members agreed.

 

2.   Mr. Craig noted that he had attended the Pennsylvania Retirement Meeting and will forward information he received to all board members.

 

STUDENT ATTENDANCE/VACATION POLICY CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Mr. Villani reviewed the administration’s recommendations for changes to the Student Attendance/Vacation Policy. He noted that the recommendations were the results of meetings with the high schools’ Student Advisory Council, the administration, and the district’s Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). This was the board’s first reading. The second reading will be at the February 23, 2004, regular School Board Meeting.

 

ADVANCED PLACEMENT/HONORS PARTICIPATION REPORT

 

Mr. Villani reviewed information the board had requested regarding a two-year summary of Advanced Placement/ Honors Participation and Advance Placement (AP) Test Results at Freedom and Liberty High Schools. The board requested that this information be updated yearly. The board also recommended that the administration look into the following:

 

1.     Why English Honors classes at Liberty High School are smaller that at Freedom High School?

2.     The number of students who apply for Honors/AP classes compared to the number who are accepted into a class?

3.     The English AP program is excellent; can we get more students into it without watering down the program?

4.     Are the qualifications for the English AP program the same at both high schools?

5.     Honors Chemistry was three chapters short of being AP. Why are we not making it an AP course?

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING/ATHLETIC WAIVER DISCUSSION

 

Mr. Villani distributed and discussed the results of a survey on Physical Education Programming/Athletic Waivers. He noted that 45 schools responded to his survey. Only two schools currently offer a waiver and only during the actual season. Mr. Villani explained that Chapter 4 Curriculum Regulations requires that physical education be taken and does not permit waivers for athletes, thus, it will not be a future option for the district to decide upon.

 

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

 

 

 

Minutes Prepared By:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction