BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2004

 

 

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, April 19, 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 Joseph Craig, William Heske, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Diane Rowe, Julie Venanzi, and Margaret Williams. Also in attendance were Dr. Joseph Lewis, superintendent of schools, Michele Kostem, associate superintendent, and representatives of the press.

 

OPEN FORUM

 

Nothing to report.

 

CURRICULUM FORUM: SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATHEMATICS

 

Mr. Villani distributed information packets and presented a slide presentation updating the board on science, social studies, and mathematics.

 

Science - Mr. Villani informed the board that the state has recently adopted new Science Standards which the district has to incorporate into our standards. He noted that, in the school year 2007-2008, the state plans to test students in grades 4, 7, and 10 in science. Mr. Villani then introduced Mr. Joseph Rahs, principal of Fountain Hill Elementary School and Mr. Dave Smith of the Discovery Center. Mr. Rahs stated that the district is looking to form a partnership with the Discovery Center. He explained that the district never reached their goal of four core units at each grade level. The district is looking to participate in the Da Vinci Lead Teacher Institute funded in part by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program and Agere Systems. This program would involve elementary teachers, one or two from each school, who would be given extensive training over the summer and then take this information back to the classroom to instruct other teachers. This program would begin with science this summer. It would utilize the Lead Teacher trainings to modify and/or up-grade core units to meet the demands set forth in the Pennsylvania Science Standards. The program would utilize turn-key training of F.O.S.S. (Full Option Science System) Kits, which will be included to round out the core units in order to meet the scope of the Pennsylvania Science Standards. Mr. Rahs also noted that, once the district maps out the curriculum, he believes that, in addition to Agere, individuals within the community will also step forward to assist in the financial aspect of purchasing F.O.S.S. Kits.

 

Social Studies – Mr. Villani provided an overview of all Pennsylvania Social Studies Standards in the areas of economics, civics, government, geography, and history, as well as a plan to incorporate the standards into the district’s present social studies curriculum K-12. District-wide assessments for social studies will also need to be developed.

 

Mr. Villani then introduced Mr. Jake Llewellyn, assistant principal, Mr. Rich Baksa and Mr. Donald Midway, social studies chairpersons. Mr. Llewellyn stated that the district is revising the current social studies program at the middle school level to focus on the state’s standards in economics, civics, and government.

 

Mathematics – Mr. Villani introduced Mrs. Julie Victory supervisor of mathematics, who presented an update on mathematics.

 

1.     Proposal – Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics ã 2004 –

Mrs. Victory presented a proposal to purchase Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics ã 2004 teacher resources. The proposal would provide one grade-level set per regular education teacher of math and one complete K-5 set per building for learning support teachers. The cost to the district would be $144,160; the publisher will provide $37,675 of the specified materials at no charge to the district, with the total value of resource materials being $181,835. The rationale for this proposal is to maintain a balanced mathematics program.

 

2.     Grade 8, A-Track –

Mrs. Victory explained the adoption of the Contemporary Mathematics in Context, Course 1 book, which will be used by all grade 8 A-Track mathematic students. She noted that this book will create a truly accelerated program.

 

3.     CMP and Core-Plus Study –

Mrs. Victory described the Math Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia, which consists of 46 school districts (including the Bethlehem Area School District) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and 13 colleges and universities and the National Science Foundation who are working together to improve student achievement. They have contracted the University of Maryland to conduct research in ten school districts in the partnership in order to document students’ mathematical achievements on a range of measures. The board requested the Dr. Lewis and Mr. Villani verify that this will be a non-biased research.

 

DISTRICT-WIDE ASSESSMENT UPDATE

 

Due to a time constraint, this topic will be discussed at the next meeting.

 

TICKET PRICES AND STUDENT/FAMILY TICKET PROGRAMS 2004-2005 – ATHLETICS

 

Mr. Villani informed the board that he will be bringing an agenda item to the April Regular Board Meeting for athletic ticket prices for the 2004-2005 school year. He noted that all ticket prices would remain the same as the 2003-2004 school year.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

Minutes Prepared By:

_____________________________________________________________________

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction