BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005

 

 

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, July 18, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the Education Center. Present were: Curriculum Committee Members Anthony Villani, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Richard Agretto, director of special education; and Board Members Rosario Amato, Joseph Craig, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Julie Venanzi, and Margaret Williams. Also in attendance were: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Stanley Majewski, assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration; Julie Victory, supervisor of mathematics; Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing; Roger Washburn, principal of Freedom High School; and representatives of the press.

 

OPEN FORUM

 

1.     Mrs. Leeson discussed an article from the New York Times regarding students in lower grades attaining better test scores than students in middle or high schools.

 

2.     Mrs. Leeson also asked Mrs. Koch if she had any information regarding a pending bill to move elections to March. If this happens, how would it affect the time frame for any Act 72 budget items?

 

3.     Mrs. Leeson asked the administration if they are considering making the new Broughal Middle School into a science/technology center prior to construction of the new building. Dr. Lewis stated that the administration is presently studying various options relative to a science/technology focus, and he will be bringing an update to the board at an upcoming curriculum meeting.

 

4.     Mrs. Koch asked if the administration is keeping the Broughal parents up-to-date on the building project. Dr. Lewis stated that he is meeting with the parents group tomorrow to give them an update.

 

PROJECT 720 UPDATE    

 

Mr. Villani presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Project 720. Project 720 is named for the number of days that a student attends high school (180 days x 4 years = 720). The main goal of Project 720 is to create high school environments that are student-centered, results-focused, data-informed, and personalized in a way that is seamlessly supported by systems, resources, technology, and shared leadership. The major tenets of Project 720 are:

·      To ensure that every student graduates ready for college or a career.

·      To strengthen the academic infrastructure and increase student achievement.

·      To design and implement data-informed student advisory services.

·      To provide pathways to prepare students for postsecondary success.

 

Mr. Villani also distributed and discussed two handouts:

·      Career Clusters – a listing of 16 career clusters which was taken from the state’s Web site

·      Northampton County Education Consortium Career Clusters -

Four pathways formed:

1.     Arts and Humanities

2.     Business and Communications

3.     Health Sciences and Human Services

4.     Engineering/Science/Industrial

 

Regarding Project 720, the board made the following requests:

1.     How will it affect students who have been disconnected from the education system?

2.     Regarding making better use of school time, can the administration look at:

a.     Band students’ class time

b.     Physical education classes

c.     Math program

d.     Statistics on graduation rates and dropout rates

 

SUMMER PROGRAMMING OVERVIEW

 

Mr. Villani presented an overview of the district-wide intervention programs. He noted that through the ASPIRE Program students are receiving academic and enrichment opportunities during the summer months that they normally would not receive. The administration is keeping records of the number of students participating and will bring a report to the board in the fall when all programs are complete.

 

Mrs. Leeson recommended that the administration look into adding some enrichment subjects into our summer school programs.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR

 

1. Mrs. Judith Dexter, 1866 Homestead Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Topics: Math proposal/new math pilot

School size

Project 720 math requirements

 

2. Mr. Thomas Pelletiers, 1320 Gaspar Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18017

Topics: Math scores discussed at the last Board Curriculum Committee Meeting

Project 720’s science requirements         

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Minutes Prepared By:

 

 

 

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction