BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2005

 

 

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, September 19, 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, Diane Rowe, Julie Venanzi, Margaret Williams, and student representative Isaac Sharkan. Also in attendance were: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Robert Gross, assistant superintendent for human resources; Stanley Majewski, assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration; Julie Victory, supervisor of mathematics; Eric Smith, supervisor of science; George VanDoren, coordinator of English language arts; Thomas Washington, director of student services; Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing; Dean Donaher, principal of Liberty High School; Roger Washburn, principal of Freedom High School; and representatives of the press.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS (15 minutes allowed)

 

Nothing to report.

 

OPEN FORUM

 

1.     Mrs. Leeson received information regarding a Distinguished Service Award that was presented to August Buzas from the Pennsylvania School Board Association in October of 1967. Board members will receive a copy of this information in their mailing later this week.

 

SCIENCE UPDATE

 

Mr. Eric Smith, supervisor of science, presented an update on the science curriculum. He also distributed two handouts entitled “Correlations between Pennsylvania State Science Anchors and FOSS Kit Curriculum” and “Science Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content for Grades 4, 8, and 11”. Mr. Smith noted that he will be bringing a FOSS (Full Option Science System) demonstration to the November Board Curriculum Committee Meeting.

 

Dr. Lewis also reminded the board that there will be a Science Fest on Sunday, October 9, 2005, at Marvine Elementary School from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.

 

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION TASK FORCE UPDATE

 

Mr. Villani introduced Ms. Jill Moran, principal at the Regional Academic Standards Academy, and Dr. William Feigley, counselor at CA/MP, who presented an update on the Alternative Education Task Force. Dr. Lewis also introduced members of the committee who were present and thanked them for all the time and effort they have put into this project.

 

Ms. Moran and Dr. Feigley explained that their goal is to reach out to every child in the district and to continue services to all our students especially ones that are struggling. The district needs to reach out to at-risk students who function poorly within the structure of the traditional school programs. One of their goals is to eventually place these students successfully back in the traditional schools. The committee would like to expand the Regional Academic Standards Academy to accommodate students in grades 4 through 6 and design a program for disruptive and disenfranchised students in grades 6 through 12. Teachers working within this program would be selected from those who volunteer to work with these students.

 

Board members made the following suggestions:

 

1.     Use resources of people who have previously run similar programs in our district.

2.     Set up criteria for accepting students into this program so it doesn’t become a dumping ground for behavior problems only.

3.     The board would like to review data on students who would currently be selected for this program and information on why they would be there. This information could help develop the criteria for accepting students.

4.     Review Special Education cases before accepting them into this program.

5.     Work with parents so they thoroughly understand the program their child will be attending.

 

Mr. Villani asked for the board’s permission to continue with the task force committee’s work and noted that he will bring another update to the board in January.

 

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) REPORT CARD

 

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Information: In January 2002, the U.S. Congress passed a new federal education law called “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB). NCLB requires the state, school districts, and individual schools meet specific achievement targets in math and reading. The achievement targets for Pennsylvania this year are 54 percent of the students proficient in reading and 45 percent of the students proficient in mathematics. All students must meet these targets, including the following populations: major ethnic groups, special education students, limited English proficient students, and low-income students. In addition, at least 95 percent of the students enrolled in schools must participate in the state assessments (PSSA), and schools must show improvement in attendance rates (for elementary/middle schools) and graduation rates (for high schools). Collectively, these targets are known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). This legislation also mandates that school districts create a report card which indicates adequate yearly progress for each school within the district.

 

Mr. Villani presented and discussed this year’s district report card. He noted that the following schools did not meet AYP: Donegan Elementary School received a “Warning” status; Fountain Hill Elementary School received a “Warning” status; Freemansburg Elementary School received a “Warning” status; Lincoln Elementary School received a “Warning” status; Marvine Elementary School received a “School Improvement II” status; Northeast Middle School received a “Warning” status; Freedom High School received a “School Improvement II” status; and Liberty High School received a “School Improvement II” status.

 

Mr. Villani stated that a comprehensive report will be presented to the board at the October Board Curriculum Committee Meeting.

 

NEW STATE TESTING REQUIREMENTS/UPDATED DISTRICT ON-DEMAND ASSESSMENT CALENDAR

 

Mr. Villani reported to the board that, because the district is receiving money from various Tutoring Grant sources, it is required to administer additional testing. He distributed and discussed the revised 2005-2006 District On-Demand Assessment Calendar.

 

DUAL ENROLLMENT GRANT

 

Mr. Villani informed the board that the administration will be bringing an agenda item to the September 26, 2005, Regular School Board Meeting for them to approve a grant for a dual enrollment project with Lehigh University, Moravian College, and Northampton Community College. He also noted that the grant requires a board member to serve on its committee. Mrs. Williams was appointed to serve on the committee.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

Minutes Prepared By:

 

 

 

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction