BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007

                                       

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, March 12, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. in the Education Center’s Dining Room. Present were Curriculum Committee Member Anthony R. Villani, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Board Members Rosario Amato, Joseph Craig, Judith Dexter, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Diane Rowe, and Margaret Williams. Also in attendance were: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing; Mary Katona, coordinator of English language arts; Dr. Joanne LoFaso, coordinator of literacy K-5; Eric Smith, supervisor of science; Julie Victory, supervisor of mathematics; and representatives of the press.

 

Mrs. Rowe called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS (15 minutes allowed)

 

1.   Ms. Anna Smith, Liberty High School’s student board representative, presented a brief report on the progress of the PSSA’s currently being taken by students in the Bethlehem Area School District. She also spoke regarding scheduling of the PSSA testing.

 

2.   Mr. Stephen Antalics, 737 Ridge Street, Bethlehem, spoke regarding the administration reviewing scheduling of the PSSA testing.

 

CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE UPDATE

 

Robin Lutcher presented an update on the Classrooms for the Future Project. She explained that the district applied for a grant last June and was awarded $415,000 in September. She noted that the grant would be used for ninth grade language arts and mathematic instructions at Freedom and Liberty High Schools. The equipment was delivered in February, and Apple, Incorporated will be installing it on March 13 and 14, 2007. All teachers involved in the grant will receive a laptop and professional development from Apple, Incorporated. Mrs. Lutcher noted that the initial grant is for three years with the possibility of renewal.

 

Mrs. Leeson inquired as to what will happen when the Freshman Campus moves back to Liberty High School’s main campus. Mrs. Lutcher replied that all equipment will be installed with the capability of moving it when this occurs. She also noted that the technology staff will be trained for this specific occurrence.

 

Mrs. Koch noted that at the community college she witnessed a demonstration of SMART Boards that were wired into the teacher’s computer so the teacher had the capability of overseeing the students’ work. Mrs. Lutcher noted that the district’s teachers presently have the same capability.

 

SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM UPDATE – BROUGHAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

Mr. Villani introduced Eric Smith, supervisor of science, Lori Cirucci, a teacher from Broughal Middle School, and Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing, who reviewed the progress of the Science and Technology Signature School curriculum planned for the new Broughal Middle School. They explained that the new school is scheduled to have special features that will not be found at the other schools in our district. They noted that teachers and the curriculum office administrators are partnering with outside experts to design innovative district curriculum. It will have an integration of science, environmental, and technology standards across all grade levels. Through a partnership with NASA, it will also include the integration of a NASA Explorer School Project with Lehigh University. If financing goes as planned, the new school will also feature a greenhouse, a weather station, and a planetarium. Another feature would be to use the building as a learning lab which would educate students and the public of the environmental impacts of a “Green Building”. It would expose students to the mechanical systems which make the building work and would have a link to the Pennsylvania Science Standards.

 

Mr. Santoro noted that curricular programming would be continued over the summer months through various summer initiatives, which Broughal presently offers to its students.

 

Mrs. Dexter inquired as to the funding of these special areas. Dr. Lewis noted that the district will explore and investigate the necessary grants to support and sustain the special areas.

 

ATHLETIC REVENUE GENERATION PROPOSAL

 

Dr. Lewis noted that the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium is now being used by all levels of athletics. Mr. Villani presented a proposal to provide additional athletic training services for student athletes throughout the district by adopting a program offered through East Stroudsburg University’s Athletic Training Graduate School at an additional cost to the district for the 2007-2008 school year of $33,000.

 

Mr. Villani explained that, in order to obtain and pay for this program, the athletic department is recommending the following revenue generation proposal for the board to review:

 

Option One – To charge an entrance fee for all events held in the Bethlehem Area School District’s stadium.

 

Option Two – To increase the costs of individual and all sports passes.

 

Option Three – To charge each Bethlehem Area School District student athlete a one time yearly physical fee of $10. It was noted that any student athlete who could not afford this fee and where documentation is provided concurrent with the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, the school district would waive this fee.

 

After a discussion of all options, the board members agreed that additional trainer coverage was needed, but did not approve of options one and three. They also requested that the administration poll other school districts in the Lehigh Valley Athletic Conference as to what they charge for admission to varsity athletic events, with the possibility of adjusting the Bethlehem Area School District’s athletic ticket prices.

 

ACTION PLAN UPDATE

 

Mr. Villani presented a monthly update on the district’s action plan.

 

Mrs. Dexter inquired as to what information we are sending to Dr. Peck and to Dr. Cates. Mrs. Lutcher replied that Dr. Peck is in the process of taking the district’s data and looking for school districts that will come close to our demographics. She also noted that Dr. Cates and his assistant are currently reviewing the district’s test scores and demographic data in conjunction with other schools who do not use laptops.

 

OPEN FORUM

 

1.     Mrs. Leeson asked that all citizens who speak during Courtesy of the Floor to Visitors be treated with respect no matter what their remarks or opinions are.

 

2.     Mrs. Dexter noted that the district needs a Communications Committee, and that she had agreed to be on it. Due to a time factor, Mrs. Dexter agreed to discuss this at the next Regular School Board Meeting.

 

3.     Mrs. Koch reminded the board that the next Regional 8 Meeting will be held on March 22, 2007, at the Lehigh County Community College.

 

OTHER

 

Nothing to report.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

 

Minutes Prepared By:

 

 

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction