MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2007

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, September 10, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Education Center’s Dining Room. Present were Curriculum Committee Members Mary M. Katona, assistant to the superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Richard Agretto, director of special education; and Board Members Michele Cann, Judith Dexter, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, and Diane Rowe. Also in attendance were: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Robert Gross, assistant superintendent for human resources; Robin Lutcher, director of information technologies; Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing; Kathleen Bast, coordinator of Literacy/ELA, 6-12; Dr. Dean M. Donaher, director of special programs and athletics; Dr. Joanne LoFaso, coordinator of Literacy/ELA, K-8; Eric Smith, supervisor of science; Julie Victory, supervisor of mathematics; and representatives of the press.

Mrs. Rowe called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.

Dr. Donaher presented a resolution to the board in regard to a request from Freedom High School to occupy the west side of the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium (press box side) for home football games. Dr. Donaher noted that a meeting was held on Monday, September 10, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., at the Education Center with the following personnel present:

Freedom High School attendees: Liberty High School attendees:

Michael LaPorta, principal JoAnn Durante, principal

Fred Harris, athletic director Sam Senneca, athletic director

Jason Roeder, head football coach Tim Moncman, head football coach

Central Office attendees:

Dr. Joseph Lewis, superintendent of schools

Robert Gross, associate superintendent

Dr. Dean M. Donaher, director of special programs

Dr. Donaher announced that, as a result of this meeting, the following points were agreed upon by all present:

1. In contests involving both Bethlehem Area School District’s high schools, namely Freedom and Liberty High Schools, the designated “Home” team will occupy the west side of the stadium (press box side).

2. No other changes will take place; this includes, but is not limited to, the current location of the refreshment stands, merchandizing areas, and locker rooms.

3. Competitions involving either Freedom High School or Liberty High School and other teams will provide for Freedom High School and Liberty High School to occupy the west side of the stadium, regardless of the designated “Home” team.

4. This agreement will take effect immediately.

PSSA UPDATE

Mrs. Katona presented an update to the board regarding Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). She noted that No Child Left Behind requires Pennsylvania to evaluate all public schools and districts annually for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), based on the results of the PSSA and other factors, including test participation, attendance, and graduation. The purpose of the PSSA is to gain an understanding of a school’s achievement of state academic standards; assess the appropriateness of a school’s programs in helping students meet standards; provide information for school districts to utilize in their strategic plans; provide information to general public and policymakers regarding school achievement; and to disaggregate data for certain student groups. According to the state’s Secretary of Education, comparing the 2006-2007 AYP to previous years is difficult because the addition of grades four, six, and seven has dramatically increased the number of measurable subgroups used for determining AYP.

Mrs. Katona explained that the district will take the following areas for improvement into consideration when they design their action plans:

1. IEP students – despite slight gains at elementary and middle school levels, all levels fell short of meeting AYP in reading or mathematics. This was and continues to be predictable.

2. English Language Learners (ELL’s) – in reading, elementary and middle schools did not meet the target. Middle schools missed the target in mathematics. This also continues to be predictable.

3. African American and Latino students – did not meet the targets for mathemtics or reading in high school.

4. Economically disadvantaged students – did not meet the reading target at any level.

Mrs. Katona also reviewed Bethlehem Area School District’s areas for improvement for individual schools:

Warning:

n Lincoln Elementary School – made 15 of 17 targets

n Fountain Hill Elementary School – made 23 of 25 targets

n Broughal Middle School – made 26 of 29 targets

School Improvement II:

n Donegan Elementary School – made17 of 18 targets

Corrective Action II:

n Freedom High School – made 19 of 23 targets

n Liberty High School – made 23 of 25 targets

Mrs. Katona also noted that, while writing is not included in AYP calculations, the progress made across grades five, eight, and eleven is notable, especially in light of the reading/writing connection.

When comparing the Bethlehem Area School District with similar districts, Mrs. Katona noted that, with a few exceptions, Bethlehem Area School District ranks in the top five among districts considered “similar” in Pennsylvania. In the few instances where other districts are higher than Bethlehem Area School District, the districts are often smaller and/or have smaller sub-groups.

Mrs. Victory, supervisor of mathematics, explained that the Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVASS) measures growth over time for students according to how they score on the PSSA. She noted that the report provides a summary of the Bethlehem Area School District’s value added results for the 2006-2007 school year. It should be noted that this is the first year that PVAAS results may be viewed across all grade levels four through eight. PVAAS data cannot be provided for high schools, as students are only tested in grade eleven.

Mr. Heske stated that the state does not take into consideration the number of transients and new students going in and out of our schools. Mrs. Katona replied that she will be working on a chart regarding these students.

Mr. Heske also noted that there is no incentive for students to do well on PSSA testing. He also noted that, with the amount of testing required during the year, we may soon not have enough time for teaching our students.

Mrs. Dexter requested that the district look into possibly providing SAT prep classes for our students. Mr. LaPorta and Mrs. Durante pointed out that both high schools already offer such courses.

Mrs. Leeson noted that, in the Welcome Classrooms, the concept is to test students as they enter. She would also like to have the opportunity to test new high school students as they enter our district and have the capability of placing them appropriately. Mrs. Katona replied that giving 4Sight tests to new high school students upon their entrance into our district is a discussion that began with principals last year.

LITERACY FRAMEWORK UPDATE

Mrs. Bast, coordinator of Literacy/ELA, 6-12, presented an update on the Literacy Framework. She explained that the objective is to support the attainment of the school district’s student achievement goals in literacy through the implementation of a systemic, coordinated, and comprehensive literacy program in grades six through twelve. Mrs. Bast explained the steps taken in 2006-2007 and went on to explain the steps for increasing literacy for all students in 2007-2008, highlighting the Inclusion/Literacy Academy summer program for BASD teachers and Learning Walks, which she explained.

Mrs. Victory then explained the Literacy in Mathematics program that she developed to support the Literacy Framework Initiative. She noted that she will present Bflex offerings linking literacy strategies to specific mathematic courses for grades six through twelve. Mrs. Victory explained that strategies will include: word walls for mathematics; verbal/visual word association; Frayer model; talking to the text; anticipation guide; graphic organizers; and Gist.

DISTRICT TESTING CALENDAR

Mrs. Katona also distributed a copy of the updated District Testing Calendar for the board to review; this was an information only item.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS (15 minutes allowed)

Mr. Stephen Antalics, 737 Ridge Street, Bethlehem, PA, spoke regarding his interpretation of the BASD logo.

OPEN FORUM

Nothing to report.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Minutes Prepared By:

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction