MINUTES

OF THE

BOARD HUMAN RESOURCES

COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, November 11, 2002

 

 

Members of the Board Human Resources Committee met on Monday, November 11, 2002, at 6:20 p.m., in the Superintendent’s Conference Room A, at the Education Center. Present were the following school board members: Rosario Amato, Joseph Craig, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Julie Venanzi, and Margaret Williams. Also present were Superintendent Joseph Lewis, Assistant Superintendent Michele Kostem, and Manager of Human Resources Thomas Thomasik.

 

The meeting of the Board Human Resources Committee was called to order by Mrs. Williams at 6:20 p.m.

 

Open Forum – Loretta Leeson noted that she saw no proposals for future endeavors on the Lehigh University Partnerships document the board received from Dr. Lewis. Mrs. Leeson requested that this be reexamined. Mrs. Leeson also requested that the district look at what colleges want in high school graduates and is the district preparing our students. Dr. Lewis agreed that it was a good suggestion and something we can work on. Also, suggested meeting with all the universities in the area.

 

Loretta Leeson also complimented Liberty High School for its stand on Anti-Tobacco. It is admirable.

 

Proposed Unified School Calendar for 2003-2004 School Year – Dr. Lewis presented the proposed unified school calendar for the 2003-2004 school year. A detailed information packet was handed out to the Board. It stated that three school districts share the Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech. Building a common calendar among the three would improve instruction by having fewer teaching interruptions and could save the district money. Dr. Lewis proposed opening school for students on the first day after Labor Day and closing on June 4^th. The last teacher day is proposed for June 9^th. This is based on 181 days with seven inservice days. It was also recommended that school be in session on the Monday after Thanksgiving and on Election Day.

 

If the 181 teaching days is not accepted by the Bethlehem Education Association (BEA) then the second scenario would have 184 student days. June 8, 2004 would be the last day for students and June 10, 2004 would be the last day for teachers. Teacher inservice days would be reduced from seven days to four days. Three teacher inservice days would be at the beginning of the school year and one at the end.

 

A unified calendar makes sense. Compressing 181 days in a fewer number of weeks would give the district complete weeks of education, less interruptions during the school year, and cost savings. The proposed calendar is closer to the calendars of the parochial and private schools.

 

A discussion was held concerning bad weather, Act 80, and the impact on the proposed calendar.

 

Dr. Lewis is waiting for a response from the BEA on the following: 1) 181 vs. 184 days,

2) Inservice Days, 3) Start of the school year.

 

A final draft of the calendar will be proposed in January 2003. The consensus of the other school districts should be received by then.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.

 

 

Minutes prepared by:                                                                                                               

Nitza Santiago, Confidential Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent