BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2007

 

Members of the Board Human Resources Committee met on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, in the Dining Room, at the Education Center. Present were the following school board members: Rosario Amato, Judith Dexter, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Loretta Leeson, and Diane Rowe. Also in attendance were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph A. Lewis and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Robert R. Gross III.

 

The meeting of the Board Human Resources Committee was called to order by Dr. Haytmanek at 8:14 p.m.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS – Stephen Antalics,737 Ridge Street, Bethlehem, stated that Friday the board received the Corrective Action Plan. He believes the Board did not have adequate time to review a twenty-page document.

 

OTHER – None

 

REVISED BOARD POLICIES – Mr. Gross presented the five Board Policies for their first read. The following policies were discussed: Policy 100 – Strategic Plan, Policy 103 – Nondiscrimination in School and Classroom Practices, Policy 112 – Guidance Counseling, Policy 701.1 – Naming School District Facilities, and Policy 807 – Opening Exercises/Flag Displays. Mr. Gross reviewed each policy and noted the changes suggested by PSBA and/or counsel. Discussions were held on the policies and suggestions were made.

 

Policy 100 – Strategic Plan is a revised policy with a simple change. The Strategic Plan document that was formerly approved as a phase III school district can be revised as necessary. This change is proposed by PDE and reviewed by counsel and PSBA.

 

Policy 103 – Nondiscrimination in School and Classroom Practices is a revised policy with some changes. PSBA recommended the change. Mr. Gross read the changes and a discussion was held regarding the district’s compliance officer and liability issues regarding investigations and appeal procedures. Mr. Gross will follow up with the concerns and suggest language changes.

 

Policy 112 – Guidance Counseling is a revised policy with changes. Mr. Gross indicated that the policy was going under some extensive changes. The board asked that number seven’s wording be looked at again. Mr. Gross will follow up with the request and make the necessary grammatical changes.

 

Policy 701.1 – Naming School District Facilities is a new policy. This is a new policy that the board had asked Mr. Gross to create. Mr. Gross and Mr. Majewski gathered information from other districts across the state along with PSBA, and presented the board with the draft policy for review. A discussion was held regarding the way the policy was written and suggestions were given regarding the duration of naming a facility and its longevity. The board suggested that they wait for a full board attendance before they agree to the policy. Dr. Lewis asked Mr. Gross to track the changes to the policy.

 

Policy 807 – Opening Exercises/Flag Displays is a revised policy with a minor change. Mr. Gross informed the board that the district is advised by counsel to delete the last sentence, which states that building principals shall provide written notice to parents/guardians of students who refuse to salute the flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Board Human Resources Committee Meeting                                                                           (2)

 

ACT 48 UPDATE – Mr. Gross handed the board an Act 48 update. A general discussion was held on the creation of subcommittees that will focus on the four areas that the Distinguished Educators have suggested. The areas of concentration: diversity/difference, poverty, wellness, and inclusion will be the main focus of our inservices. A discussion was held regarding inservices throughout the year and building level inservices. A discussion was also held regarding the BFlex days and the new plans the Act 48 Committee has for the new school year. There will be three optional choices and three directed choices. Mr. Gross will continue to approve all BFlex offerings. The suggested professional staff inservice dates and the proposed 2007-2008 school calendar were discussed.

 

2007-2008 PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR – Dr. Lewis introduced the proposed 2007-2008 school calendar while discussing the inservices in Act 48 Update. Dr. Lewis indicated that the reporting periods to parents were broken out at the bottom of the proposed calendar. He indicated a goal of the district is to provide parents as much information as possible. A brief discussion was held regarding communication to parents and the teacher contract. The notion that it is a responsibility for teachers to meet with parents was reinforced.

 

OPEN FORUM – None.

 

Dr. Haytmanek adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes prepared by:                                                                                                               

Nitza Santiago, Confidential Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources