Darryl Schafer reported to the Northwestern Lehigh School Board at its Sept. 21 meeting that Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 presented its annual Annie Sullivan Award to two bus drivers, Linda Hunausk and Michele Kulp, instead of to a teacher this year.

The two drivers learned sign language on their own time to communicate with nonspeakers and they decorate the buses for holidays.

Annie Sullivan was the teacher for the late Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind.

In other matters, board Chairman Willard Dellicker said following a seminar in which communication was discussed, the district remains committed to communication by many methods.

In other matters, there have been discussions with KCBA for the design phase of the building renovations concerning finishes and materials to be used. The bid packets are being prepared.

A joint venture between Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Pennsylvania State Education Association has a web page, successstartshere.org, showing good things being done around the state.

Northwestern will do the same at successstartshere.pa as well as the larger site.

Schafer said it is more than just audio or video but information will also be on billboards and other sources.

Pennsylvania State Police in partnership with LCCC, Lehigh County District Attorney and Coroner, and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Services are sponsoring an awareness academy.

The four-week course will focus on the dangers of heroin plus its affect on family, and addiction, enforcement and treatment options.

The course will be offered at Lehigh Carbon Community College Oct. 25 and Nov. 2, 9 and 16. Sessions start at 7 p.m. and are expected to last 1-1/2 hours.

In a spirit of cooperation, a meeting was held with the Circle of Seasons charter school. The new charter was voted on for a five-year period and was approved.

Board member Phil Toll asked if the principal will report to the board as had been discussed, but was not included in the new charter. He was assured the principal will do so.

Dellicker said he hopes things will go forward in a spirit of cooperation and that they will go more smoothly.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Leann Stitzel reported on new graduation requirements.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has been looking into alternatives and gave a report on findings and recommendations on Aug. 4.

The three main recommendations are to implement a pathway to post secondary success, discontinue project-based assessments, and including Keystone scores on transcripts by district choice.

There are four pathways to success: Take every Keystone test and pass, expand alternate assessments, use of industry-based certificates and passing grades in Keystone courses of Algebra 1, biology and 10th-grade language arts, and completing an adequate student career portfolio with passing grades in Keystone.

Students should have goals in mind and start early to accomplish what is needed.

Wright said it gives a little local control but she hopes it is not mandated.

Schafer said he did not see anything in it about PSSA testing. Stitzel said things are going slow on PSSAs.

Student activity fund approval was given for Jostens for publication of the yearbook at $29,000 and Blue Mountain Resort for the 2017 senior prom, at $10,000.

Thanks went to those who sponsored fundraisers for the Northwestern Lehigh Education Foundation. A Nov. 19 thank-you event will showcase what the foundation has done.

State Police Troop M, Fogelsville, recently collected school supplies and donated them to the district for students in need and Nestle Waters contributed to the stadium scoreboard.