The Northwestern Lehigh School District fund balance as of June 30, 2016, was committed to the renovation program.

Board Treasurer Willard Dellicker said many of the specifications have been prepared.

There will be a meeting 1 p.m. Dec. 8 in the board room by the construction committee.

The meeting is open to the public. Superintendent Mary Anne Wright would like work to begin in April 2017.

A resolution was passed for the Joint Board of the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute for a maximum amount of $49 million to cover refinancing and restructuring revenue bonds, Series of 2007; financing capital improvements to LCTI’s facilities and the cost of issuance and the execution of documents for the refunding project and capital improvements.

A student achievement report was given for the elementary schools by Principals Jill Berlet and Maria Pullo. Berlet said the overall proficiency rate in both schools are above the state average.

She said the schools collaborate and does not understand why the two schools are not basically equivalent but Weisenberg remains slightly higher.

In the English language arts scores are dependent on integrating crafts and structure.

Pullo said the math scores are also consistently above the state averages. Strengths in the program are measurement and data, operations and algebraic thinking, numbers and operations and fractions.

Fractions begin in grade three, geometry in grade 4 and algebraic thinking in grade 5.

Science PSSA scores were also above the state average. Strengths are in earth and space and physical space. Needs are the nature of science and biological sciences.

With cross-building collaboration Pullo said guided math has shown student engagement.

“It’s not just drill and drill but targeted instruction,” said Berlet.

Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said they are only in the second year of PSSA scores and it is not enough for comparison.

“It comes down to our students in our desks,” she said.

Approval was given with Musical Theatre International for the middle school production of “Peter Pan Jr.” in the amount of $685.

Coming from the student activity fund and general fund will be $1,602 to Bieber Transportation to take the Science Team to Islip, N.Y., Dec. 10.

The clay shoot was a success for the Northwestern Lehigh Education Foundation.

A breakfast fundraiser is scheduled at Applebee’s, South Whitehall, in February.

Two new members are needed to fill out the education foundation board.

The timeline for requesting mini grants has been moved up to now so teachers will get the grants earlier, said Leann Stitzel, director of curriculum.

A letter received by board secretary Todd Hernandez from April Hofmann objected to the evaluation methods.

High school Principal Aileen Yadush said the rating scale should be discussed. Hernandez said they are understood by the local colleges but may not be by more distant ones.

Dellicker said it is apparently not a new issue and should be studied further and put on the 2017 docket.

Wright said it becomes a passionate issue for parents to whom it is a big issue.

Ben Heintzelman, a Life Scout of Boy Scout Troop 261, chartered at Ziegel’s Church, attended to earn his Citizenship and Community badge. He said he has a project in mind for Eagle but it still needs approval.

Operations Manager Arthur Oakes thanked Orefield Cold Storage for allowing the school to store foods there without charge when the district’s coolers and freezers were down.

Berlet said the number of veterans visiting her school for Veterans Day doubled from last year.

On Nov. 14, the high school had inductions for 52 new members in the National Honor Society. There were 47 juniors and five seniors. Honorary members Dominic Mertz and Megan Rebert were recognized.

The Cardinal principles for honor society members were: character explained by Ryan Overstrom, scholarship by Kyle Bellhorn, leadership by Elizabeth Fornauf and service by Paige Stitzel.

The new members were presented by Kelly Bleam and Nicole Zimmerman, advisors. Their acceptance was by Assistant High School Principal Donald Allen.

Candles were lit as the poem, “Tremendous Achievements” by Barbara Cage and Zimmerman was read.

There were 40 members before the new ones joined the society.

The program was recorded by students and broadcast the following morning at the school.