Mila Hayes from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association presented service certificates to Paul Fisher and Todd Hernandez, both for eight years; Darryl Schafer, 12 years; and Bill Dellicker, 24 years at the Northwestern Lehigh School Board’s Nov. 15 meeting.

The service certificates are presented to school board members at eight years and then every four years of service thereafter.

Hayes said school boards are expected to provide more service to students with less resources.

Board members are away from their families for many hours doing the volunteer work, she said, adding the honors for school board members began in 1983 for the men and women who exemplify this leadership.

During public comment, Joe Reiter thanked Schafer and Fisher, who will not return to the board, for service as both president and vice president during their years of service.

“They worked tirelessly for the community,” he said. People don’t realize how much is involved.

Reiter said Lehigh County Technical Institute needs some occupational advisory board members.

“Maybe we can get some of these people to volunteer,” he said, turning toward the audience.

“I think every kid they educate should get a job.”

In other business, building principals gave a review of what was done to honor veterans for Veterans Day.

A PowerPoint presentation was presented beginning with the Statue of Liberty.

Among the musical presentations was “God Bless the USA.”

A resolution was read about the need to find a new superintendent as Mary Anne Wright will be leaving in June 2018.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Holman is expected to be approved at the January 2018 board meeting.

Holman said she has a solid foundation.

“I will listen and I will learn,” she told the board.

Elementary school Principals Jill Berlet and Maria Pullo gave a presentation on student achievement, and an informational update on each school.

They explained all scores were above state average regarding student performance profiles and achievement in math, English language arts, writing skills and science.

They also noted science is an area of strength for the students.

“Care has to be taken to teach the curriculum and not the textbook,” they advised.

“Our teachers are pros at writing curriculum,” Wright said, adding scores tell where improvement is needed.

She said there is a concern that focus must be on a fundamental level and not on the state average.

The curriculum council will meet 1 p.m. on Dec. 11.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction Leann Stitzel said a great deal of investigation goes into curriculum.

“We take a look at the vision,” Stitzel said.

“What should the program do?”

Operations Manager Arthur Oakes said a small phone problem at transportation has grown and he had to reroute calls.

Oakes said Ironton Telephone Company is being helpful. More information is expected to be known by December.

A wing night is being sponsored Feb. 24, 2018, by the Northwestern Lehigh Education Foundation. Additional details will be available at a later date.

One hundred eighteen students participated in the scavenger hunt during Pioneer Day, sponsored by the Lynn Heidelberg Historical Society recently in Ontelaunee Park.