While the start of classes for students for the 2019-20 school year is Aug. 26 in Northampton Area School District, the first day for teachers and staff was Aug. 19, an in-service day.

Teachers and staff also reported Aug. 20, 21 and 22.

Kindergarten student orientation continues 2 p.m. Aug. 22 at Moore Elementary School. Borough’s first-grade orientation is 9:30 a.m. Aug. 23.

The Northampton Area High School Big “N” Band camp continues 4-8 p.m. Aug. 22, with rehearsal 1-5 p.m. Aug. 24. Northampton Area Middle School and NAHS will have their family day and picnic 6 p.m. Aug. 24. NAHS student picture day is Aug. 27.

At the Aug. 12 NASD Board of Education meeting, enrollment increases required hiring two kindergarten teachers, one at George Wolf Elementary School and one at Lehigh Elementary School.

The administration may update the school board on kindergarten enrollment at the next board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 in the meeting room of the NASD Administration Building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

The two kindergarten teachers hired are new positions, NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said. “The money was allocated in the 2019-20 budget for these positions.”

Kindergarten students enrolling late in the summer resulted in an increase in class size.

“We saw an increase of about 30 kindergarten students over the summer with two weeks still to go,” Kovalchik said after the Aug. 12 school board meeting.

Kindergarten enrollment is 322 as of Aug. 20: George Wolf Elementary, 71; Lehigh Elementary, 71; Moore Elementary, 52, and Borough Elementary Schools, 128. There are 17 kindergarten teachers. The average kindergarten class size is 18 students.

Elementary school enrollment is 2,215. Middle school enrollment is 1,346. High school enrollment is 1,860. Total NASD enrollment is 5,421.

“The enrollment fluctuates with students moving in and out, especially this time of the year,” Kovalchik said.

In addition, there are 35 cyberschool students in the district.

“We have averaged anywhere between 5,300 and 5,500 students over the past several years. A more ‘Konkrete’ enrollment number will be at the start of September when school gets underway,” Kovalchik added.

In other business at the Aug. 12 meeting, school directors voted 9-0, at the recommendation of the administration, to approve:

• Adrea Diehl, resignation, special education teacher, effective Aug. 14

• Ashten Oswald, special education teacher, Siegfried Elementary School, effective Aug. 19, at $52,755 annually, with benefits

• Lori Giaquinto, special education teacher, Siegfried Elementary, effective Aug. 19, at $58,044 annually, with benefits

• Colene Haas, special education instructional assistant, NAMS effective Aug. 19, at $16.34 per hour, with benefits

• Michelle Everhart, special education 1:1 instructional assistant, NAMS, effective Aug. 19, at $13.07 per hour, with benefits