Northwestern Lehigh school directors were joined by a number of young civic-minded audience members at their Feb. 19 meeting.

Board President Willard Dellicker and Vice President Todd Hernandez welcomed Boy Scouts from Troop 89 of Ontelaunee Rod & Gun Club, who attended the meeting to work on their Citizenship in the Community merit badge.

In other matters, two meeting topics were the unveiling of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate, which defines the key skills students should have upon graduation to be productive and upstanding citizens, and the comprehensive plan.

Superintendent Jennifer Holman said the profile has been in the works since January 2019.

She said the district received feedback from alumni, parents, staff and community members who contributed skills and “habits of mind” necessary for students to thrive post-graduation and will drive the district’s planning.

“If this is where we think students need to be where they graduate, how do we build our goals ... build our professional development plans and what do we focus our development to develop each of these,” Holman said.

The final profile, organized around a compass, includes the six qualities - community minded, team player, emotionally intelligent, critical thinker, continuous learner and effective communicator - to be a successful Northwestern Lehigh graduate.

Holman noted that over the next few years the profile would be rolled out to faculty, and that the final points will be further defined to suit each school in the district.

She added the plan’s qualities would be integrated into the curriculum and teaching structure so that students are building toward a unified “end in mind” across their school career.

Building off the profile, Assistant Superintendent Troy Sosnovik, Ed.D. discussed the district’s comprehensive plan, a review process and plan of action conducted every three years to set the district’s road map, needs and goals.

He noted the new plan would use the new graduate profile as the guide to set goals, and that the planning process would continue until the Nov. 30 deadline.

He announced the process would begin with a revalidation of the district’s mission, vision and shared values, with the kickoff meeting taking place March 11 in the high school auditorium.

“It’s really going to help define where we’re going for the next three years.” Sosnovik said.

Dellicker added comments about the plan.

“This brings together all of the social skills and the work ethic, the well-rounded picture of a student that we’re fostering through this school system here,” Dellicker said.

Another discussion addressed charter school reform.

Board members were provided with a letter and fact sheet detailing the effect of charter and cyber schools on the district, and the financial impact of proposed state charter reforms.

Holman noted that “when a student leaves Northwestern Lehigh ... and goes to a charter or a cyber school” approximately $14,000 is paid for a regular student’s tuition and $30,000 for special education tuition.

In total, the district sends approximately $600,000 to cyber schools and $2 million to charter schools annually.

Holman also said based on recent data, in-district students have performed better academically than nearly every cyber or charter school.

In response to board members’ questions on how they will address reform regarding advocacy over school choice, Holman said the letter calls for addressing deficiencies with the current charter model, not the elimination of charter schools.

“We’re not upset that they exist and don’t advocate that charter schools or cyber schools go away,” she said. “We do believe they should be accountable.

“Their performance should be transparent, and their funding should be appropriate.”

Dellicker noted he supported the choice afforded by charters in certain circumstances.

“[However] to take a school like we have here that is a high achieving school ... pulling this kind of money from our school to put a kid in a charter school because it’s different, I can’t support that.”

The board agreed to reach out to local legislators to discuss the effect of cyber and charter schools on the district, as well as possible reform measures.

Regarding other business, Holman congratulated Business Administrator Leslie Frisbie for her recertification as a school business administrator by the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials.

Human Resources Director Luann Matika announced the hiring of Julianne Staskowski as a part-time instructional assistant and the retirement of special education teachers Jacqueline Cougle and Elizabeth Nemeth after 29 and 33 years with the district, respectively.

Dellicker welcomed Staskowski and said the retirees will be recognized at a future meeting.

He and Sosnovik noted that a new policy concerning video surveillance and recording on school grounds remains open to public comments, and board members approved policies regarding emergency preparedness, relations with law enforcement agencies and school security personnel.

The board approved the elementary reconfiguration recommendation discussed in the January meeting, which proposes to continue operating two kindergarten through fifth grade elementary schools without boundary line changes and monitor new housing developments and enrollments.

Holman also stated Northwestern and Weisenberg elementary schools have 54 and 45 incoming kindergarten registrations, respectively, as of the meeting date.

Under district finances, Frisbie noted for the 2020-21 budget, the district was looking at an approximately $3.5 million shortfall without any millage increases.

Frisbie said there were recent budgetary discussions about possibly raising $1 million in taxes by raising the millage to the max index and using either the partial or full Act 1 Exception for special education, which will likely be approved in March.

She said work will continue on budget documents and assumptions, which will be brought back for April, May and June workshops and meetings for proposals and final approval.

Board members also approved the annual budgets for Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, as well as respective district contributions.

Regarding the district’s insurance, Frisbie said that the district was in the process of evaluating whether to join a workers’ compensation consortium and may propose a change at renewal time.

She also said active shooter potential and pollution coverages will be brought back for evaluation.

LeAnn Stitzel, director of curriculum and technology, announced the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation board is looking to fill an open position and asked that applicants visit the foundation’s website to express interest.

Dellicker said LCCC has an opening for a trustee-at-large and asked for candidates to submit their application forms by March 13.

Finally, Police Chief Jonathan Nederostek said the high school law enforcement club has begun meeting and 18 students, including 10 girls, have signed up.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 18.