At its March 22 board meeting, Bethlehem Area School Board members approved the return to in-person education four days per week for elementary students; authorized the purchase of math coaching from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and authorized bid solicitations for HVAC projects at six elementary schools. The HVAC replacements will be funded by the third round of federal coronavirus-related emergency relief measures.

The board also voted to accept the recommended human resources actions, including the retirement of five key district administrators: Principal Michael LaPorta of Freedom HS, Principal Jill Moran of James Buchanan ES, Principal Joseph Rahs of Northeast MS, Principal Deborah Roeder of Miller Heights ES, and Supervisor of English Learner Services Carol Schachter. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy and Board President Mike Faccinetto thanked these individuals for their key services to the district over the years, and anticipated individual recognitions at the end of the school year. Parents and teachers will be invited to provide input to the selection process to hire new school principals.

The board also paid routine bills; selected the winning bid for the transportation bus lift; approved the district’s contribution to the vo-tech program, intermediate unit and community college; and approved memoranda of understanding with local police departments.

Roy recognized Chief Financial Officer Stacy Gober, who received the Pa. Assoc. of School Business Officials (PASBO) Gary Reiser Award for professionalism, superior job performance, and development of innovative ideas. Gober was nominated by her PASBO colleagues, then selected as the statewide winner.

Liberty HS representative Joshua Lee reported that the Mini-THON will be held May 22 in person, in four separate intervals at Freedom HS. Lee encouraged seniors to complete the prom survey that they have received. Freedom HS representative Katherine Marakovits reported to the board from the theater room. She noted that the theater company plans to hold a live performance of “Pippin” in early June at BASD Stadium.

Responding to questions about coronavirus mitigation while increasing in-person instruction for elementary students, Roy shared planned strategies, including distributing breakfast at the end of the school day so students can eat it at home the following morning, and spreading out students who eat a school-issued breakfast in a spare room. Because of the district’s commitment to six-foot distancing for all personnel when unmasked, Roy said the principals will have the flexibility to expand lunchtimes, with the district willing to pay lunch monitors for additional time in order to spread students out. The facilities department is working with diagrams of school rooms, as well as working with building administrators to increase ventilation. All strategies are being compiled into an FAQ document.

Chief Human Resources Officer Russell Giordano said that as of the time of the meeting, there were no elementary classrooms that could not accommodate all the children with three-foot distances. He and Spring Garden ES Principal Dr. Eric Smith will continue to work together to analyze data from the Child Accounting department to ensure that student-to-classroom assignments maintain the required three feet of space among students. Board members Shannon Patrick and Angela Sinkler offered profuse thanks to the teachers and school staff who have been working under very unusual conditions all year, and thanked them for working to bring the youngest students back for more in-school time.

As discussed at the March 15 facilities committee meeting, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III funds forthcoming from the federal government must be spent within three years, and carry no promise of renewal. CFO Gober recommended that the board consider spending the lion’s share of these funds – nearly $28.3 million of the district’s projected $33.1 million allotment – to replace the HVAC systems at Freemansburg, Miller Heights, Governor Wolf, Calypso, James Buchanan, and Hanover elementary schools. Because improved ventilation is part of the district’s coronavirus mitigation efforts, and because this capital improvement will benefit students and staff for many years to come, the board voted to authorize the design and bid process for these six schools.

All nine members were present; all measures passed 9-0, with one abstention on a single check.