A program to teach English to parents is being offered free of charge in Northampton Area School District.

“Embracing English for Adults,” to be held virtually, will be taught by staff members Stephanie Szoke, Robin Matis and Jennifer Gensits.

The seven-night course is planned over three weeks. It will run 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 4, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17 and 18. Information is on the NASD website, nasdschools.org.

There is no cost to the district for the program. Staff members will be paid with Title III funds.

The NASD Board of Education voted 8-0, with one school director absent at the Oct. 25 meeting, to approve the program and instructors.

In his report to the school board, NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said the administration received notification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that the Act 1 Index is 4.2 for NASD for the 2022-23 school year budget.

A school district can apply to the DEP for an exception to allow a higher percentage of annual tax hike. NASD has applied for and received exceptions but has not implemented them.

“Mr. Sawarynski and I will begin presentations about the budget in January,” Kovalchik said. “More information is to come in the coming months.”

Matthew Sawarynski is the NASD business administrator.

Northampton Area High School Principal Luke Shafnisky announced several students have received national academic honors.

The National Merit Scholarship notified Shafnisky that NAHS commended students are seniors Caitlin Stoudt and Rachel Kulp. Each receives a letter of commendation. Shafnisky said the students are in the top 3 percent in the scholarship program.

The College Board honored senior Isabella Pina in the National Hispanic Recognition Program.

“We’re very pleased at how our students are doing of late,” Shafnisky said.

In other business, the school board voted 8-0 to approve:

• Retirement of Coy Stampone, business, computer and information technology teacher, effective June 3, 2022

• Retirement of Deborah Hunter, social studies teacher, effective June 3, 2022

• Resignation of Patricia Hall, cafeteria monitor, effective Oct. 15

“We usually never receive (retirement) notification at this time of year. We’ll see if these increase as we go along,” school board President David Gogel said.

The school board also voted 8-0 to approve:

• Kiri Jenny, special education instructional assistant, NAHS, effective Oct. 25, at $13.82 per hour, with benefits

• Revised community education staff positions and stipends for fall of 2021-22 school year

• 2021-22 winter sports season head and assistant coaches with designated payments, effective July 1-June 30, 2022

• Administration to prepare and solicit annual bids for supplies and services for 2022-23 school year: maintenance/custodial supplies, instructional/general supplies, gasoline/diesel and fuel oil/natural gas

“The prices of these items have been volatile. Hopefully, we can lock in prices,” Gogel said.

The public comment portion of the meeting included approximately 30 minutes of statements and questions from 10 residents and approximately 10 minutes of responses from Kovalchik, Sawarynski and NASD Solicitor Atty. C. Steven Miller.

The comments included concerns about the district’s Seemsville project.

“Now we’re becoming a warehouse community. We will have quite the traffic catastrophe on Route 329,” said Maggie Kemp, an East Allen Township resident and former school board member. “Build an administration building, maintenance building and school bus parking lot there but not an elementary school. You do have other options. Look before you leap.”

The NASD COVID-19 dashboard seven-day building totals, for Oct. 19-25, are: NAHS, 3; Northampton Area Middle School, 10; Borough Elementary School, 6; Moore Elementary School, 1; Lehigh Elementary School, 3; George Wolf Elementary School, 1; and district administration, 0.

The board of education next meets 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

Face masks are required, attendees’ personal items are checked at the entrance and attendees walk through a metal detector in the school lobby.