The Summer Bridge program is back for Northampton Area School District students in grades kindergarten through 12.

The summer program offers in-person academic classes in core academic areas to “bridge student learning from this school year to next school year due to the pandemic,” according to an email statement from Joseph S. Kovalchik, superintendent of schools.

NASD is also providing high school, college and career readiness workshops throughout the summer. Information about the workshops is to be sent to parents and guardians when programs are finalized, the email stated.

The Summer Bridge program includes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) courses taught by NASD teachers.

“Classes will be offered by grade level and/or content area so that students can get a jump start to the 2022-23 school year,” states a brochure, which includes an image of a covered bridge.

The first session is June 13-30, with the second session July 18-Aug. 4. Each three-week session is four days, Monday-Thursday. The program is free. It’s offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration deadline was May 1.

Students entering grades K-5 are at the Siegfried building, 9-11 a.m. Drop-off starts 8:30 a.m. Students entering grades 6-8 are at Northampton Area Middle School, 9-11 a.m.

Students entering grades 9-12 are at Northampton Area High School, 9-11 a.m.

Grade levels are determined by the grade level that students will be entering in the 2022-23 school year.

Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their children to and from the programs. NASD is not providing transportation.

Parents/guardians were advised to send inquiries to Katie Trach, NASD elementary curriculum supervisor, at trachk@nasdschools.org, or Scott Oste, NASD secondary curriculum supervisor, at ostes@nasdschools.org.

For more information, visit nasdschools.org/summer.

At the April 11 board of education meeting, school directors voted 7-0, with two directors absent, to approve:

Personnel

Kaitlyn Doddy, supervisor of special education for curriculum and instruction, effective July 1, at $84,000, with benefits; Rebecca Markham, social studies teacher, NAHS, effective Aug. 22, at $63,031, with benefits; John Toman, mathematics teacher, NAHS, effective Aug. 22, at $57,155, with benefits; Megan Dunstan, art teacher, Moore Elementary School, effective Aug. 22, at $59,177, with benefits; Curtis Reigle, mathematics, science teacher, NAHS, effective Aug. 22, for 2022-23, at $60,303, with benefits; Darlene Pagano, special education teacher, NAHS, effective Aug. 22, at $85,731, with benefits; Adam Eisenberg, social studies teacher, NAMS, effective Aug. 22, at $63,031, with benefits; Sally Fredericks, transportation, personnel secretary, effective April 25, at $19.05 per hour, with benefits; Ryan Kirschman, maintenance employee, effective April 25, at $24.41 per hour, with benefits; Beth Trexler, full-year sabbatical for professional development, for the 2022-23 school year; Monica Leonhardt, special education instructional assistant, resignation for retirement, effective June 2; Adam Bastidas, mathematics teacher, resignation, effective June 3

Policy

Revised and new policies for adoption - discrimination: Title IX sexual harassment affecting students, discrimination: Title IX sexual harassment affecting staff; extracurricular participation by home education students; threat assessment; public participation in board meetings

Facilities

Lehigh Elementary School general construction change order of $42,619.50 for modifications along Blue Mountain Road required by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and electrical construction change of $45,000 (credit) for a portion of unused allowances

Finances

2022-23 Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 general operating budget of $3,835,200 with NASD portion, $43,894.88; Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit nonmember school district and charter schools special education services agreement; contract with Alternative Transportation Solutions to provide additional transportation options for NASD students

Miscellaneous

Annual election of Intermediate Unit board of directors: nominate Dr. Michael Baird as NASD representative to the CIU 20 board of directors for three-year term, July 1-June 30, 2025; NAMS student activity account: NAMS Video Game Club

COVID-19 dashboard

The NASD website COVID-19 data dashboard seven-day building totals, April 26-May 2, as of May 2, are NAHS, 4; NAMS, 1; Borough Elementary Schools, 1; Moore Elementary, 3; Lehigh Elementary, 0; George Wolf Elementary School, 0; district administration building, 0.

The number of positive cases of COVID in NASD for the 2021-22 school year to date is 1,166.

The board of education next meets 6:30 p.m. May 9 in the auditorium at NAHS, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.