Eight goals have been announced for 2022-23 in Northampton Area School District.

NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik presented the goals at the July 18 board of education meeting.

“There are eight overarching goals,” Kovalchik said. “The development of them began last fall. A lot of things are factored into them, such as the budget, academic data and security.”

The goals emphasize student academic excellence, the comprehensive plan, special education, mental health, safety, capital projects, staffing and IT.

Kovalchik explained the goals had traditionally been included in the annual district budget presentation. Because the 2022-23 budget was first presented in December 2021, Kovalchik held off on outlining the goals.

After the annual administration retreat in June, a draft of the goals was presented to the school board. The draft included information from public surveys undertaken for the comprehensive plan, which is on the district website.

“We combined all that information that we developed as a team, and that’s what we focus on,” Kovalchik said.

The 2022-23 district goals, and the order in which they were presented by Kovalchik, are:

• Implement classroom instructional strategies that promote collaborative learning to improve student growth in all academic areas

• Continue the development and plan for implementation of the district comprehensive plan and revised district mission, vision and profile of a graduate, focusing on elevating educational opportunities for all students

• Implement year one of the district special education plan to include professional development focusing on literacy and IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) development and a continued focus on improving our instructional services in the least restrictive environment

•?Collaborate with outside agencies to develop partnerships to address mental health, counseling and supports for students, staff and families

•? Review and enhance safety plans in collaboration with staff, students, community members and first responders

• Finalize and communicate plans to address capital projects and student enrollment

• Develop a plan that addresses the hiring of quality staff members and the retention of staff members and provides the necessary trainings and mentorship needed to offer support and enhance all areas of the district

• Develop and implement plans to improve the instructional technology and the data security and disaster recovery plans

In other business, Kovalchik and the Route 329 project administrative team attended the East Allen Township Planning Commission July 7 meeting.

District representatives presented to planners the subdivision and land development plan for the proposed new elementary school and education center on the district-owned Route 329 property.

East Allen planners addressed their concerns, including water, sewer and traffic, Kovalchik said.

“[East Allen planners] made some recommendations to us to adjust. We’ll submit it again and we’ll go back to the planning commission,” Kovalchik said.

The updated Route 329 plan is to be presented at either the 7 p.m. Aug. 4 or 7 p.m. Sept. 1 East Allen planners’ meeting at the East Allen Township Municipal Building, 5344 Nor-Bath Blvd.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation traffic study for the Route 329 project was received July 6 by the district, Kovalchik said.

On the district website, in addition to a copy of the June 16 presentation about the Route 329 project, there’s a Frequently Asked Questions document concerning the NASD elementary school options and facilities improvements Route 329 project.

At the July 19 school board meeting, Kovalchik reported NASD received an additional $1.9 million in Pennsylvania Department of Education funding for 2022-23.

At the board meeting, Kovalchik confirmed that, based on his information, the receipt of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds is not contingent on a school district having a face-mask mandate.

The NASD updated health and safety plan, which is on the district website, was approved at the June board meeting. The plan has a trigger mechanism that would require the wearing of face masks in district buildings contingent on the COVID-19 mitigation chart, which is on the district website.

Kovalchik said the health and safety plan could be brought back for an additional vote at the August board meeting, but school directors did not indicate their preference for doing so at the July 18 meeting.

Kovalchik said it’s uncertain as to whether the COVID-19 dashboard, which was required by Pennsylvania, will be back on the district website by Aug. 29, when the 2022-23 school year begins. During the 2021-22 school year, the COVID-19 dashboard listed weekly updates of the number of confirmed cases in district schools and the administration building.

“The thing we’re concerned about most is the community spread inside the schools. It’s not so much the number of cases,” Kovalchik said.

The school board approved retirements, new hires and other matters at its monthly meeting, held July 18 in the auditorium of Northampton Area High School. The approximate two-hour meeting was attended by eight of the nine school board members and 20 members of the public.

School directors voted 8-0 to approve, at the recommendation of the administration, Trina Williams, supervisor of psychological services, with an annual prorated salary of $90,000, effective July 19, and the resignation of Steven Kachmar, supervisor of psychological services, effective June 30.

Kovalchik said NASD has continued to take psychological services staffing in-house in recent years.

Board members also approved the contract with Behavioral Health Associates to provide education and behavioral services to students and the ABA Support Services LCC contract for students with disabilities by ACCESS funds.

The NASD Board of Education’s next scheduled meeting is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8 in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.