Northampton Area School District is not planning to hire a community relations coordinator. The school board decided to not advertise a Request For Proposal (RFP) for a community relations coordinator or firm.

The topic was broached by NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik at the Aug. 8 school board meeting.

“There’s been much talk about community relations,” Kovalchik began during his monthly report to the board. “One of those options is to hire a community relations coordinator.”

Kovalchik said the board could authorize the district to advertise an RFP to hire a person or a company.

“Do we feel this is something we need here at Northampton?” board President James Chuss asked.

“I don’t think we need either,” school Director Robert Mentzell said. “Our administration does a fine job communicating.”

“I think the administration does a terrific job communicating with the public,” school Director Doug Vaughn said, adding, “I think the administration should livestream (school board) meetings.”

“I feel we could do better as a board,” school Director Kim Bretzik said. “We could put more of our online agenda, so the public could be more informed. Livestreaming would be a very good thing for us to consider. We need to be more robust when we communicate, not only with the parents, but with the community.”

“I believe we do a great job communicating,” school Director Ross Makary said.

“Our staff does do a wonderful job,” Chuss said, adding, ”I speak with Joe (Kovalchik) at least one time a day, sometimes more often.”

“Some of the things that come across my desk are interesting,” Kovalchik said. “I’ve been hearing a lot about communicating over the last year. We started these videos, and they’re very popular.”

“We are not top-heavy (in staffing). We don’t have a lot of people sitting around,” Kovalchik said.

“Perhaps a part-time position?” asked Chuss, regarding a community relations coordinator. “Can we have the person attend sports events and take pictures?”

“I wish more people would go to our website,” Kovalchik said.

“I receive tremendous positive feedback on the district as a whole and the way we communicate,” Kovalchik said.

At the Aug. 8 meeting, the board agreed to video record its monthly meetings held in the auditorium of Northampton Area High School and post the audio and sound recordings the day after the meeting. The video recordings might start with the October board meeting.

Kovalchik posts video chats frequently on the district’s YouTube channel. Kovalchik posted a video chat Aug. 10 concerning the start of the 2022-23 school year. To view it, visit youtube.com/watch?v=6ICGd8b3vA4.

The first day of classes in NASD is Aug. 29.

In other business at the Aug. 8 meeting, school directors voted unanimously to approve:

Personnel

Adam Eisenberg, social studies teacher, NAHS, effective Aug. 22, at $63,031 with benefits; Tina Harding, elementary library science teacher, Borough and George Wolf elementary schools, no later than Oct. 7, at $98,587, prorated with benefits; Jessica Armour, long-term substitute grade 5 teacher, Siegfried Elementary School, no later than Oct. 7, for the 2022-23 school year, at $64,903, prorated with benefits; Lauren Calderon, special education teacher, Siegfried Elementary, no later than Oct. 7, at $75,857, prorated with benefits; Benjamin Leavitt, instrumental music teacher, Northampton Area Middle School, effective Aug. 22, at $57,155 with benefits; David Domchek, long-term substitute special education teacher, George Wolf Elementary, effective Aug. 22, for the 2022-23 school year, at $64,903 with benefits; Ian Luberti, study hall instructional assistant, NAHS, effective Aug. 22, at $14.10 per hour; Tara Dugas, 12-month district school psychologist, no later than Oct. 7, at $88,500, prorated with benefits; contract between NASD and Sarah Aduddell, psychoeducational evaluator, Aug. 9-June 30, 2023, with provided services to not exceed $40,000; assistants to athletic director for 2022-23 school year: Jacob Hunsberger, fall season Aug. 15-Oct. 1, at $2,028.18; Daniele Bowman, fall season Oct. 3-Nov. 24, at $2,221.34; and Michael Missmer, winter and spring seasons, at $4,250 per season; resignation of Connor Barz, music teacher, effective July 21; and job description for technology technician

Policy

Revised and new policies for adoption - 200: enrollment of students; 202.1: education of children residing with an adult other than natural and/or custodial parent; 218: student discipline; and 237: electronic devices; and filing of the district-initiated tax assessment appeals for the properties recommended for appeal based on policy 628 guidelines

Finances

Five-year renewal agreement with K12 Systems Inc., Allentown, for Student Information System and Special Education software licensing, support and hosting at $149,941 annually; subscription with EduTek Solutions LLC for inventory management and help-desk ticketing software at a cost of $7,990; and PlanCon Part K, project refinancing and submit PlanCon Part K to Pennsylvania Department of Education

The next board of education meeting is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

An Act 34 public hearing on the proposed elementary school and education center on the Route 329 property is set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the NAMS cafeteria, 1617 Laubach Ave., Northampton.