Northampton Area School District expects to receive an increase of $1.5 million in basic education and special education funding as part of the 2023 Pennsylvania budget.

That’s an increase of $1.1 million compared to the state funding NASD had expected and included in the district’s 2023-24 budget.

“We budgeted for a $400,000 increase” (in the 2023-24 district budget),” said NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik in a phone interview with the Northampton Press. “So, the difference is $1.1 million. That will go right back into the district fund balance.”

When asked in an email Sept. 1 what the NASD fund balance would be with the addition of the state funds, Kovalchik replied, “Currently, we are completing our audit for the last fiscal year. Once that audit is completed, we will have a total fund balance amount, which will include the money from the state, hopefully, by the October board meeting.”

According to Kovalchik, NASD is not eligible for any of an additional $100 million in the Level Up program earmarked in the 2023 state budget for the state’s poorest school districts.

Kovalchik outlined the 2023-24 district goals at the Aug. 14 school board meeting.

“We’ll have basic discussions. It ties in with the budget presentation,” Kovalchik told school directors and the audience in the Northampton Area High School auditorium.

“The thing about goals is that they evolve,” Kovalchik said, introducing his 20-minute presentation. “It’s important that we evolve and adapt.”

The NASD 2023-24 goals include the following:

1. Enhance educational opportunities in all academic areas with a focus on literacy, mathematics, science and social studies by focusing on professional learning and curriculum development.

“This has been the same goal since I’ve been superintendent,” said Kovalchik during the presentation regarding goal one. “This year, we want to stay the course in programs we have in place. We don’t see a lot of changes in curriculum. We’ll be preparing for the new science standards.”

2. Continue to explore and implement opportunities for students to develop College and Career Readiness skills, including the integration of the NASD profile of a graduate competencies into the K-12 curriculum.

“The state added some components in April,” Kovalchik said.

3. Continue the implementation of the district special education plan, including continued professional development to address the goals of the plan and data-based decision making to improve student academic and behavior outcomes.

“Special education is 19% of the student population (in NASD),” Kovalchik said, referring to the third goal.

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

“This is something the district has been focused on for many years,” Kovalchik said. “This past year, as part of a grant, we hired two social workers.”

5. Review and enhance safety plans, policies and resources in collaboration with staff, students, community members and first responders.

“We’ve always had a great relationship with our first emergency responders,” Kovalchik commented.

NASD has four police officers who are armed and 10 security officers.

“One of the things we do is tabletop exercises. One we did in June; it had to do with a cyberattack,” Kovalchik said.

6. Finalize and communicate plans to address capital projects, student enrollment and financial impact.

“This is something we’ve been talking about since the 2019-20 school year - for example, HVAC systems, windows,” Kovalchik said of goal six.

Also, at the Aug. 14 meeting, school directors voted 9-0 to approve the following: Aurora Edwards, special education instructional assistant, Northampton Area Middle School, effective Aug. 21, at $18.88 per hour, with benefits; Rokhaya Diabakhate, one-to-one special education instructional assistant, NAMS, effective Aug. 28, at $18.88 per hour, with benefits; Samantha Zuber, one-to-one special education instructional assistant, Franklin Elementary School, as of Aug. 21, at $18.88 per hour, with benefits; Mary Beers, special education instructional assistant, NAHS, effective Aug. 21, at $18.88 per hour, with benefits; and Jay Muhr, hall monitor, NAMS, effective Aug. 28, at $18.63 per hour.

The board of education’s next monthly meeting is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the auditorium, NAHS, 1619 Laubach Ave.