When reading the letter being sent to Saucon Valley on Monday night, Faccinetto said Pakzad has the right to a personal opinion and can disagree with Roy, but shouldnt have made those statements publicly as a school board president. Every Board of Education in the state of New York has legal and financial control over local school matters, subject only to limitations imposed by the United States Constitution, federal law, state law, regulations of the Commissioner of Education and, of course, the will of local residents as expressed in local elections. In his statement, Pakzad noted that Lehigh Valley Academy, where his son attends, has more minority students than Bethlehem Area and Saucon Valley. Speakers are expected to treat others with respect, confining their remarks to School District issues. Morning Call reporter Jacqueline Palochko can be reached at 610-820-6613 or at jpalochko@mcall.com. Bethlehem Area School District teachers secured raises each school year through 2025-26, thanks to an early bird extension to their contract. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind, with a few breaks in the clouds overnight. This is a [state] constitutional obligation that the General Assembly fails to abide by year after year. You have permission to edit this article. We have restored our fiscal health, enhanced academic programs, instituted full-day kindergarten, and did not raise taxes the past two years. WebDuring a school board meeting at the Bethlehem Central School District last month, one of the items covered on the agenda in recognition of pride month was the donation of books covering the LGBTQ+ community to all school libraries. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind, with a few breaks in the clouds overnight. Mtgs. Pakzad called on Roy to apologize and resign. I was very active while my daughter was at Hanover, serving as the PTA president for three years. The Lab School Barbeque will still take place as scheduled on Saturday afternoon. Board members also hold board development and workshop sessions throughout the year. DV.load(https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6581824-Board-Ltr-to-SV-District-121619.js, { Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Shannon Patrick: How to operate online. Presentation: SESS Intensive Skills and ESY, Bethlehem Central Middle School Mike Faccinetto: I believe we should be learning how to adapt to various challenges and uncontrollables. What our teachers, students, and administrators have had to overcome this year would have been unimaginable just 14 months ago. text: false, Error! Keep your comments as concise as possible. Contact Us. WebFreedom High School 3149 Chester Ave Bethlehem, PA 18020 (610) 867-5843. The meeting will also be livestreamed. Kuhns, who has worked in every Perry County school district, At Circle of Seasons, 80% of students are white and almost 11% live in poverty. Mike Faccinetto (incumbent, at large): I have been serving on the board since 2009. No public findings released in $12,000 Bethlehem Area School District personnel investigation. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind, with a few breaks in the clouds overnight. View the October 12, 2022 Board minutes here. sidebar: false, creative cooperation and individual growth, Families from Governor Wolf, Lincoln, and Spring Garden elementary schools celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with their own Hispanic Heritage Nights! Patrick ran the meeting in place of President Michael Faccinetto, who was absent. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The buses, manufactured by Thomas, will seat 81 and will be delivered to BASD this summer. [unless otherwise noted]. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? We invited the candidates for the Bethlehem Area SD school board to respond to a set of questions about the current state and future challenges of the school All rights reserved. Costs are not to exceed $510,000. Roy was asked why parents choose to send their children to charter schools. View the February 15, 2023 Board agenda here. jmonroe@bethlehemschools.org. All Board meetings are open to the public. The proposal to have the school's auditorium renamed in honor Santoro was presented by the board of trustees of the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District. Jeffrey A. Kuhns has been appointed as the new superintendent of West Perry School District. I have a doctorate in music performance from the Eastman School of Music. YouTube Bethlehem Area School District Bethlehem Area School District Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Executive session start time is 6 p.m. A final schedule will be updated here. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Video broadcast for the meeting can be found here at 6:55 p.m. Essentially, I am a concerned parent. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Search results from our Services may contain copyrighted material and, if so, you may not use such content unless you obtain permission from its owner or are otherwise permitted by law. Superintendent Joseph Roy said capacity restrictions will be lifted at plays and assemblies. View our accessibility statement. Let me be crystal clear, this board, all nine publicly elected members, support Dr. Roy and echo his comments, Faccinetto said Monday night. Perfection will receive $275,358 and Searock will earn $218,378. Orlando, Florida. Direct your comments to the Board; do not turn and speak to the audience. The district has allowed other religious groups to use space, under its policy. Superintendent Joseph Roy gave his endorsement of the renaming of the auditorium at the board's Sept. 13 meeting, describing Santoro's "deep history and commitment to that part of the community." View the November 16, 2022 Board video here. The minutes from the past school year can be found by clicking here, For minutes from previous school years, please click this link, the district has a helpful reference guide of who to contact when an issue arises, Capital Region BOCES Communications Service. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Mike Faccinetto: There have been many things I am proud of, from our fiscal health to full-day kindergarten to the Reading by Grade 3 initiative, but our equity work is top of my list. Board Facilities and Curriculum Comm. All rights reserved. The Board values and welcomes civil, respectful statements and clear, concise communications that inform its deliberations. BETHLEHEM, Pa. The Bethlehem Area School District announced Monday night an investigation of Superintendent Joseph Roy has concluded. There was an error processing your request. View the July 11, 2022 Board minutes here. Below is a schedule of Board of Education meetings for the 2022-23 school fiscal year. View the October 26, 2022 Board video here. Meetings are occasionally added during the school year, particularly in February and March for budget discussions. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. View the January 4, 2023 Board minutes here. Virtual learning highlighted a serious lack of technology resources for many students. We will expand on this in the coming months by adopting a formal equity policy that will draw a line in the sand for all to see exactly what we are committed to for our students. Shannon Patrick: Besides the usual funding issues, presently our students are experiencing a significant learning loss due to the pandemic. Meetings are also televised on BCN-TV at 6 p.m. on Sundays. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM President Michael Faccinetto said the next month's committee meeting will be combined, scheduled tentatively for April 20, with the regular monthly meeting the following week, April 27. Lyons of Allentown for independent commissioning, testing, adjusting and balancing services in the amount of $67,680. Such charges or complaints should be presented directly to the Superintendent. #BASDignite #BASDproud #nationalhispanicheritagemonth #hispanicheritagemonth #lehighvalley #bethlehempa, A post shared by Bethlehem Area School District (@bethlehemareasd) on Oct 16, 2019 at 5:44am PDT. View the April 5, 2023 Board agenda here. WebEvent Representative. Four directors were physically present during Monday night's meeting, while four others attended the meeting remotely. Bethlehem Central Board of Education meetings are usually held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. At times our School Board may need to attend Executive Session meetings. A 1967 Liberty High School graduate, Santoro served as an administrator at Broughal for 28 years most of that time as its principal, retiring in 2010. Alozie will replace former Director Roy Ortiz, who recently resigned. As your representatives, the Board exercises the communitys rights to citizen control over public education. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Error! Also, directors authorized the Roy administration and D'Huy Engineering to prepare specifications and solicit bids to replace the HVAC systems at Farmersville Elementary School during the 2021 summer months. 1516 Sycamore Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017, 610-861-0500 - Built by Bethlehem. View the June 21, 2023 Board agenda here. MetaSearch is intended for research, information and reference purposes only. BCHS Room D-122, 7 p.m. We must use this to distribute state education dollars so each district gets what they need. We also must be more responsive to social injustices that any current policy or practice causes. View the December 7, 2022 Board video here. He then mentioned race as an issue too. The Bethlehem Area School District, in partnership with the home and community, is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment in which each This policy was outlined in their updated Health and Safety plan. Presentation: State of the Schools, BCHS Room D-122, 7 p.m. An archive of Board of Education meetings in video format can be found on the. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Board Finance & Human Resources Comm. The district is not responsible for facts or opinions contained on any linked site. WebRegular board meetings start at 7 pm and are on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Monday night, Faccinetto said he knows families over the years who have made the choice to send their child to a charter school because of that reason. My career has balanced performance, teaching and administration. We have a fair funding formula that was adopted and signed into law in a bipartisan fashion. The Board president may rule any speaker out of order who makes such statements. 4 UNTIL 1 p.m. Bethlehem Area School Board letter to Saucon Valley board over superintendents charter school comments (PDF), Bethlehem Area School Board letter to Saucon Valley board over superintendents charter school comments (Text). In addition to its regular meetings, it is sometimes necessary for the Board to hold executive sessions. Presentation: Setting the Tax Rate, BCHS Room D-122, 7 p.m. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Roy also said in a video following the meeting that masks are optional on transportation, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on Feb. 25 indicating that it would no longerrequire mask-wearing on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems. WebThe Board of School Directors approved the retirement of Russell Giordano, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Bethlehem Area School District, at their Board Meeting on Visit the Adobe website to download the free Acrobat Reader. But other charter schools have less diversity. It is the goal of the Bethlehem Central Schools that this website is accessible to all users. WebBethlehem Area School District is a large public school district serving the city of Bethlehem and it surrounding boroughs of Fountain Hill and Freemansburg, and Bethlehem and Hanover townships across both Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania . We could soon find out, A windy, cloudy Saturday for the Lehigh Valley, but the sun will come out tomorrow, Six years after hazing death, Penn State plans to drop the Greek life oversight it championed, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61. The board and administration made a commitment to equity, and I am proud of what it has become. All Board meetings are open to the public. If you do wish to address the Board, please keep in mind that school board meetings are business meetings which are held in public. container: #DV-viewer-6581824-Board-Ltr-to-SV-District-121619 P: (518) 439-7481, Jody Monroe, Superintendent of Schools The vote 7-0 vote was not a surprise. There was a problem saving your notification. There was a problem saving your notification. Our Services may display content that does not belong to Emerald Data Solutions or its affiliates. This website was produced by the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service, Albany, NY. Due to the impending snowstorm, all buildings in the Bethlehem Central School District will be CLOSED ON SATURDAY, MAR. But the subject and findings have not been disclosed. Dr. Silagh White: Children do not have equitable access to resources that support their learning and growth outside of the school. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Budget Presentation: Athletics and Operations & Maintenance, BCHS Room D-122, 7 p.m. Some links and features on this site require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. The decision was framed on the agenda as a vote on the BASD health and safety plan, not specifically about masks. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? NEMS Jazz Ensemble @ Broughal Blues Jazz Festival. Bethlehem Area School Board letter to Saucon Valley board over superintendents charter school comments (Text). Jeffrey A. Kuhns has been appointed as the new superintendent of West Perry School District. Meetings begin at 7 p.m., at the Bethlehem Central High School Room D-122, 700 Delaware Ave., Delmar. responsive: true, Policies. The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the high school; Administrators granted approval last week, saying federal law prohibited the district from Bethlehem Central High School, 700 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054, USA March 13, 2023 Spring Sports Begin (HS) March 13, 2023 Slingerlands Camp Fair March 13, 2023 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm BCHS College Fair March 13, 2023 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm BCHS Cafeteria March 14, 2023 Slingerlands PTO Meeting March 14, 2023 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In addition, the board awarded landscaping contracts to Perfection Landscaping and Lawn Care of Bethlehem and Searock's Lawn Care of Bath for three years, with options on two additional years at the existing third-year price. Search results are not intended as legal advice for you or your organization and are not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction. "Since this is a personnel matter, nothing else will be shared," Faccinetto added. Jul 2015 - Sep 20172 years 3 months. Q: (FOR CHALLENGERS ONLY) What was the primary factor motivating you to seek a position on the school board? Principal Michael DiBilio, Asst. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, PennDOT, Senator discuss ongoing plans to put concrete barrier at stretch of Route 33 where crash killed 3 people, More local school districts speaking out against new online trend that's causing major headaches, BASD discusses proposal to rename Broughal auditorium after former principal, BASD superintendent explains district's decision to close school after multiple COVID-19 cases reported, BASD establishes COVID-19 guidelines for indoor sports, BASD's equity policy challenged by city resident, BASD's Faccinetto wants school board out of facility naming, renaming decisions, Champions of Magic's Alex McAleer gives an exciting look at the upcoming live show, Pet of the Month: Nina from Ruff Life Rescue, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor needs volunteers, Allentown Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss's birthday with children's activities, Kindness Project teams up with Flavor Nation to give away free tacos, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, History's Headlines: The Lehigh Valley's music man, Masks to become optional at LVHN facilities, hospitals not associated with patient care, Berks County Parks invites people to their Winter Wellness Walk, Royals host "kids takeover" game where kids get a taste of the sports business, Wilson School students raise $83k to fight childhood cancer, Berks County Intermediate Unit receives $3.18 million in grants for Head Start programs, 'First in the nation' bill to provide free screenings for breast cancer to receive full Pa. Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, Boeing CEO loses $7M bonus, keeps $22.5 million compensation, What the Tech? Thats a fact.. BETHLEHEM, Pa. The Bethlehem Area School District Board of Directors appointed Winston Alozie as director to represent region one. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. The Bethlehem Area School District concluded a $12,000 personnel investigation that began in November. View the April 19, 2023 Board agenda here. There was a problem saving your notification. Roy indicated earlier in February that the district was moving toward dropping the requirement. The Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) adopted a mask-optional policy, approved by the school board in a meeting on Feb. 28. The board also approved the purchase of two electric buses from Rohrer Bus of Duncannon. Presentation: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, BCHS Room D-122, 7 p.m. (This meeting was originally scheduled to take place at Slingerlands Elementary School), BCHS Room D-122, 7 p.m. Q: What is the biggest lesson the school district should be learning from the current coronavirus-affected school year? The Bethlehem Central Board of Education is composed of seven members who serve three-year terms. Please adhere to the following when speaking to the Board during public session: 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054 An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. "The independent investigation conducted by Judge (Emil) Giordano has been completed, and the board reviewed the findings and now considers this investigation to be concluded," President Michael Faccinetto said during the board of directors' meeting at East Hills Middle School. These dates and locations are subject to change. Inclement Weather Procedures for Students & Parents in 2022-2023, Events going on in BASD and the LEHIGH VALLEY can be found here, Nationally-recognized Reading By Grade 3 Initiative, 100% of elementary students take Digital Literacy every year, 100% of elementary students take Spanish every year, Computer programming or makerspaces in every school, World Famous Liberty High School Grenadier Band, Acclaimed Freedom High School Theater Company, STEM: Project Lead The Way, Engineering, and Biomedicine, 60-hour Community Service Requirement and Service Learning opportunities. Connect with us: Back to top. Lancaster, PA 17601. Finally, the board approved an agreement with Lehigh University for the rental of Stabler Arena for 2022-23 graduation ceremonies. But at Saucon Valleys school board meeting last week, Pakzad said Roys comments was a new low. One of Pakzads sons attends Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School in Northampton County. At the Sept. 13 meeting, Faccinetto said the district should not name public facilities that are built with taxpayer money after individuals. Going forward, I think we can enhance our offerings by building a more robust Cyber Academy. I believe race has been an ailment in our society for centuries which has harmed millions in significant ways and continues to do so. Students and staff who choose to continue wearing masks may do so. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. P: (518) 439-7481, Jody Monroe, Superintendent of Schools View the September 21, 2022 Board video here. This website was produced by the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service, Albany, NY. "It was a lot of work and a heavy lift, but we appreciate everyone coming together to help get our students to school safely every day," Faccinetto said. Students Locations of these meetings may change if there is a scheduling conflict at the Roy also said he will not apologize, despite 10 charter school parents who reside in the Bethlehem Area School District sending a letter demanding he apologize. It is the goal of the Bethlehem Central Schools that this website is accessible to all users. As I parent volunteer, I saw so many good teachers, administrators, and programs that Id like to support in the role of the school board director. There was a problem saving your notification. There was an error processing your request. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Board Meetings The Saucon Valley School District Board meetings will be held in the Saucon Valley High School Audion (LGI) beginning at 7:00 pm. The board also approved an agreement to hold Freedom High School's graduation on June 7 at Lehigh University's Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center. View the March 1, 2023 Board video here. "We hope our staff and our students will be respectful" of the choices of others, she added. Community members attending in person should enter the high school via the Science wing entrance (Door 19 or 20). Roys comments were met with applause from those at the news conference who supported him. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. If a parent is trying to avoid having their kids be with black and brown kids, sending them to LVA will not achieve that, it achieves the exact opposite, Pakzad said. There was an error processing your request. From left to right, front row: Dr. Silagh White, Dr. Kim Shively, Michael Faccinetto, Shannon Patrick, Dr. Karen Beck Pooley. Bethlehem Central Board of Education meetings are usually held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. It also asks that Pakzad abstain from any votes involving the operations to funding of Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? View the April 19, 2023 Board video here. And quite honestly, we set the bar high in first grade. Wait to be called upon by the Board president. BETHLEHEM, Pa. The Bethlehem Area School Board on Monday night voted to rename Broughal Middle School's auditorium after the school's former school TJES: PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Lyons will support HVAC projects at Asa Packer and Spring Garden Elementary schools. View the January 18, 2023 Board video here. More than 2,000 students from the Bethlehem Area School District attend charter schools, costing the district about $30 million a year. Parents can join IEP meetings without a day off work, the public can listen in to board meetings, and we can expand our offerings by having experts join for a day from anywhere. View the December 7, 2022 Board agenda here. Q: What are your qualifications for serving on the school board? This is a far cry from where we were during the economic downturn of 2008. Bethlehem Area School District Elementary Announcement March 23, 2021 Watch on A Message from Dr. Joseph Roy - A Look Ahead for Fall 2020 (updated 7/14/20) The district is not responsible for facts or opinions contained on any linked site. View the September 21, 2022 Board agenda here. Shannon Patrick (incumbent, at large): I have served for the past 10 years, most recently as the vice president. "The independent To contact the Board of Education, please email boe@bethlehemschools.org. Our students deserved a vigorous kindergarten curriculum. Fax: 717.397.0442. View the September 7, 2022Board video here. So many of our students come from a full-day preschool program. The investigation involved an "alleged incident" between Roy and a district employee. In most instances, issues involving students, parents, faculty or staff can be resolved without having to appear before the Board of Education. The Liberty High School agreement, scheduled for June 7, is worth $12,730.25. Principal WebThe Bethlehem Area School District, in partnership with the home and community, is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment in which each student will attain Monday night, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools issued a statement to The Morning Call about the Bethlehem Area School Board supporting Roy. This purposeful choice by those in power to not fund districts equitably hurts our local property owners each year. 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054 FBES: PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM I was also a fellow of the PA Education and Policy Center. This website is maintained by the BCSD Communications Office. Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. FHS: Patriot Club Board Meeting, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM Mike Faccinetto: The biggest challenge we face is the fiscal uncertainty passed on to local districts by the General Assembly each year. At Mondays Bethlehem Area School Board meeting, president Michael Faccinetto issued a statement of support of Roy and read from a letter the board is sending Saucon Valley saying board President Shamim Pakzad personally attacked Roy in his comments. Dr. Silagh White (challenger, at large): I am an arts administrator who has collaborated with teachers and school administrators of elementary, secondary and higher education levels for more than 20 years. View the September 7, 2022 Board minutes here. Meetings are occasionally added during the school year, particularly in February and March for budget discussions. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Many of these ideas would have seemed impossible a year ago, but [now] seem likely to continue and make education better and more transparent. View the November 2, 2022 Board video here. The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the high school; Administrators granted approval last week, saying federal law prohibited the district from barring a religious group's use of facilities based on their viewpoints. In other news, the board approved a four-year transportation collective bargaining agreement retroactive to July 1, 2022, and concluding June 30, 2026. It is a natural transition. While the school administration and community were quick to respond, we cant learn that lesson as we move forward. [unless otherwise noted]. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. After a year-and-a-half long trial and a 9-year-long lawsuit, the landmark decision came down on Tuesday. Here are a few photos from Spring Garden's evening, filled with food, music, art, games and time getting to learn more about Hispanic cultures. View the October 12, 2022 Board video here. Q: What is the biggest challenge facing Bethlehem public schools right now? In a separate action, the board approved its monthly bills which included a $12,087 payment to the law firm of Norris McLaughlin. All meetings will be livestreamed on the BCSD Events Channel on YouTube. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Bethlehem Superintendent Joseph Roy has been named superintendent of the year for Pennsylvania. In other business from the meeting Monday night, directors approved a memo of understanding between the district and bargaining unit employees authorizing payment pursuant to their regular pay schedule during the state-mandated closure of public schools. I have also taken an active role advocating for the BASD in Harrisburg. Directors voted also to purchase two dump trucks at a price not to exceed $170,727.