[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6395613,"mediaKeyId","2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91","parentId",2098483,"title","Board approves minutes, personnel items and transportation software upgrade","audioSeconds",2301,"startMs",1194000,"endMs",3495000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91&start=1194&end=3495","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91/thumbnail_1194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6395613/New-York/Board-approves-minutes-personnel-items-and-transportation-software-upgrade","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395613-f1013f1b3e48e7589eae77d5bf5bea48/orig.mp4?Expires=1775288596&Signature=erp4tj4v9ohsf0QLXJvHHGYXiN1mdohxWfMg9rtQhfFwm5MQroAPg1k0dDJxvo43Iiyc1lXYbfXN9ZpnBA8M3a9nMtEc8wpxe0nZHi9tAsMCqzw64JaDBnUoA5Zh7DHDNTSNHRtmRcf6e6ww8cnCF8HgFsUC-gAtynEBFGS3prpfjTJhoNrB3w-cBg4tqR~9fm8nFg4xiyaWq~bpTgQjzi40VbAgiFIvLITLNqN1EdUqqFl2JNkpWMhnAP1ju03JHnKjl6EMs-zpgiS1y0x73H8o-AG1Gf5WcmzNuiLm5ddl1vHedPXRKo44H59NQkGiz-J415bnl72MByrIY4iM1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-09T13:01:09Z","article","The Bethlehem Central School District Board of Education approved a slate of routine finance and personnel items at the meeting, including an upgrade of the district’s transportation routing software and certification of special‑education committee recommendations.

The board voted to approve minutes from the Dec. 18, 2024, regular board meeting. It then approved finance action items, during which staff described a planned transition from the district’s older VersaTrans routing software to the Traversa platform (both products from Tyler Technologies). Staff said Traversa will synchronize map updates and provide current routing functionality; the district is already using Traversa modules for fuel management and parts/repairs. Staff noted data‑conversion costs to import current routing data into the upgraded platform. The motion carried.

The board approved professional personnel items 1–18, and trustees recognized several retirees listed in the personnel packet. Members asked for clarification on a $60‑per‑day stipend referenced in the personnel materials; a speaker in the meeting confirmed the rate. The motion carried.

The board then approved support staff items 1–6. The meeting record shows that the board approved a remaining action item certifying recommendations from the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Preschool Special Education; staff clarified that the item concerns confidential student recommendations and therefore the board was not provided with identifying details.

All listed motions were approved by voice vote; individual board member tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BCSD Board of Education meting 1/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bethlehem Central Board approved the Dec. 18 minutes, finance and personnel action items including a transportation routing software upgrade (VersaTrans to Traversa) and certified confidential special education recommendations.","taxTitle","BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",57191,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6395618,"High school enrichment trips highlighted; Gettysburg tour drew 54 students",1189,1824000,3013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91&start=1824&end=3013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91/thumbnail_1824000.jpg","/articles/6395618/New-York/High-school-enrichment-trips-highlighted-Gettysburg-tour-drew-54-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395618-32b50500940dac70b5c8f1ccd414aacf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775288596&Signature=kGB-MuEkd8Os-5p1W68TPuVYhcCyEd8HJ1y4ZBIaiGTzc0SQvfgCw4dDWxVJi22zIV6heCdmiiXRzVB6jjXw0OdTkEAMUOASWhx9PyHVIaCt~pGfnuDh5ezyUD3BMzmVl71LsZxaNGyjyjyI~IGKkrGl74NaCuGg~IYmG~ewzHbwWJAcyMWPCz1nro4N7A0oMRrQlG2eBxcp3VAWmJsWB2mCPN53b3N1ihNbUOLMi2-FWsDsQsei7MVxMtX0uoPlWN3T1pRvUdoaYxJ9nq8ifN7vXK9XBCVn~cevkFYG4AafgJGI1ZkOGOpl0~qximhdQSFUZSZJuwljvaIx~vNAHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","High school administrators and teachers described a broad set of out‑of‑classroom enrichment experiences intended to extend classroom learning and expose students to colleges, culture and career fields.

David Domel, principal of Bethlehem Central High School, told the board the school runs a range of trips tied to curriculum and student interests, including New York City history tours, a Spanish Repertory Theater visit, a Fusion Latino Flamenco performance, college campus visits (Sage and Hudson Valley), Science Olympiad support trips, an upcoming Montreal trip and in‑school performances such as Macbeth.

Domel highlighted a recent two‑day Gettysburg trip led by social studies teacher Anthony Wilson. Wilson said he opened the trip to five of his classes and that 54 students rode the bus after a lottery because the coach had 55 seats. He described the trip as highly immersive and said having students walk the battlefield and sit at key locations makes the lesson more memorable than classroom instruction alone: \"You're never gonna really remember what I say in class, but they're gonna remember sitting there on that few minutes on that battlefield,\" Wilson said.

Domel said transportation is the largest cost component and that the school tries to offset expenses so students with financial need can attend: \"We never—there's never a trip that if there's a fiscal issue and they want to go, they go,\" he said. Staff explained that building and department funds are used to reduce student costs and that trip funding is balanced against other priorities.

Student Senate treasurer Jake Soka reported student government is planning the winter ball for Feb. 8 and said there were no current concerns from Student Senate; other student and board speakers thanked staff for organizing trips.

No formal board action was taken on enrichment programming at the meeting.","Principal David Domel and teacher Anthony Wilson outlined curricular field trips including New York City, Montreal, arts and law‑and‑justice visits; a Gettysburg tour carried 54 students after a lottery because the bus seats 55.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6395623,"Bethlehem Central pursues EPA, NYSERDA grants for electric school buses",212,1437000,1649000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91&start=1437&end=1649","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2098483-2c78f375fd79fb8f823a290fd79d9a91/thumbnail_1437000.jpg","/articles/6395623/New-York/Bethlehem-Central-pursues-EPA-NYSERDA-grants-for-electric-school-buses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6395623-a596aab800ae4dda296a1c3b838042a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775288596&Signature=lAhviL7TxwxdfcakDEuLah552ad6XSOwda~zv1yxDYbCDMHDwwNuevO70rTWEps7afuRKgIMM11osE97vpe0QGVt3a7D3xZ2NggTf7zGLSXq56mWWc5AUpeOka~gIOWBTZM8sZ5JvdZnkmFZ3-C5sxiKocYL98mDOhuZVaacOV-HEwhNfuuSsdEqPfqaMH0YGEzP3ZIRnN0LeYYsAShFQ60nzDzb~LeeSeY-qSICChr311bMzgx1WllerJow2WVYa-x6OQZurFsYv8fgDlWfGDdsEER1FBDa4gcSqtqsZtd3~ww6kGktu-ilCDtgW0USjqjHYWrjptrxlK5Iu07DbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bethlehem Central School District reported it is pursuing federal and state grant funding to reduce the local cost of acquiring small electric school buses.

In the superintendent's report, a district staff member identified as John said the district has started an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program for Type A electric buses, which are eligible for up to $115,000 per vehicle. The staff member said the EPA application must be submitted by Jan. 14 and that the district is working with Matthews Buses as a third‑party administrator on the filing.

The staff member said the district could also apply to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) bus initiative. He described the two funds as “stackable,” but said the NYSERDA award value changes if the EPA award is received: “If you win the EPA grant award, NYSERDA drops its grant allocation to no more than 100,000,” he said. He added that NYSERDA’s standalone award for Type A buses can be as much as $161,000.

The district currently has 10 large buses in its fleet, the staff member said, and is exploring whether future purchases could include new Type A electric buses. He emphasized that applying for the grants does not commit the district to buy buses: if a grant is awarded the district would still decide whether to proceed.

Board members asked whether the district would know about any grant awards before a potential bus ballot or budget vote; staff said the EPA decision timetable is unclear and the district would be careful when drafting ballot language to reflect possible grant offsets.

No formal board action was required or taken on the grant applications at the meeting; staff said they would report back during the 2025–26 budget process if awards are received and outline the effect on net local cost.

","District staff told the board the district will submit an EPA Clean School Bus Program application for small electric (Type A) buses by Jan. 14 and will also pursue NYSERDA funding; any award would not obligate purchase.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves minutes, personnel items and transportation software upgrade

High school enrichment trips highlighted; Gettysburg tour drew 54 students

Bethlehem Central pursues EPA, NYSERDA grants for electric school buses