[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6668859,"mediaKeyId","2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472","parentId",2217296,"title","BASD staff outline facility work: Fountain Hill bids, energy grant, lead tests and license for 315 Columbia","audioSeconds",284,"startMs",237000,"endMs",521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472&start=237&end=521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472/thumbnail_237000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668859/Pennsylvania/BASD-staff-outline-facility-work-Fountain-Hill-bids-energy-grant-lead-tests-and-license-for-315-Columbia","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668859-5bb657eb65f67833ad761604daa39e16/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582445&Signature=O5cra6cOR4Q7aTtUuAQtUTfqzcTwGqE~iyK7yzQgiJmzpkhevzIIK6jhaEoEUQt7BSMz-SUL5LqEFvIWBNJuEYaA5n609V3xm9PBxjDD8dIPptjIp1LlfrUH3Fd39ocAHvVHtESwS11EXnCK6p9Wo4yVlfnig1LCAUWVA9YatIrO98ffNtCOBAv9Kf~EkREIvc9kpOGi7GTsn4wMUQ09iwxE71hHmCNYTFbWA0hUZPkpmyoRG3lqYhXS-~pHhTPTJdfWompgmTQLkVE0-ely4e8k6CHAXSPd3sG5YzSheoSZ7wvngch7XvPKWOpLena9C3f0G0Xg4EeACbLoJnqrDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bethlehem Area School District","date","2025-02-04T13:15:37.61Z","article","District facilities staff updated the Bethlehem Area School District Facilities Committee on a slate of capital projects and facilities issues the committee is expected to consider at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting.

The most time‑sensitive item is the Fountain Hill Elementary School replacement project, staff said. The project was put out to bid and staff reported dozens of contractors submitted questions and that bids were due Feb. 18; staff said they expect to present award recommendations at the next facilities meeting.

Why it matters: Fountain Hill is a major construction project for the district and the competitive response to the bid will determine final contractor selection and schedule.

Staff also reviewed several other capital projects that the board will be asked to approve, including summer work that was budgeted late last year. Those projects include hot‑water heater replacements at Liberty High School and Marvine Elementary School, an auditorium renovation at Freedom High School (with an accompanying asbestos abatement contract), grease trap replacements at Miller Heights and Farmersville, and a roof replacement at Governor Wolf Elementary. Staff said the hot‑water work came in under the engineer’s estimate and the recommended award for those heaters is $424,000 to ASL. The Governor Wolf roof bid came in at about $1.5 million, lower than the $1.8 million the district had planned to budget.

Staff emphasized the district has prioritized thorough pre‑bid meetings and walkthroughs to attract experienced contractors. Facilities staff thanked district personnel who led the pre‑bid meetings and said strong contractor turnout bodes well for competitive pricing and timely work.

Energy and electric‑bus research

Staff reported a City of Bethlehem Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) of $60,000 that the district proposes to use toward a lighting retrofit at Marvine Elementary School. They said the district has a list of candidate projects and will select the option that uses the $60,000 most efficiently.

Staff also said district leaders have been in touch with an interdisciplinary research group at Lehigh University interested in studying the district’s electric school‑bus data; staff described the initiative as a potential research partnership to inform faculty, staff and students and said the institute has done similar work with a transit system in California.

Lead testing and water fixtures

Facilities staff presented results from the district’s 2024–25 lead testing program. Staff said two fountain samples exceeded the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion: one fountain at East Hills (which staff said has already been closed and replaced) and a fountain at Thomas Jefferson (TJ), where temporary bottled/portable water coolers are in place while the district plans a longer‑term point‑of‑use filtering solution for that building.

License for 315 Columbia Street

The board packet will include a proposed license agreement for 315 Columbia Street in South Bethlehem. Staff said the district purchased the building last year and one commercial tenant — a caterer — requested to stay on the site. Facilities staff said the proposed license will allow the tenant to occupy the space for a short, defined term while the district continues to carry the property; staff told the committee the expected rent is about $4,000 per month and that the district does not expect the arrangement to be budget‑neutral but that revenue helps offset carrying costs.

Staff said VOTEC does not currently occupy the building; district staff explained the earliest expected start of construction connected to VOTEC’s plans was “a little over a year” away, and that any construction start would require tenants to vacate. Committee members asked whether the license includes contingencies in the event the district transfers the building or begins construction; staff said final wording would be handled by the solicitor before the item goes to the full board.

No formal votes were recorded in the transcript of the facilities committee discussion. Staff indicated many of the agenda items will move to the full board with award recommendations or grant acceptance language for action.

What’s next

Staff said they plan to present Fountain Hill award recommendations at a future facilities meeting and will bring the license agreement for 315 Columbia Street back after solicitor review. The district will implement point‑of‑use filtration at TJ and has already replaced and closed the East Hills fountain that tested above the EPA action level.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BASD School Board Facilities and Curriculum Committee Meetings - February 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District facilities staff updated the Bethlehem Area School District Facilities Committee on a slate of capital projects and facilities issues the committee is expected to consider at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting.","taxTitle","Bethlehem Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",12921,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6668852,"Midyear benchmarks: BASD leaders report mixed literacy and math gains, target supports for struggling schools",2429,3723000,6152000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472&start=3723&end=6152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","/articles/6668852/Pennsylvania/Midyear-benchmarks-BASD-leaders-report-mixed-literacy-and-math-gains-target-supports-for-struggling-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668852-30796924657eeb1ec411f196aba6ec14/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582445&Signature=k5QJ6ccun7ffds4SLFp2WPSsdeSeqeplrKDpltDDfoiLr8SVW17PHlNJe3Nup4SPWnNxgRB3XoTnwWdwMm00pvvJISDCHQ~KH4HjQpBvGYHPbYOjfzuNhY7qUB22N8fjbBY2vpmCIEsCPnp-A2KoZX0bK-jGjH9A1u0FtQE5tbcXsDqwbyZm6tPsOrGGSLlE9j1~YuspR0N9VfF6fUXrsi2SY1NeMBVFklh-N4eWMzH0sCd4KeQQIg4cSwWVFCLwFBGCQSpx0jOhKly0Z9kZYoALIBpa7z~8H7jR6cuH4wTGJNDvCEE1kt5YaYcaROMgsD-o-61Ocmwp-vgpXjBpvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District academic leaders presented the Bethlehem Area School District’s midyear benchmark results for literacy and math and described the supports they will deploy where students remain off grade level.

Key findings

- Early grades: Kindergarten and second grade showed measurable gains compared with last year’s midyear numbers. Staff highlighted several buildings with strong midyear growth and credited sustained core instruction and curriculum alignment.
- Reading: Staff reported that first grade remains a “stubborn” grade to move at midyear because students are assessed on oral reading fluency for the first time; some buildings bucked that trend. The district described an ongoing emphasis on structured‑literacy practices and phonics training for K–3 teachers.
- Third‑ to fifth‑grade reading: Staff said third grade showed a small district‑level dip at midyear compared with last year, and 4th grade had modest slippage in a small number of schools. Fifth grade was noted as a relative strength at midyear, with several buildings showing double‑digit gains.
- Middle grades literacy: The district described a multi‑gate literacy assessment for grades 7–8 (content‑area passages and additional measures) and reported an upward trend compared with last year’s midyear results.
- Math: District leaders described steady, multi‑year progress after a curriculum refresh (Reveal in elementary grades, Amplify/Desmos at middle schools). Kindergarten through second grade math results were stronger versus last year; several individual schools showed double‑digit midyear growth. Staff said IXL diagnostic usage and focused coaching are part of the approach.

Targeted interventions and supports

Administrators described several sustained supports: building‑level data meetings with principals and teachers, double‑dose intervention blocks for students reading below benchmark, job‑embedded coaching, and partnerships with external consultants for targeted schools. Staff noted churn — students who move in and out of the district during the year — complicates comparisons and can depress some school averages.

Staff named a small number of buildings where midyear results remain a concern (for example Dunigan and Fountain Hill were mentioned in discussion) and said those buildings are receiving additional coaching and intervention supports. Leaders emphasized they have intentionally expanded professional development and onboarding so that new K–3 teachers receive science‑of‑reading training in district sessions.

Equity and broader supports

Board members and staff discussed the role of feeder programs, community leagues, and socioeconomic stressors in student readiness; several speakers urged broader community cooperation (city parks and recreation, township leagues) to expand access to youth athletics and early‑learning opportunities. Committee members also asked for broader reporting on mental‑health needs and barriers to learning such as food and housing insecurity.

No formal votes were recorded in the transcript. Staff said they will continue coaching, data meetings and targeted interventions and will return with further updates in subsequent reporting cycles.","District administrators presented midyear literacy and math benchmark results across grades K–8. Staff reported steady kindergarten and elementary gains in reading and math in many schools, while middle grades require continued focus; the district plans targeted coaching, intervention and data meetings for buildings with persistent gaps.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6668855,"District athletic directors report participation shifts; board to form program evaluation committee",2242,1484000,3726000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472&start=1484&end=3726","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217296-0e4bc75f3c629d0888b60bdecd8b0472/thumbnail_1484000.jpg","/articles/6668855/Pennsylvania/District-athletic-directors-report-participation-shifts-board-to-form-program-evaluation-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668855-34d09fc997c637d6e7681dfb962cf4aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582445&Signature=K63mV2~4kyIV9q259H-iQm2sqLOfHtwiAvBQL5FkF4n47qKdD-MtDKw-7VVEWcJXY3d7MMpdZW6fLxwrigeAd8jK7U6InKUQQM0L6AXSMSXwFgd7340hBMJZBsoXmNTmUnLUH44q-64HCnopQjDIbcaVN7DPRZtv20GhPrjLvszo4fkKRdiPMyaUndkrpLUhDYkR5hju2JJXHkaIyXCoA2r34oC5AidlB5GZ~9YClfXPGdPxapZhMLc0vmFtc0AUIG-IZdo5L2ilGVvmcYloSuE8vwcDFTX8qocehx8DMWM85mw2FYRU9eOgg9uuOwusKe0hps8zR4o99mOEa6mjfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bethlehem Area School District athletic directors briefed the curriculum committee on participation trends across middle and high school athletics and recommended a structured review of programs.

Why it matters: Changing participation patterns affect how the district allocates coaches, fields, transportation and budget; they also influence Title IX compliance and feeder‑program strategies.

Overview of offerings and participation

District athletic staff said the high schools currently offer roughly 28 varsity and sub‑varsity sports and that, combined, about 1,500 student‑athlete participations occur across both high schools in a typical year. Athletic directors described growth in sports such as indoor track, girls wrestling and lacrosse over the past decade while noting roster sizes for some traditional sports have shrunk.

Middle school participation trends

At the middle level staff reported low participation in several sports at certain buildings. Field hockey, cross country and softball had low turnout at some middle schools this year; the district combined programs across schools to field teams where necessary. Facilities limitations were cited as a factor in middle‑school softball participation in one building.

Club and travel programs

Athletic staff and multiple board members discussed the rise of year‑round club and travel teams (soccer, volleyball, softball, baseball) and their effect on school sports. Directors said club specialization has reduced multi‑sport participation and that some club athletes still get noticed by college recruiters, while others said high‑school coaches continue to recruit players based on ability regardless of club affiliation.

Fit for Life and access programs

Directors highlighted the district’s Fit for Life intramural program as a strategy to introduce younger students to a wider range of sports and activities and to remove cost barriers. They argued intramurals help identify athletes who otherwise could not afford club fees and cited it as a key way to broaden the pipeline into middle and high school teams.

Recommendation: program evaluation committee

Directors asked the board to convene a year‑long program evaluation — modeled on the district’s Program of Studies process — with stakeholders from schools, families and community organizations to review offerings, facility use, transportation and equity of access. Committee members and staff generally supported forming an evaluation committee and agreed staff would draft a scope and data‑collection plan for consideration.

Other operational notes

Staff said the district has increased coordination with transportation and that the transportation department’s service levels have “drastically improved” in recent years. They also noted capital investments in stadium and field infrastructure will require attention to field surfaces, tracks and scoreboards in upcoming budget cycles.

No formal board action was recorded in the transcript; staff framed the evaluation as a recommendation for the board to authorize a process that would return findings and recommendations at a later date.","Athletic directors told the curriculum committee that high‑school offerings remain broad but participation has not grown with additional sports. Middle‑school rosters have declined for some sports and staff recommended a year‑long program evaluation with community stakeholders to set future offerings and resource priorities.","actionData","errors"]

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BASD staff outline facility work: Fountain Hill bids, energy grant, lead tests and license for 315 Columbia

Midyear benchmarks: BASD leaders report mixed literacy and math gains, target supports for struggling schools

District athletic directors report participation shifts; board to form program evaluation committee