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Board hears Steps to Achieve proposal for 10‑year district design study, members express support
Summary
The board's finance committee reviewed a recommended contract with Steps to Achieve to conduct a district design feasibility study—covering enrollment projections, capacity, maps and transportation—and members praised the firm's community engagement approach while urging careful work on the 10‑year projection.
The Bethlehem Area School District’s finance committee heard a presentation June 8 from consultant Jane Cookenar of Steps to Achieve on a recommended district design feasibility study intended to produce 10‑year enrollment projections, full scenario analyses, maps and transportation modeling.
Mr. Stein, who led the district design committee, said an RFP issued in April drew nine submissions; a short list of three firms was interviewed and the committee recommended Steps to Achieve. Cookenar said the engagement will run in five phases over roughly a year and will include at least three community input meetings, stakeholder surveys and a "priority matrix" to capture what the community values.
"Everything that follows is going to rest on that foundation," one board member said, emphasizing the importance of accurate housing, birth‑rate and mobility data to drive scenario design. Cookenar said the firm will deliver five fully analyzed scenarios, maps that let staff move boundaries on a map application to preview impacts, and transportation and financial analyses for each option.
Board members who had interviewed finalists commended Steps to Achieve’s blend of K‑12 experience and attention to community voice. "We saw a focus on the community more than some of the other proposals and really willing to listen and partner with our community," a member said.
What’s next: The committee recommended moving forward with Steps to Achieve; administration will finalize contractual language and return the item for board action as needed once terms are settled.
Provenance: Topic introduced at the finance committee in SEG 525–581 and the consultant presentation ran SEG 582–703.
