Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
Facilities staff reported a districtwide functional-capacity model showing about 6,683 elementary seats of functional capacity versus current elementary enrollment of 5,230 (a surplus of ~1,453 seats); middle-school utilization was flagged as notably low in some buildings, prompting discussion of boundary changes and redistribution.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
District testing found no classroom lead issues and low radon in tested schools; maintenance building (slab-on-grade) and a transportation garage showed samples above the EPA's residential action guidance for radon, and staff will investigate remediation options.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
Dr. Burris presented revisions to human-resources policies, including a governance code of conduct acknowledgment, consolidated conduct/discipline language (policy 317) with added confidentiality and nonprofessional-relationship provisions, and a brand-new consolidated policy presented as a first reading.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
Bethlehem Area SD will launch a credit-earning student communications internship in spring 2026; students from Liberty and Freedom High Schools will produce district content and may participate in programming at ArtsQuest's Creative Factory.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
Auditors told the Bethlehem Area School District board the FY 2024–25 single audit contained no material weaknesses or federal-program findings; the general fund had an $11.7M surplus and a fund balance just over $84M, with $48.5M committed for capital reserve transfers.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
PFM presented a roughly $20 million Phase 2 borrowing for the Fountain Hill project; a parameters resolution sized at $24 million will be brought to the full board for approval and pricing is expected in February with a mid‑March close.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
The Bethlehem Area School District board approved minutes, committee minutes, finance, facilities, curriculum, and human-resources consent items (all by 7–0 votes), heard committee reports including an appointment of Kristen Soldrich as joint committee chair and scheduled a Dec. 17 special meeting to award bids for a factory expansion, and welcomed Dan Terry as Hanover Elementary principal.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
Three community members urged the Bethlehem Area School District board to pursue the federal Community Eligibility Provision so all students receive free meals; speakers cited looming federal SNAP changes, a tight application timeline (direct certification numbers announced April 1, application deadline about June 1), and the opportunity to lock free meals for four years.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
District project team presented final designs and bid strategy for VOTEC capital improvements, including welding, aviation, health careers and culinary labs; presenters said the scope and alternates keep the project within the $25,000,000 memorandum of understanding while preserving options to scale back if bids exceed estimates.
Pennsylvania / School Districts / Bethlehem Area SD
Technology director Marie Bachman briefed the board on year‑2 Synergy implementation, StudentVUE mobile and kiosk rollout, analytics and MTSS capabilities, and rising cybersecurity costs as federal funding for MS‑ISAC-supported tools decreases and districts assume cost shares.