7/21 NASD Board Meeting Notes

Meeting started at 7:58 PM. Hensley and Treon were absent.

Given the paucity of items on the agenda, the meeting went longer than I expected. I guess that is what happens when there are four full pages of addendums and several handouts passed around (thanks to Ms. Dautrich and Dr. Lesky for the preliminary PSSA scores and the up to date enrollment figures)

Ms. Dautrich presented the educational report, in which she highlighted the 2008 (preliminary) PSSA scores. She went through them pretty quickly (so hopefully I have them correct).

The entire district made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress)
Individual schools that were noted were:

SES - Warning for IEP subgroup
MS - School Improvement I (apparently the MS was classified School Improvement I two years ago and showed a lot of improvement the first year but not as much this year - ostensibly because of all the improvement made in the first year)

I have the raw (preliminary) scores if anyone is interested. By and large, it looks like scores went up grade to grade. There was a little more variability when you track a specific grade (e.g. comparing the 2008 6th graders to their scores in 2007 when they were 5th graders). Math scores at the HS (11th grade) were virtually unchanged year to year (2007 - 56% proficient or above and 2008 - 57% proficient). However, like the last couple years, the math scores going from 8th grade to 11th grade showed a precipitous drop over the course of the three (3) years. This isn't unique to NASD, as I remember when I do my PSSA analysis, several districts show this drop-off. Whether NASD shows more or less, I won't know until August sometime when the state releases all the data.

One item that was added to the agenda was the extension of the Articles of Agreement of the NCC for an additional thirty years which would end on July 1, 2056. There was a great deal of discussion on this and whether this was actually needed if NCC has to come back to the eight (8) districts in Northampton County for approval of any bonds requests. If I understood it correctly, NCC needs a commitment of sorts from the schools it serves that would extend out for the duration of any debt/bonds that they try and secure. Most bonds are 20 to 30 years so if they are seeking financing, the banks won't lend the money unless they have this type of agreement in place. After much discussion, this item was removed from the agenda to be discussed at the next Audit & Finance meeting on 8/13.

There were several Personnel items on the addendum. Several new educators were hired (welcome!) along with a couple of resignations, notably Tracy Smith, Dir. of Educational Technology, Candice Davis, LNES and Shawn McEntire, SES

Dr. Lesky presented the up to date enrollment numbers. As of July 21, the district is at 4672 students, compared to 4735 for 2008-09, a net decrease of 62 students. One reason for this decline is that the outgoing seniors were 399 in number while the entering KG is 291. We've had 45 new enrollments.

The solicitor updated the board on requirements/issues regarding attendance by school board directors. You might remember the article in the Express Times or the NOC post about this matter. Basically, if a director misses two (2) consecutive meetings except as defined as a "necessary absence", the remaining board members can take action to try and have the absent member's seat declared open (basically remove them). However, it's statute is pretty murky because of the phrase "prevention of necessary absence". In other words, is their absence necessary? And how is it defined? It is the solicitor's opinion that the absent member would/should be allowed due process and the opportunity to "defend" themselves.

Dr. Lesky commented after the solicitor that the board/admin had instructed the solicitor to research the means/procedure for dealing with an absent board director, but he wanted to correct any assumption that the board was looking to remove any member.

Meeting adjourned around 9:35 PM.