Phil Arnold of Circle of Seasons Charter School addressed the board during the public comment period of the Aug. 15 meeting of Northwestern Lehigh School directors.

The resolution to approve or deny the charter was on the evening's agenda.

"One of the things we hold sacred is free thinking and entrepreneurship," Arnold said. "A 1997 state law provided for choice in school systems. When there is a niche, it is to be filled."

In 1919, the only school in Germany was the Waldorf, the method of teaching proposed by the charter school, he explained.

The school was operated by the Armed Forces.

There are people who want a different opportunity but can't do homeschooling, he explained.

"If we are denied, we will be back," Arnold said. "There are no fatal flaws. The building and location are viable. We have a reasonable budget and parental support.

A denial will be taken to the state Charter Appeals Board," he said.

"That the proposal is reasonable and realistic is all they look for, not academic standards," Arnold told the board.

A 31-page resolution denied the charter school's application stating and the material submitted failed to satisfy the charter school law.

The school's proposal regarding special education does not meet the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act standards.

Director Willard Dellicker thanked the administration for the time it took analyzing the documents and comparing them to the state charter school law.

Director LeRoy Soren-sen said one of the cornerstones of education is choice.

"We think the state interferes too much, but it should be up to the parents and not the board," he said.

Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said the public code decides if a charter school is in compliance.

In other business, the curriculum documents for social studies, math and music presented on Aug. 8 by Leann Stitzel, director of curriculum, were approved as was the choice of textbooks.

Director Ron Morrison requested seventh grade history be voted on separately. He objected to the section on Islam being larger than sections on other religions.

Wright said the book is not the only teaching tool used. The choice is made in spring and comes to the board in July or August.

Delaying approval of the book, as Morrison wanted, would add to the timeline.

"It has great information but we want it to be balanced," Morrison said.

Director Camille Bartlett said the board is there to approve policy and direction for the district as a whole.

"We are not the teacher, not on the committee," Bartlett said. "We have academic proof that something like that belongs in the structural process we already approved."

Director Greg Sanders said Stitzel did her due diligence.

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act requires a change in menus in school lunches.

There will be a meat or meat alternative, bread or bread alternative, two vegetables, fruit and milk. More fresh food is to be provided when possible.

Lori Seier, food service manager, said 21 districts combine in the bidding process for lower prices.

She said 65 percent of the school population buys lunches.

They do not inspect lunches brought from home, but occasionally notes have gone home to parents when deficiencies in nutrition have been noticed.

Bob Kripplebauer, director of operations, presented the list of school bus stops without many changes from last year.

The board approved the stops.

Northwestern Ambulance Service was approved to be at football games.

The amusement tax will not be collected beyond July 1, 2013. Glenn Smith, owner of Olde Homestead Golf Club, was on hand to thank the board for ending the tax.

The enrollment numbers show students are still moving in and out of the district.

Stitzel said she is still getting calls for the Digital Academy and that will continue into the school year when students decide they want to learn digitally.

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Schnecksville, has been in the national news three times recently, Dellicker said. A video, "Today's Careers" will be shown about 20 times throughout the nation.

Sorensen said Kathy Hermany organizes Night in the Country, a Northwestern Recreation Commission event.

He said there was discussion about why people don't volunteer and it was decided they were getting nothing out of it.

Consequently, the American Cancer Society volunteered to man the entry gate when they received a donation to their cause.

The car cruise parking is in the same situation.

Director Todd Hernandez said that on behalf of the Northwestern Youth Athletic Association he thanked the school for use of its athletic facilities.