"I can't say enough about our students' demeanor and behavior and the staff. And really, no issues Saturday night," said Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik, referring to the student Homecoming dance.

Ben Longacre, Northampton Area High School Student Council president, who represents council at school board meetings, said that 550 of a possible 600 attended the dance Sept. 21 at Northampton Memorial Community Center.

"It was a big success," Longacre said in his report at the Sept. 23 school board meeting.

Longacre said students would be supporting the Lacing Up For Kids 5K and 10K Runs Oct. 5. The events are sponsored by Northampton Area Konkrete Kids Educational Foundation and Angel 34. The race commences at 9 a.m. at Siegfried Elementary School and proceeds to the Nor-Bath Trail. Awards will be presented.

Student Council will hold a blood drive Oct. 11 with students and teachers participating, Longacre said.

In other business, Kovalchik addressed the middle school campus renovation project.

"We're ahead of schedule and under budget," Kovalchik said. A construction site visit for school directors is planned next month.

By voice vote, the board, on recommendation of the administration, approved:

· Robert Tugend as an addition to the district volunteer master listing for the 2013-14 school year;

· Extension of unpaid child rearing leave for Bethany Valimont through Nov. 19, with no benefits. School board Vice President Jane Erdo and board member Darin Arthofer voted no.

· Resignation of Kindra Block as speech and language teacher at Moore Elementary School, effective Sept. 20;

· Resignation of Sarah Wascura as chemistry and environmental science teacher at Northampton Area High School, effective Sept. 20, or when a replacement has been found, but no later than Nov. 20;

· Additions and deletions to the substitute listings for the 2013-14 school year.

· Revised contract with Providastaff for speech and language services at Colonel John Siegfried Elementary School;

· Rose Roberts to attend the 59th annual Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials conference, March 11-14, 2014 in Hershey at an approximate cost of $750;

· An extracurricular staff member stipend for the 2013-14 school year for Vicki Troxell, high school spring musical choreographer, $2,571;

· Current and 2013-14 newly-hired instructional assistant employees who hold teaching certificates, as potential substitute teachers for their home building at the rate of $90 per day;

· Rosemarie Perretta, long-term substitute speech and language pathologist at Siegfried Elementary, effective on or about Oct. 1 through March 24, 2014, at a salary of $49,198, prorated, with no benefits;

· Berkheimer OneSource, Bethlehem, to prepare and mail the homestead applications on behalf of Northampton Area School District in accordance with Act 72 of 2004 and Act 1 of 2006 at a rate of $0.299 each; and

· 2014 commencement ceremony to be held at Stabler Arena.

Three board members were absent: Robert Koch, Jennifer Miller and Jean Rundle. Rundle voted by telephone.

Before the Sept. 23 meeting, school board members held an executive session to discuss personnel and legal issues, Kovalchik said.