The Nov. 18 Bethlehem Area School District board meeting was filled with emotional goodbyes as members William Burkhardt, Irene Folweiler and Aurea Ortiz served at their last meeting. All members decided to not seek reelection to their seats.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy also announced that there is a vacant seat on the board that needs to be filled for the rest of the elected term for that seat. Burkhardt, Folwieler and Ortizs' seats have already been filled with newly elected members. Applications for the open seat were due Monday.

In other news the board approved changes to the curriculum for the 2014-15 school year. These changes will allow high school students to focus their learning on specific program tracks to prepare for their chosen college majors or careers. The district also received a $30,000 donation from Dunn and Bradstreet Credibility Corp. under an employee education initiative to help fund project Lead the Way, which is a main component of the new curriculum.

Under this new program students need to fulfill 30 required course credits for graduation and then any credits earned after that can be tailored by the student to fit their interests. Students can also satisfy their community service requirement through these customized programs of study. If a student is considering becoming a doctor or another medical professional they can serve their community service in a hospital. This helps them gain firsthand experience to decide if they like the profession or if the choice is not for them; the student may find they can't stand the sight of blood.

The schematic design for the new Nitcheman MS was also approved, and now plans for the school will progress to the design phase. This approval also allows the architect to design PlanCon A and B and present those for approval to the board. So far the school plans are ahead of schedule.

Parent Rosa Silk addressed the board about her son Brandon's extreme allergy to Axe Body Sprays. He was diagnosed in fifth grade after going into anaphylactic shock. She credited Principal Mike LaPorta as being very helpful in trying to integrate her son back into the school community. The petroleum-based chemicals in the sprays affect everyone, not just her son, said Silk.

Board President Michael Faccinetto asked Dr. Roy to conduct research into what the district has done in order to accommodate those with allergies to body sprays and to come back to the board with that information.

Silk also left a copy of a print out from the EPA on the effects of body spray ingredients on people and how they are harmful.