Michael Gaul of PFM wanted approval from the Northwestern Lehigh School Board to refinance a 2008, $11 million bond issue after Dec. 15.

The bond issue will be by private sale and, as the resolution permits, the sale can be made when it will be most beneficial.

The savings will be $250,000 and the sale will close in early January.

The next opportunity to refinance will be August 2017, Business Manager Leslie Frisbee said.

At the Nov. 20 meeting Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said she read the Bangor School District had a graduation rate of 92 percent.

She pointed out Northwestern Lehigh's is 96 percent and they deserve credit, too.

Laurie Hoppes and Amy Wahl from the middle school, and Aileen Yadush and Don Allen from the high school gave an assessment on student progress.

The middle school has a school performance profile of 87. That is a number for the entire building.

Goals for the middle school are to switch to Common Core math, provide literacy training, determine resources, develop intervention programs, monitor progress, rewrite the language arts and improve the use of technology.

PSSA tests will still be given in the spring but then it will switch to Common Core. Keystone tests will be given in Algebra I, science and literature.

The high school had to give tests to students who may have completed work on the subject years ago.

Though they did not expect to give the Keystone tests this year, it may indicate how well students will fare in future years, Yadush said.

High school goals are to implement use of data sites, use differentiated instruction to address deficiencies, to use benchmarking in remediation and provide remediation for those who are not proficient.

Those students will have to complete a project.

A certified teacher is required to oversee a student's remediation work.

Yadush said the Keystone tests are very well written but that does not mean she likes them all.

Wright said there has been a full-time interventionist in the middle school and high school and for reading in the elementary schools.

"We try to do things as appropriately as possible at the least cost possible," she said.

A video was shown of students at the Carbon County Technical Institute which began, "We love the song to 'Roar.' We used to be made fun of until we came to this school."

It showed them doing activities at CCTI.

A letter was received from state Sen. David Argyll , R-29th, saying he would pass on a letter received from the district to those people who are working on a plan to make health benefits statewide.

Wright sent a letter to the effect that Northwestern is already enrolled in a cost-saving consortium.

Modifications have been made to the national Common Core such as requiring only five passing tests to graduate instead of 10.

She said it is much more in line with the district's desires though there are other changes she would like to see.

If the new state version is not approved it will revert to the federal standards.

Board member Willard Dellicker said the joint operating committee bylaws for Lehigh County Technical Institute are being changed.

The 21 members are from nine schools and give a school district with high market value such as Parkland a larger voice in decisions.

The preliminary budget shows a 22-percent increase in health benefits and pensions will add another large amount.

Approval was given for Jennifer Holman to apply for an up-to $25,000 Safe Schools grant.

Wright said, if received, it would replace some of the money in the budget freeing that money for other uses.

Bids will be requested for a wet well at the Weisenberg School to be used until there is a Lehigh County Authority sewer hookup.

There will be a $23 increase in the operating budget at the Intermediate Unit.

The Circle of Seasons charter school has complied with all paperwork required at this time.

More will be expected in January. Their board minutes will be sent to Northwestern.

The audit by the state auditor general found no findings or observations.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said it was a pleasure to congratulate the district.

Wright had honor roll certificates for school board members who are honored every five years for more than five years of service.

Willard Dellicker has 20 years and Darryl Schafer has eight years.

Wright said with new members joining the board a new team will have to be made.

"Every time new board members come, it's a fresh start."

Paul Fisher, a returning school board member, was named a trustee to Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Activities Director Jason Zimmerman said the Colonial League has expanded by one school, and the drama club will be presenting "It's a Wonderful Life" Dec. 5-7.

There was a party for board members Chris Ford and Camille Bartlett who are leaving the board.

Ford said it is for family reasons and a third addition is expected to his family.