Business Manager Leslie Frisbee reported to the Northwestern Lehigh School Board at its Dec. 4 reorganization meeting she is in the process of refining expenses and income for the 2014-15 budget.

The index beyond which taxes cannot be raised without state approval is 2.4 percent this year. This is not expected to be exceeded.

The goals covered in the new budget will be to maintain instructional programs and class sizes and to implement the stated mission.

The budget should include both long- and short-term goals using maximum efficiencies to reduce costs, she explained.

Board member Ron Morrison wants to see a millage decrease as there has been a surplus the past two years.

Frisbee said there is a slight increase in property values, which will produce revenue and the state will increase pension reimbursement.

There will be a 3-percent increase in staff salaries. Building and department budgets are expected to remain flat.

The medical insurance consortium covers Lehigh Career and Technical School, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Intermediate Unit 21 and all Lehigh County schools with Highmark.

The final budget is expected to be voted on in April 2014.

Beginning in 2015, the unfunded pension liability has to be shown on the financial sheet.

Northwestern has 138 students at LCTI. Cost per student for a half day is $5,422 and, for a full day, which includes academics, it is $8,776.

Board member Willard Dellicker said there will be a maximum increase in its budget of 2.1 percent but it will be the end of December before all information to complete the budget is available.

Board officers were elected. Darryl Schafer retains his position as president with Paul Fisher as vice president. The new secretary is Greg Sanders.

Ryan Cerrone, student representative, reported a Key Club blood drive collected 60 pints.

The Science National Honor Society inducted 40 new members; the National Honor Society inducted 59 new members; the Science NHS invited Bill Kirk, CEO of Weather Trends International, to be a guest speaker.

He said the Powder Puff Game raised funds for the families of Brett Snyder and David Krum.

Students in Interior Design are redesigning a room in their home as a final project.

The ERACE Club sponsored Diversity Days; the Drama Club produced "It's a Wonderful Life"; and winter sports are beginning.

High school Principal Aileen Yadush said class scheduling will begin in February. Changes in the Program of Studies book will include definitions of the levels of study, depth and scope within the curriculum, how much independent work is required and the applied curriculum providing a baseline that all students are expected to meet to graduate.

Morrison asked about state and Core standards.

Yadush replied there are Pennsylvania Core Standards and academic standards within the school.

Graduation projects will be required beginning in 2017-18.

There are four levels of language arts in the ninth grade. Students well-grounded in language arts are able to do better in history and social studies in future years. Earth and space science will precede biology.

Two music classes have been dropped due to lack of interest but there are plans to replace them with a kindergarten through grade 12 music curriculum.

A journalism course will be tied to broadcasting and yearbook.