Bethlehem Area School District board officials approved changes to the district's open enrollment policy at the elementary level at the April 28 meeting.

The updated policy will allow parents to enroll their child in any of the district's 16 elementary schools and have it in effect until the child reaches fifth grade if accepted into the program. Requests for open enrollment will also be accepted after Jan. 31.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy recommended making the policy changes after being approached at a PTA meeting by parents concerned about their children being accepted into the program for the coming school year.

"This really came up to my attention at a PTA meeting. A couple parents said because it (acceptance) is not guaranteed they were going to charters," said Roy at the April 7 board meeting.

He also said the changes were made to reassure parents and lessen the amount of paperwork required to enroll in the program.

Outlined in the policy are guidelines children in the program need to follow include; students in the program must not aexceed six tardies or unexcused early dismissals, not exceed 14 cumulative days of absence, will not have two or more academic failures in one marking period, no code of conduct infractions resulting in suspension, and not be picked up late at student dismissal more than three times. If a student does not comply they will be sent back to their "home" school.

Parents of students in open enrollment are responsible for the transportation of the students to and from school.

In other news, the board voted 8-1 to approve applying to the state to change educational programs and furlough 22 teaching positions. The district cannot cut positions due to economic reasons only. Basillio Bonilla Jr. was the dissenting vote.