Boy Scouts from Troop 261, which meets at Ziegel's Church, Brein-igsville, attended a recent Northwestern Lehigh School Board meeting as a requirement for Scouting's communications merit badge.

This badge is needed before achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Their Assistant Scoutmaster Dennis Dengler accompanied Scouts Angelo Pilat, Derek Dengler, Darren Dengler, Noah Vincent and Jonny Gambler to the meeting.

During the meeting, Director of Curriculum Leann Stitzel presented documents for a first reading by the board.

The information included academic literacy, academic English III, Advanced Placement English III, academic English IV, Advanced Placement English IV and college composition.

Stitzel said because of changing Pennsylvania standards, the process is going slower because of the need to incorporate those new standards.

Board President Darryl Schafer asked what was coming in the next year.

She said there will be a lull because most documents are 5 years old or less and should not be rewritten at this time.

There is nothing on the curriculum council schedule for next year because curriculum is on an eight-year cycle, Stitzel said.

The board approved the textbook, "Big Ideas Math: Accelerated Edition," for seventh grade.

Revised policies were approved for meetings, school visitors, relations with parents/guardians and municipal government and community engagement.

Director Ron Morrison said the only major change was to allow visitors to school board meetings to speak for five minutes instead of three.

An integrated pest management service agreement was signed with J.C. Ehrlich, Allentown.

Stitzel told the board there are regular meetings of Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 OverDrive School Download Library Committee, which provides electronic books available to students on a home computer or at school. Books are chosen at one of the meetings. To participate, school districts pay $2,000.

Law enforcement liability insurance will be through the Indian Harbor Insurance Company for a premium of $2,650.

There is a $5,000 deductible on the $1 million policy.

This policy covers just the school. Constables have their own insurance.

Police were covered under the general liability policy, but constables have taken over some of this job.

In other matters, the board discussed the price of tickets for both basketball games and wresting matches.

Both season and individual ticket prices remain the same for the coming year.

The following year, basketball and wrestling will be combined into a season ticket.

School employees, who may be better able to afford tickets than someone who just had his or her hours cut at work, do not pay to enter events.

Several board members voluntarily pay to attend events.

Director LeRoy Soren-sen asked whether district employees should be required to pay.

The issue will be discussed in a committee meeting.

An agreement was approved with Lifetouch for printing the middle school yearbook and with Behavioral Health Associates for implementation of general and special education health programs.

Business Manager Leslie Frisbee said the district has 12 copiers and produces 27 million copies over a 5-year period.

She wants to replace them with new copiers on a 5-year lease, with the provider doing needed maintenance.

Frisbee said leasing will save $15,000.

Director Phil Toll said he was concerned about a 5-year lease because technology is changing so fast.

He wanted the matter to be referred back to the finance committee.

That was approved.

A right-to-know request was received from the Allentown daily nespaper concerning enrollment in cyber-charter schools.

Dellicker asked about an increase in special education enrollment in cyber-charter schools.

At Northwestern it has nearly doubled in the past year.

The cost is $10,000 per regular student and $20,000 per special education student.

Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said the local charter school is having trouble keeping up with demands for special education and may have to add another section.

One reason for the increase may be that autism spectrum standards have been expanded, which requires more special ed classes.

Director Paul Fisher said 90 percent of the cyber/charter school bills the district receives have to be corrected.

This the equivalent of an unfunded mandate because Northwestern has to check the bills, he said.

Dellicker was named trustee-at-large at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville.

The Rothrock Library roof is being repaired, Fisher said.

The website is being updated to be more student focused.

A survey was sent out to see if students are obtaining employment in their field of study.

After six years of decline, there is a 1 percent increase in enrollment at LCCC.

Two students won in the SkillsUSA National contest.

Robert Metzger earned a gold medal and a $4,000 scholarship in the computer numeric controls division.

This qualified him for the World Competition to be held at Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2015.

Austin Fenstermaker placed 10th at the National level in precision machinery.