Three Catasauqua School Board members are concerned with the possibility of the state controlling the school district's curriculum.

Board members Dawn Berrigan, Christine Nace and Christine Naegel voted in opposition to the planned courses of study for the 2014-15 year for fourth-grade math, seventh-grade English/language arts, Algebra II, English 12, English 12 AP and eighth-grade American History I. The curriculum for these courses were presented for approval at the Aug. 11 school board meeting.

Initially, the board took a vote on the courses which failed to pass the required board majority vote of five. The board then called in board member Donald Panto, who was not present at the beginning of the meeting because he was coaching the Catasauqua High School football team.

After Panto's arrival, the board voted to reconsider its initiall vote and took a new vote on the courses. This one passed by a vote of 5-3.

Berrigan and Naegel in particular are concerned the recently passed state Chapter 4 regulations will lead school districts to lose control of curricular decision-making powers.

Chapter 4, which falls under the Public School Code, sets the parameters of academic standards and assessments.

"I don't appreciate being forced to accept guidelines I don't agree with ... and having my name attached to that," Berrigan said.

One recent change under Chapter 4 includes replacing national Common Core State Standards with Pennsylvania Core Standards. The regulation further requires students to demonstrate proficiency on PSSAs and Keystone Exams.

In an email to The Press Aug. 18, Berrigan said she also takes issue with the heavy emphasis placed on testing under Chapter 4.

"Don't get me wrong, I think testing is important, but it is also extremely important to educate children to the way they learn the best," she wrote.

District Superintendent Robert Spengler said the regulations, which were passed March 1, dictate the academic program districts draft and present to the students.

"Once [Chapter 4] became law, we had to offer and design courses according to that," he said. "By law we have to deliver that."

Donald Panto, who arrived after the meeting began, asked Naegel her reasons for voting against the courses.

"I believe in local control of the schools and teachers," she said. "I don't want state and government control of the schools."

Spengler emphasized the dilemma for the Catasauqua Area Schoo District and other districts is the conflict between an individual district seeking autonomy in creating its curriculum and a state law directing how the district offers such an academic program.

Panto asked what the school district is legally obligated to do.

"Offer a curriculum which is aligned with the regulations," Spengler said.

Spengler further said, if the district fails to follow Chapter 4 regulations, it more than likely will lose state funding and grant opportunities.

"I see much larger consequences," Naegel responded, adding that her concerns center around the loss of teacher and district autonomy with regard to the formation of curriculum and the practice of teaching.

Panto said at the moment the school district is offering a sound curriculum.

"I haven't seen anything where our curriculum does our students harm," he said.

Board Solicitor David Knerr recommended the board draft a resolution and forward it to Gov. Tom Corbett's office to express its opposition to the regulations.

Spengler said he will work on a resolution and present it to the board for review in the near future.

Berrigan, Nace and Naegel did vote for the passage of planned courses of study for German I, German II, Spanish III and Spanish IV.

The three board members voted for the courses because state involvement is at a minimum for those.