With the opening of the 2018-19 school year in Northampton Area School District less than two weeks away, the hiring of teachers, teaching assistants and staff is in full swing.

And the community education program is expected to be in effect with the hiring of a new coordinator.

While the NASD school year doesn’t officially begin until Aug. 27 when students return to classes, some students are already busy on campus.

Northampton Area High School Big ‘N’ Band camp began Aug. 6. Northampton Area Middle School band camp began Aug. 13.

Konkrete Kids fall sports teams’ practices began Aug. 13.

Important dates for parents and students include: Aug. 16, 9:30 a.m., Franklin Elementary School kindergarten orientation, Lehigh Elementary School kindergarten registration, Lehigh Elementary new-family orientation, George Wolf Elementary School kindergarten orientation; Aug. 17, 9:30 a.m., Franklin Elementary kindergarten orientation and 11:30 a.m., Siegfried Elementary School new students tour; Aug. 23, 2 p.m., Moore Elementary School kindergarten orientation; and Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m., borough elementary schools first-grade orientation. High school picture day is Aug. 28. NASD schools are closed Sept. 3 for Labor Day.

Teachers and staff have been busy.

NASD staff have in-service days Aug. 20, 21 and 22. Teacher induction was Aug. 6 and 7.

The annual data retreat held Aug. 8 was attended by 100 teachers and administrators. The previous school year’s student grades and more are analyzed to formulate goals for the new school year. The administration data retreat review was Aug. 9.

“We break down last year’s statistics,” NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik explained at the Aug. 13 board of education meeting.

“It was a very productive day,” said Kovalchik, thanking NASD Director of Data, Grants and Special Programs Dr. Kathleen E. Ott for organizing the retreat.

Several new teachers, teaching assistants and staff attending the Aug. 13 board meeting were welcomed by Kovalchik and school directors.

Kovalchik told The Press after the Aug. 13 meeting that the number of teachers hired as well as those who resigned for the 2018-19 NASD school year is about average.

“We had a lot of long-term substitute teachers leaving us for permanent positions,” Kovalchik said.

NASD Assistant to the Superintendent Robert J. Steckel Jr. said 47 teachers have been hired since opening day 2017.

Among those that NASD school directors voted unanimously 9-0 at the Aug. 13 meeting to hire, at the recommendation of the administration, are:

Sandra Bischof, long-term substitute special education instructional assistant, Siegfried Elementary School, effective Aug. 20 through April 7, 2019, at $10.53 per hour, and as community education program coordinator, effective Aug. 14 at $3,800 annually;

Kristin Olsen, TPE kindergarten teacher, Siegfried Elementary School, effective Aug. 20, at a salary of $51,555, with benefits;

Christine Jones, special education instructional assistant, NAMS, effective Aug. 20, at $12.59 per hour, with benefits;

Jacob Becker, TPE social studies teacher, NAMS, effective Aug. 20, at $51,555, with benefits; and

Angie Eaton, 12-month head secretary, Lehigh Elementary School, effective retroactive to Aug. 9, at $18.59 per hour, with benefits.