Fountain Hill ES fifth-grader Ibrahim Allaik was among several honorees at the Bethlehem Area School District board meeting May 20. Allaik won the “Future Chef” contest, sponsored by district food service vendor Sodexo, and received a trophy and engraved chef’s knife at the meeting.

All nine board members were present and unanimously passed all finance and curriculum items.

Human resources items included procedural matters discussed at the May 13 meeting, as well as less routine matters, including delaying a vote on the proposal to pay consulting firm TransPar roughly $15,000 per month for three years to advise BASD on bus transportation. Dr. Karen Beck Pooley, Craig Neiman and Michael Faccinetto voted against tabling the proposal, which will be discussed at an upcoming committee meeting in an attempt to resolve it prior to the June 17 final budget vote.

The proposal for BASD to take on the executive director of the Foundation for the BASD as a full-time employee (sharing costs with the Foundation) passed 7–2, opposed by Dr. Dean Donaher and Tom Thomasik. Prior to the vote, Foundation trustee Edward Boksan spoke in favor of the proposal. Donaher clarified that his “no” vote was not against making the position full-time, or against Julie Bailey, who will hold the position, but that he believes a district employee should be the executive director of a separate nonprofit entity.

The board unanimously appointed Donaher, Neiman, and Angela Sinkler as Pa. School Board Association (PSBA) voting delegates. These delegates will attend the annual PSBA meeting in October in Hershey.

There were several other individuals recognized at the meeting for their contributions to the district:

Freedom HS representative Alianna Davis and alternate Joshua James Konschnick (not present) and Liberty HS representative Elisabeth Lee and alternate Zoey Rose Reifinger were thanked by Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy for their provision of “a unique perspective that assists the board in its deliberations.” Davis and Reifinger then reported on their respective high schools’ recent events, including a successful Special Olympics hosted by Liberty, and 14 Freddy nominations for Freedom and 10 for Liberty.

Freedom HS principal Michael LaPorta and band director Michael Moran recognized Emily Barger, a Freedom student selected for the PA Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Chorus and Region Chorus, and Sean Bailis, selected by PMEA for the District Band.

Liberty HS principal Harrison Bailey and band director Allen Frank announced the PMEA-selected Liberty students. All but Beaton and Miravich were present to receive personal recognition:

• Isaac Beaton (District Band, Region Band, All-State Concert Band)

• Aidan Evans Gartley (District Band)

• Nicholas Miravich (District Orchestra, District Band, Region Band, All-State Concert Band)

• Erin Nguyen (District Band, Region Band, All-State Wind Ensemble)

• Angela Rhee (District Orchestra, Region Orchestra, All-State Orchestra)

• Grant Sedlock (District Band, Region Band, All-State Concert Band)

• Chloe Wilcox (District Orchestra, Region Orchestra)

• Julia Zheng (District Orchestra, Region Orchestra)

The board also honored retiring principals Lisa Lynch (Fountain Hill ES), Timothy Lynch (Hanover ES), and Sonia Vazquez (Donegan ES). The principals received proclamations from the Commonwealth of Pa. recognizing their contributions throughout their careers.