The Northampton Area School District Board of Education voted unanimously 9-0 at its Oct. 14 meeting to approve, on recommendation of the administration, Kandiss Schrader as the Northampton Area High School head girls lacrosse coach for the 2019-20 school year at a compensation of $7,713.

Girls lacrosse is an NASD-funded sports program in the 2019-20 academic year. The season begins in spring 2020.

Schrader, NAHS Class of 1996, went to Fairfield University, Connecticut, on a field hockey scholarship, where she played Division 1 lacrosse and field hockey.

She coached lacrosse at Perkiomen School, Pennsburg, and Greens Farm Academy, Westport, Conn. Schrader was an assistant field hockey coach at Lehigh University from 2003 to 2012.

In recent years, she coached the youth lacrosse program in NASD.

Schrader is the mother of three - Kadee, an NAHS ninth-grader who plays lacrosse, field hockey and basketball, and Drew and Dane, Moore Elementary School students.

NASD Assistant Superintendent Robert J. Steckel Jr. announced the school community resource fair is planned for 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the high school.

“The intent is to give parents the opportunity to learn about what’s going on in society,” Steckel said.

Since the program is for parents and guardians, child care will be provided by members of the NAHS National Honor Society in the school library.

Representatives from the Center for Humanistic Change will present on drug trends, including vaping. They will also discuss social media and will have the mock teen bedroom program available.

NASD staff members will present on elementary technology resources, schoology for parents, Sapphire Parent Portal, A.L.I.C.E. emergency response and Safe2Say Something anonymous reporting.

Community group representatives will provide information about their services.

If you or your organization is interested in signing up for a presentation, check the NASD School Community Resource Fair link on the NASD website, nasdschools.org. For more information, contact Jill Stout at stoutj@nasdschools.org.

School Director Chuck Longacre, an NASD representative to Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School board, announced an open house is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 23 at the school, 3300 Chester Ave., Bethlehem.

Prospective BAVTS students and their parents and guardians may check out 30-plus programs, meet instructors, view program display tables and enjoy a screen-printing demonstration, cooking demonstrations, pumpkin carving, food truck and samplings by culinary students and children’s activities such as face painting, chef hat decorating, cupcake decorating, coloring, photo booth, agility course and free hot chocolate and s’mores.

“It’s a great opportunity for prospective students and parents,” Longacre said.

NASD Director of Curriculum and Instruction Lydia Hanner announced the draft of the district comprehensive plan for July 1, 2020-June 30, 2023, is available for public review under District News on the NASD website. The plan is expected to be voted on at the Nov. 11 school board meeting.

NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said he and NASD Business Administrator Matthew Sawarynski are expected to present the district’s annual budget one month early, at the Dec. 9 school board meeting, rather than in January.

“We’ll be meeting with all our departments,” Kovalchik said.

Kovalchik said the Pennsylvania Department of Education notified the administration that the NASD Act One Index is 3.2 percent for the 2020-21 budget. It was 2.8 percent for the 2019-20 budget.

The index is the upward limit for the percentage of tax increase allowable for NASD without receiving an exception.

“That does not mean we’re going to raise it to 3.2 percent,” Kovalchik said. “It means that’s as high as we can go.”

Kovalchik thanked the staff for the Columbus Day in-service day.

District playoff contests are probable for girls and boys soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball, cross country, golf and football, it was noted.

“Overall, we’ve had a very successful fall sports season,” Kovalchik said.

The NASD Board of Education next meets 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.