Pointing to a “need for more focused, improved assessment and instruction of grade-level skills and content” in grades six through ten, BASD Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Jack Silva announced a new district-wide professional development initiative at the curriculum committee meeting Feb. 3. More than 15 percent of district ninth-graders had more than one “F” grade on their first-quarter report card this year – a disturbing data point that, Dr. Silva says, is correlated with poor future performance on state-mandated Keystone exams, low SAT or ACT scores, and even leaving high school without a diploma.

Earning two or more Fs on a report card in ninth grade means that these students are unable to fall back on the skills they need to be successful, Silva explained. “I take responsibility for these results,” he added. “They’re unacceptable.”

“We’re not going to solve this problem by doing more of what we’re doing now,” Silva told the board. In order to improve outcomes for high school students, the district is focusing its efforts on grades six through 10, specifically working to develop teacher training in instruction and assessment. Faculty members will learn new strategies for improving students’ reading comprehension and facility with new vocabulary, as well as learning how to make optimal use of Acadience (English Language Arts) testing data. Plans are currently being drawn up with building principals; if a professional services agreement can be put in place by the end of the school year, school administrators will attend the Keys to Literacy Institute for professional development during the summer.

Barb Clymer, the superintendent’s communications assistant, gave an update on district communications. Clymer noted the successful launch of the new website; the launch of the Employee of the Month award, which has generated positive buzz on social media; and the second year of BASD TV, which runs 24/7 on RCN and Service Electric cable services.

Costs were also announced for Freedom and Liberty HS graduation ceremonies at Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena, subject to board approval at its upcoming Feb. 24 meeting. Freedom’s event will be held June 8 with a rental fee of nearly $9,500; Liberty’s ceremony will take place June 9 and cost roughly $11,700 for the facility rental.