While approving a resolution calling for charter school reform Feb. 24, the BASD school board unanimously voted to deny the Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School’s application for a new charter.

LVA’s existing charter will continue to run, and the school will continue to operate for the remainder of the charter at its current location on Valley Center Parkway.

“Our decision was made based on the requirements of the charter school law,” board President Mike Faccinetto explained. He cited the “incomplete, conflicting information” provided by the applicant regarding both its proposed new facility and project financing as reasons for rejecting the application. “Those are material omissions.”

The board also regretfully accepted the resignation of Region 1 (South Bethlehem, Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, and portions of Historical Bethlehem) member Rogelio “Roy” Ortiz. Ortiz’s term expires December 2021; the board has 30 days to appoint someone to serve the remainder of his term. Unlike Eugene McKeon’s resignation last year, which left a fairly obvious appointee – Dr. Kim Shively, who had already won the primary for both major parties – there is no clear choice to fill Ortiz’s spot. Applications are available on the district’s website for those wishing to be considered. Candidates will be interviewed during the facilities and curriculum committee meeting March 9 and/or the finance and HR committee meeting March 16; the schedule will depend on the number of candidates. The appointment will be made at the March 23 board meeting.

Two awards were presented at the meeting. Pa. School Boards Association (PSBA) Executive Director Nathan Mains presented board president Faccinetto with an award from the Allwein Society. The honor recognizes Faccinetto as an exceptional advocate for public education. Mains provided attendees with copies of the Commonwealth Education Blueprint, which benefited from substantial involvement by Faccinetto and Asst. Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva.

BASD was named the 2020 winner of the Air Products Leonard Parker Pool Impact Award. Laurie Gostley Hackett, from Air Products philanthropy and community relations, praised Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy and Dr. Silva in particular for their leadership. The award will be presented formally at the Celebration of Caring April 7 at Wind Creek.

Several noteworthy personnel actions were approved, including the retirement of Supervisor of Health Services Kathleen Halkins at the end of this academic year. Halkins has been lauded for her coordination of physical and emotional health services in the district.

Fountain Hill ES Assistant Principal Jose Sanchez replaced Nancy Zoudeh as assistant principal of Broughal MS as of Feb. 25, and East Hills MS special education teacher Garrett Podhyski will serve as dean of students at Fountain Hill ES for the remainder of this academic year. Michele Dedona will fill Podhyski’s spot at East Hills, serving as a long-term substitute for the remainder of the school year.

The board also formally adopted the academic calendar for 2020–21. Students will attend class from Aug. 31 through June 11, with half-days Sept. 16, March 17 and April 28. Teachers will have professional development on the afternoons of those dates; full in-service days are scheduled for Aug. 26, Aug. 27, Oct. 12, Nov. 3, and Feb. 12, with June 15 and 16 available as “flex days” to make up in-service days. The full calendar, as well as the school board meeting calendar, is available online (https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/beth/Board.nsf).

Eight board members were present (all except Ortiz). All measures passed 8–0.