The Bethlehem Area School Board heard good financial tidings at its Jan. 12 meeting, and was introduced to a new communications program for prospective student interns.

Hank Miller of Gorman & Associates accountants of Northampton reported the completion of 2024-25 audit report, and that the district’s tumultuous days in the red are now far in the past.

“You’ll be happy to hear there were no findings as far as material weaknesses or deficiencies,” Miller said. “That includes a federal compliance audit for federal programs … and no findings noted with federal programs either.”

The district finished the year with a surplus of $11.7 million and a fund balance of just over $84 million, about half of which is committed to capital improvements.

President Mike Faccinnetto said, “Another great audit – I think this is year 16 for Gorman & Associates. We continue to have good clean books.”

District Communications Manager Jen LoConte, having recently taken over for retired Barbara Clymer, announced a new option in the high schools’ career pathway program. The new Student Communications pathways internship is designed to give students hands-on real-world experience with storytelling, journalism, digital media and marketing. “As part of a districtwide student media team, interns will serve as writers, photographers, graphic designers and social media interns helping to tell the story of BASD through authentic student-created content, including the potential launch of a BASD TikTok presence,” LoConte said.

TikTok is a video hosting service platform owned by the People’s Republic of China that was banned by the U.S. Congress almost exactly a year ago, but the ban has not been legally enforced.

When asked in a follow-up email if the platform’s dubious legal status was relevant, LoConte said, “We are currently in the planning phase regarding a potential TikTok channel, focusing on establishing the same rigorous organizational, monitoring and content-approval processes we use for all of our BASD social media channels. Ensuring student safety and consistent, high-quality content is our top priority before launching any new platform.”

LoConte said there are many resources available for the communuications program, as they are entering a partnership with ArtsQuest and PPL’s Creative Factory. It will include a BASD-aligned social and media lab for video production, podcasting, and creative work and should be in working order by year’s end.

“These opportunities will support both internship students and communication-based field trips, with the possibility of apprenticeships at ArtsQuest,” LoConte explained. “Students will graduate not only with experience, but with portfolios, professional skills and confidence in their voice.”

Career Pathways Liaison Amy Meyers was also present.

“We’ve offered internships before but this one is particularly exciting because it’s going to be so visible,” Meyers said. “Everybody will know the kids will be producing media for the district- I think it’s really going to get the message of what we’re trying to do with Career Pathways out there, and it’s exciting that they get to do something meaningful to impact their school community.”

LoConte said, “Students make great storytellers, so we should be using that.”

As their first try, they will involve a single student candidate from each high school.

In less happy news, cracks have been discovered in parts of the still fairly new Nitschmann MS. Several contractors have been engaged to investigate the defect.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Education Center, 1516 Sycamore St.