School Board Approves Curriculum Reductions

The Bethlehem Area School Board on Monday night approved a new for the next school year that will allow the district to lay off 87 teachers.

The plan will now be submitted to the state Department of Education for its approval, a necessary step for the district to furlough teachers.

Superintendent Joseph Roy previously said despite the submission of the plan, the district will be under no obligation to implement any of the proposed changes when it receives state education department approval.

The district has advanced the idea of to close a budget hole and avoid an even larger tax increase than what is currently planned. The current proposed tax increase sits at 2.42 percent, though the board is still trying to cut that down to 1.7 percent.

Dissenting were school board director Loretta Leeson and vice president William Burkhardt. Board member Rosario Amato was not present.

Leeson said she thought it's premature to send the plan to the state when there are still questions and issues pertaining to the proposals regarding student transportation and high school programming.

“I am uncomfortable sending this to the state without further clarification,” she said.

In a 3-5 vote, the board refused to approve the district's share of the 's proposed 2011-2012 budget.

Of the college's nearly $5.6 million operating budget, $2,126,035 is calculated to be the Bethlehem school district's share, an increase of 1.24 percent.

The board had previously said while it is small, it was difficult to approve any increase at all when budget shortfalls due to a reduction in state funding have necessitated possible teacher reductions and widespread program consolidations and cuts.

In another move, school directors unanimously appointed Russell Giordano as human resources director for the district at a salary of $105,000 per year.

Roy said Giordano has also formerly served as a school board member and president, “so we're sure he'll have have more than one perspective.”

The next BASD budget hearing is scheduled for April 26 at at 6 p.m.