Elementary students in the Northern Lehigh School District continue to make the grade.

Karen Nicholas, assistant to the superintendent, presented Keystone Awards to the principals of both Slatington Elementary and Peters Elementary on Monday.Principal Linda Marcincin accepted the accolade on behalf of Slatington Elementary, while Principal Paul Rearden accepted on behalf of Peters.Nicholas said the Keystones were presented to the elementary schools because they met Adequate Yearly Progress two consecutive years in both 2008-09 and 2009-10.While the middle school and high school also met AYP in the 2009-10 school year, Nicholas said they didn't in 2008-09."We're doing very well, and the students are making real gains," Nicholas said. "We're going to continue to make improvements."Also on Monday, the board adopted a resolution that recognized January as school board director recognition month.Superintendent Michael Michaels spoke highly of the board and said he's "very happy and honored to work with this group.""They're very opionated and passionate, and in our dialogues, they're always thinking of what's best for the citizens and the students," Michaels said. "It's really a pleasure to work with all of you."In other business, the board:• Approved the administrative transfer of Richard Green from middle school industrial arts teacher to middle school PSSA Prep Class at a salary of $72,500 (Step 17B+24 on the 2010-11 CBA Salary Schedule), no change in salary, effective Jan. 27, 2011.• Approved the request of employee #735 to take a family medical leave beginning on or about March 28, 2011, for the birth of her second child. She will be using 14.5 accumulated sick and .5 personal days in conjunction with the family medical leave. She plans to return to her current teaching position upon release from her attending physician on or about May 9, 2011.• Approved the request of employee #1410 to take a family medical leave beginning on Dec. 22, 2010, for her own medical reasons. She will be using accumulated sick days in conjunction with the family medical leave. She plans to return to her current teaching position upon release from her attending physician on or about Feb. 7, 2011.• Approved the request of employee #3520 to take a 12-week family medical leave in the near future. At this time, she is unable to provide any definitive dates due to the overseas adoption process and that their travel is at the discretion of China. She plans to return to her current teaching position at the expiration of her 12-week family leave.• Approved the request of employee #3365 to take an unpaid leave of absence beginning Jan. 27, 2011 and continue until the end of the 2010-11 school year. She was previously granted a family medical leave which ends on Jan. 26, 2011. She plans to return to her current teaching position at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.• Approved to continue the employment of Michael Strohl as a temporary vacancy replacement teacher for the remainder of the 2010-11 school year. The teacher he was replacing was granted an additional unpaid leave of absence until the end of the 2010-11 school year.• Approved Strohl as a game worker for the 2010-11 school year. Game workers consist of ticket sellers and takers, game announcers, scoreboard operators, timers, field judges, and scorekeepers. The rate of pay is consistent with the rates approved on the 2010-11 supplementary personnel salary schedule.• Approved to continue the employment of Kelly Weiner as a temporary vacancy replacement teacher for the remainder of the 2010-11 school year. The teacher she was replacing was granted an additional unpaid leave of absence until the end of the 2010-11 school year.• Approved Rachel Halkias as musical choreographer/assistant director for the spring musical for the NLHS Student Theater Group. Stipend for this position will be $1,000 to be paid out of the high school student activities account. The musical choreographer/assistant director will be responsible for overseeing all persons involved with musical numbers/responsibilities (pit band, choral arrangements, choral preparation), stage blocking, dance numbers, scheduling, etc., as determined by the high school principal and production director.• Approved Jamie Elmore as an unpaid volunteer aide in the Peters and/or Slatington Elementary schools for the 2010-11 school year, pending verification of clearances.• Acknowledged teacher Amy Zeiser, who has completed the requirements per the collective bargaining agreement that would entitle her to a salary increase for the second half of the 2010-11 school year, from Step 6B to Step 6B+24.• Approved Wiliam Hughes as Social Studies and Special Education, Caitlin Flaherty as Business/Computer/Information Technology K-12, and Tonia Schaeffer as Elementary substitute teachers for the 2010-11 school year substitute teacher rates as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule. Hughes is pending verification of missing documents.• Approved Sandra Diehl and Lilly Horwith as substitute teacher aides and cafeteria workers for the 2010-11 school year at the 2010-11 substitute rates as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule.• Approved Ronald Chontofalsky and Sandra Diehl as substitute custodians for the 2010-11 school year at the 2010-11 substitute rates as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule.• Granted permission to Rhonda Frantz to attend the A/CAPA Spring Conference March 10-11, 2011 in Hershey. The cost for registration is $180, lodging $232, travel $80, and meals $8, for a total approximate cost of $500, to be funded through the business office budget.• Granted the high school National Honor Society to attend a field trip in New York City, NY, on April 30, 2011, to be funded by National Honor Society students.• Approved to authorize proper officials to enter into an agreement for one district special education student to attend Parkland School District in accordance with the promises and covenants contained in the agreement, which is effective for the 2010-11 school year.• Approved to reaffirm the school board governance standards and code of conduct referenced in school board policy #011 - Local Board Procedures - Board Governance Standards/Code of Conduct as recommended by the Pennsylvania School Board Association.• Authorized administration, on behalf of the district, to accept a settlement agreement recommended by Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, file #095.0015, in regards to student #1390034.• Authorized administration, on behalf of the district, to accept a settlement agreement recommended by Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, file #095.0014, in regards to student #1990181.