A program to help disadvantaged children prepare for school will remain intact next year in the Northern Lehigh School District.

Karen Nicholas, assistant to the superintendent, informed the school board on Monday that the Head Start program will continue in the 2011-12 school year.Nicholas said that Community Services for Children, with whom the district has a working relationship with, has agreed to fund the program."We're very excited the program will be available to our preschool children," Nicholas said. "Community Services for Children have told us they have enjoyed our partnership for several years, and want it to continue."Head Start is a preschool program for low income children.Also as part of her report, Nicholas said that the district's Title I application to extend the day program to kindergarten through sixth grade has been approved."We're happy to announce this was approved," she said. "We will be able to use those funds K-6."Also on Monday, the board accepted the retirement resignation of:• Erwin Prutzman, effective the end of the work day of his contractual obligations for the 2010-11 school year, with the date to be determined by the board upon completion of any make-up days. At this time, Prutzman will begin his retirement from the district after 37 years of service.• Joanne Perich, effective June 30, 2011, when she will begin her retirement from the district after 24 years of service.• Linda Thompson, effective June 30, 2011, when she will begin her retirement from the district after 21 years of service.• Barbara Mantz, effective June 30, 2011, when she will begin her retirement from the district after 37 years of service.• Richard Green, effective the end of the work day of his contractual obligations for the 2010-11 school year, with the date to be determined by the board upon completion of any make-up days. At this time, he will begin his retirement from the district after 17 years of service.• Lana Schmidt, effective Aug. 15, 2011, when she will begin her retirement from the district after 10 years of service.• Karen Haberern, effective the end of the work day of her contractual obligations for the 2010-11 school year, with the date to be determined by the board upon completion of any make-up days. At this time, she will begin her retirement from the district after 39 years of service.• Andrea Fella, effective the end of the work day of her contractual obligations for the 2010-11 school year, with the date to be determined by the board upon completion of any make-up days. At this time, she will begin her retirement from the district after 34 years of service.• Debra Sanek, effective June 30, 2011, when she will begin her retirement from the district after 34 years of service.• David Clemmer, effective the end of the work day of his contractual obligations for the 2010-11 school year, with the date to be determined by the board upon completion of any make-up days. At this time, he will begin his retirement from the district after 44 years of service.• Patricia Bollinger, effective the end of the work day of her contractual obligations for the 2010-11 school year, with the date to be determined by the board upon completion of any make-up days. At this time, she will begin her retirement from the district after 37 years of service.In other business, the board:• Approved, on an 8-1 vote, a resolution to oppose Senate Bill 1. Director Lauren Ganser was opposed.• Approved administration to enter into a partnership agreement with Lehigh Carbon Community College in order to provide its students with greater options to earn concurrent high school/college credit. The term of the dual enrollment partnership proposal between Northern Lehigh School District and Lehigh Carbon Community College will be from Aug. 20, 2011 to June 30, 2012.• Approved the renewal of a three-year service agreement (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2014), with SimplexGrinnell for the monitoring of fire alarm systems at all four district school buildings, the maintenance garage and field house, in the amount of $2,180 per year; as well as annual inspections of the fire alarm systems at the four district school buildings, the maintenance garage and field house, in the amount of $6,177 per year.• Approved a three-year service agreement (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2014) with Physio Control for yearly inspection and one Lithium battery replacement of the district's AED machines located in the four district school buildings and the field house. The total cost is $5,195 for three years of service, to be billed yearly at a rate of $1,732 per year.• Approved a three-year service agreement (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2014) with Altronics Security Systems for the monitoring of burglar alarm systems and recorded openings/closings for the four district school buildings and field house. The total cost for the service is $2,730 in the 2011-12 school year; $2,821 in 2012-13; and $2,915 for the 2013-14 school year.• Approved the submission of PlanCon I to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the additions and alterations to Slatington Elementary School.• Approved Jacob Bushner, technology education, as substitute teacher for the 2010-11 school year at the 2010-11 substitute teacher rates as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule, pending verification of missing personnel file items.• Approved Deborah Handwerk as a substitute cook's helper for the 2010-11 school year at the 2010-11 substitute rate as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule.• Approved Handwerk as a substitute cook's helper for the 2010-11 school year at the 2010-11 substitute rate as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule.• Approved Jody Remaley as a substitute custodian for the 2010-11 school year at the 2010-11 substitute rate as approved on the supplementary personnel salary schedule.• Approved a conference request for Jeffrey Bachman to attend PowerSchool University June 26-30, 2011, in Chicago, IL, with the cost of registration $2,000, lodging, $826.26, travel $619.94, and meals $100, for a total approximate cost of $3,546.20; to be funded from the superintendent's budget.• Approved the request of employee #3520 to take an unpaid leave of absence beginning May 5, 2011, and continue until the end of the 2010-11 school year. She was previously granted a family medical leave, which ends on April 29, 2011. She will be using her three personal days on May 2-4 before beginning her unpaid leave of absence. She plans to return to her current teaching position at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.• Granted homebound instruction for an 11th grade student, student No. 1290080, for five hours per week, effective March 30, 2011 and continuing until May 4, 2011.• Approved to enter into an agreement with Gorman & Associates, for auditing services, for the years ending June 30, 2011, 2012 and 2013.