Once again, Northern Lehigh School District students have reached the benchmark to be proficient in both reading and math.

Assistant Superintendent Karen Nicholas informed the school board on Monday that the district has met Adequate Yearly Progress for the second straight year."I'd like to thank the students in the district for the great job you did on the tests," Nicholas said. "I'd also like to thank the teachers for the job you did, I see parents here, as well as administration."Nicholas said the achievement was a team effort."Without the entire team, we could not continue to meet AYP," she said. "Great job."Nicholas said that AYP's proficiency levels were 72-percent in reading, and 67-percent in math this year. However, she noted next year's goals will be even more difficult to attain, as reading proficiency will be 81-percent, and math 78-percent.To make AYP, schools and districts must meet target percentages with all students, as well as with every subgroup of 40 or more students, scoring at the Advanced or Proficient level.The district already has a set of goals in the works, Nicholas said.For instance, the high school has professional learning committees, as well as reading apprenticeship strategies; the middle school has RTI; a co-teaching model; and analyzing data; and the elementary schools have a 90-minute block for reading, and are piloting a new program."We're looking forward to the challenge," she said. "Congratulations to everyone, and continued success."Last year, the district met AYP in each of its four buildings. That came after the middle school and high school failed to meet AYP in 2009.Adequate Yearly Progress is a key measure of school performance established by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.Also on Monday, the board recognized eight recent retirees for their years of dedicated service to the district.Superintendent Michael Michaels said that while he was proud to recognize the teachers for their accomplishments, the moment was also bittersweet."Tonight, we get to honor some of our wonderful people," Michaels said. "They're just outstanding; not just as teachers, but outstanding individuals, outstanding people."Andrea Felle (34 years), Barbara Mantz (37), Diane McMullen (27), Denise Papay (21), Joanne Perich (24), Erwin Prutzman (37), Suzanne Tobing (35), and Ralph Williams (39) were all lauded by the board.Board President Edward Hartman also heaped praise on the teachers."I'd also like to say thank you to the teachers," Hartman said. "You do an outstanding job."Director Mathias Green noted that by his count, the teachers had amassed 255 years of experience.Other recently retired teachers include Linda Thompson (21 years), Richard Green (17), Lana Schmidt (10), Karen Haberern (39), Debra Sanek (34), Patricia Bollinger (37), and David Clemmer (44); recently retired cafeteria workers include Rebecca Croll, (23), Arlene Glasmire (33), Elizabeth Green (34), and Bonita Haydt (29); one recently retired teacher's aide was Kathleen Heiser (20); and one recently retired custodian was Samuel Unger (18).In other business, the board:• Accepted a donation in the amount of $1,100 from the Northern Lehigh Little Theater to purchase curtains for the high school auditorium.• Accepted the resignation of Grace Reppert, middle school Special Education Aide, effective immediately. Reppert is resigning to finish her own educational obligations.• Authorized proper officials to enter into an agreement between the district and New Story Schools for the purpose of furnishing regular education or special education programs for students in the 2011-12 school year.• Acknowledged the following teachers who have completed the requirements per the Collective Bargaining Agreement that would entitle them to a salary increase for the 2011-12 school year: Christopher Bennett, from Step 3B to Step 3B+24; Kathy Walter, from Step 11B+24 to Step 11M; and Thomas Mertus, from Step 10B+24 to Step 10M.• Approved Stephen Shuey as artistic director for the Fall Play/Spring Musical for the NLHS Student Theater Group. The stipend for the artistic director will be $1,500, to be paid out of the high school student activities account. The artistic director will be responsible for and overseeing all persons involved with set design and construction, costuming, lighting, sound, etc., as determined by the high school principal and production director.• Approved a stipend in the amount of $500 for Andrew Kern for high school website maintenance and working with students during the 2011-12 school year. Kern has constant contact with teachers, secretaries, and administrators in an effort to update the website on a daily basis with the latest information, handouts, and scheduled events. The stipend is to be funded by the student activities fund.• Authorized the superintendent to execute a letter of agreement for the 2011-12 academic year with the Center for Humanistic Change, Inc., to provide Student Assistance Program Liaison services. The Student Assistance Teams in the school district will use these services.• Authorized proper officials to enter into an agreement for one NLSD special education student to attend Parkland School District in accordance with the promises and covenants contained in the agreement. This agreement is effective for he 2011-12 school year.• Appointed Rhonda Frantz and Sherri Molitoris as alternate Act 32 Tax Collection Committee Representatives for Northern Lehigh School District. Frantz and Molitoris will act as voting delegates on the committee in the absence of appointed district voting delegate Edward Hartman.• Approved the Resolution, Readopting, Restating and Amending It's Earned Income Tax Resolution (Originally enacted on June 14, 1965) to Establish Conformity With The Local Tax Enabling Act as amended by Act 32 of July 2, 2008.• Granted permission to Michele Dotta to attend American Speech, Language and Heating Association, Social Thinking Workshop from Oct. 6-7 in Harrisburg. The cost of registration is $315, travel, $56; and lodging, $239; for a total approximate cost of $606, to be funded from the district's Special Education Budget.• Granted permission to Everly Kesack to attend American Speech, Language and Heating Association, Social Thinking Workshop, from Oct. 6-7 in Harrisburg. The cost of registration is $315; travel and lodging: traveling and sharing a room with Dotta, for a total approximate cost of $315, to be funded from the district's Special Education Budget.• Approved to designate and authorize the following administrators to sign summary offense notices for district students for the 2011-12 school year: Paul Rearden, Jr., Peters Elementary School principal; Linda Marcincin, Slatington Elementary School principal; Jill Chamberlain, middle school principal; Robert Vlasaty, high school principal; and Scott Pyne, high school assistant principal.• Approved the following substitute teachers for the 2011-12 school year at the 2011-12 substitute teacher rates as approved on the Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule: Kaitlyn Andrews, elementary; Heather MacCorkle Edick, English; Elizabeth Elstner, elementary; Carol Fella, music; Carol Judd, elementary and special education; Lori King, elementary; Edward Anderson, CLIU guest teacher; Donna Bauer, CLIU guest teacher; Nika Belcastro-Albanese, CLIU guest teacher; Annette Benedetto, CLIU guest teacher; Shannon Burky, CLIU guest teacher; Jamie Farber, CLIU guest teacher; Katie Fluke, CLIU guest teacher; Jo Lynn Gzao, CLIU guest teacher; Ines Heuser, CLIU guest teacher; Melissa Lawson, CLIU guest teacher; Asimo Tsilikoudis Long, CLIU guest teacher; Roderick Lowe, CLIU guest teacher; Seth McLaughlin, CLIU guest teacher; Theresa Oliveira, CLIU guest teacher; Patricia Passick, CLIU guest teacher; Michael Roth, CLIU guest teacher; Roobhenn Smith, CLIU guest teacher; Patricia Sottolano, CLIU guest teacher; Randall Utsch, CLIU guest teacher; and Jeanine Villano-George, CLIU guest teacher. The hiring of Andrews and Edick are pending verification of missing documents.• Approved Corinne Hoffman as a substitute secretary worker for the 2011-12 school year at the 2011-12 substitute rate as approved on the Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule.• Approved Alice Christman as a substitute cafeteria worker for the 2011-12 school year at the 2011-12 substitute rate as approved on the Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule.• Approved Steven Andrews and Christman as substitute custodians for the 2011-12 school year at the 2011-12 substitute rate as approved on the Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule.• Approved Andy Kern as a game worker for the 2011-12 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 2011-12 Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule.