Northern Lehigh School District's Safety Task Force Committee continues to work hard.

An update on the committee's meeting from earlier this month was shared with members of the school board on Monday.Greg Derr, director of support services and transportation, said about 20 people, which included state police, residents, and others were in attendance.Superintendent Michael Michaels added "the state police gave us some excellent advice."In terms of training, Michaels said it was expressed that they "wish more districts were ahead of the game like Northern Lehigh."Derr said the committee's next meeting will be held at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Slatington Elementary.In a related matter, high school Principal Bob Vlasaty spoke of several searches that have been conducted in the building due to prior "rumored gang and drug-related activities outside of our community."Vlasaty noted the second search "went really smooth.""Our staff is to be commended," Vlasaty said. "They went above and beyond."Also on Monday, the board was joined by members of the Northern Lehigh High School Little Theater Association "Little Shop of Horrors" cast.Joined by Nick Sander, musical director, the visit came after a highly successful production of the group's spring musical.Board President Edward Hartman told the students he was fortunate enough to see the play."You guys did a phenomenal job," Hartman said. "You ought to be very, very proud of yourselves."Michaels told the students "great job, and keep up the good work.""For a little school, we are so talented," Michaels said. "We are the gem of the Lehigh Valley."In other business, the board, on an 8-0 vote, with Director Natalie Green absent:• Approved to authorize administration to enter into an agreement with the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 to continue to serve the district's student information system needs with Pearson (formerly Apple) PowerSchool. The effective date of the agreement is July 1, 2013, and will be in effect for five years, and thereafter, will automatically renew for successive one-year terms. There is a first-year usage fee of $24,225, and is based on 1,900 students at a cost of $12.75 annually per student. Usage fees are subject to increase based on current prices, with the guarantee that the usage fee will not increase more than 3-percent from the previous year.• Agreed to adopt the CLIU 2013-14 Facilities Plan Committee Report that was adopted by the CLIU Facilities Plan Committee on Feb. 22, 2013.• Approved to authorize proper officials to ratify a contractual agreement between the Northern Lehigh School District and the Carbon County Intermediate Unit #21 to continue the Driver Education Program in the district at a cost of $2,000, which results in no change in cost over last year, effective July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014.• Appointed Samantha Sontag as temporary vacancy replacement, high school Science teacher, replacing an employee on family medical leave, at the Substitute Teacher Rate Days 1-30, Day 31 and beyond, $44,000 prorated (Step 1 Bachelors on the 2012-13 CBA Salary Schedule), effective Feb. 8, 2013, with a termination date upon return of full time employee.• Approved the request of employee #1410 to take a 12-week Family Medical Leave beginning on March 11, 2013, for medical reasons. She will be using accumulated sick days in conjunction with her family medical leave. She plans to return to her current teaching position upon release from her physician on or about April 15, 2013.• Approved Jenimida Christiansen, Social Studies, as a substitute teacher for the 2012-13 school year at the 2012-13 substitute teacher rates as approved on the Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule, pending verification of missing personnel file items.• Approved Katrina Wehr as a game worker for the 2012-13 school year. Game workers consist of ticket sellers and takers, game announcers, scoreboard operators, timers, field judges, scorekeepers. The rate of pay is consistent with the rates approved on the 2012-13 Supplementary Personnel Salary Schedule.• Granted homebound instruction for a seventh-grade student, Student No. 1890174, for five hours per week, effective March 5, 2013, and continuing until around April 16, 2013.• Approved a field trip request for the senior high school to Six Flags Great Adventure, in Jackson, on NJ, May 31, 2013. The trip will be funded by the Class of 2013 and IDEA grant.• Approved the request of the parents of a first-grade student at Peters Elementary School, who are moving out of the district at the end of April, to allow their student to finish the 2012-13 school year in the district, in accordance with school board policy #202.• Approved the resolution to allow the district to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education's e-signature program, which will allow the district to enter into any and all contracts, agreements, grants and/or licenses with the PDE using an electronic signature, thereby saving on paper and postage.• Approved a conference request by Michele Dotta to attend the Positive Behavior Support Network Implementers' Forum May 29-30, 2013, in Hershey, with a $50 cost for registration, and $143 for lodging, for a total approximate cost of $193, to be paid for from the Special Education Director's budget.• Approved a conference request by Suzanne Mengel, to attend the Positive Behavior Support Network Implementers' Forum, May 29-30, in Hershey, with a $50 cost for registration, $143 for lodging, and $56 for travel, for a total approximate cost of $249, to be funded from the Special Education Director's budget.• Approved a conference request by Ellen Yenser to attend the Positive Behavior Support Network Implementers's Forum, May 29-30, in Hershey, with a $50 cost for registration, $143 for lodging, and $50 for travel, for a total approximate cost of $243, to be funded from the Special Education Director's budget.• Approved a conference request by Amy Zeiser to attend the Positive Behavior Support Network Implementer's Forum, May 29-30, in Hershey, with a $50 cost for registration, and $143 for lodging, for a total approximate cost of $193, to be funded from the Special Education Director's budget.• Approved the Resolution Urging Pension Reform, as presented.• Approved the Resolution Urging Increased State Funding for School Construction and Renovation Projects, as presented.• Approved the Resolution calling for Reform of the Commonwealth's Charter and Cyber Charter School Funding Formulas, as presented.