Northwestern School Board hired D-Huy Engineering as the construction manager for the high school project at a cost of $339,150.

Board member Phil Toll said drainage problems should have been corrected in 2008-11 and now the school has to pay for things the contractor should have done.President Willard Dellicker said the Lehigh County Conservation District demanded a rain garden be built according to its design, but it does not work.The district went to the township to ask for a variance."We had an open permit and will fix it at the high school. We want all permits closed as part of the construction manager's responsibilities," said Arthur Oakes, operations manager.Discussion was held about widening the entire driveway in front of the school.Oakes said if the district makes a change, a new plan will have to be submitted.With the heavy trucks that will be using the drive, he thought it should be left until construction is finished. Widening it will provide more safety for the buses. It had been a requirement of the plan from Keystone Engineering and became part of the project. The motion to widen it was passed 5-4.KCBA was authorized to complete the specification plans for the bid package.Jani-King was terminated for nonperformance and replaced by Interstate Maintenance for custodial service beginning Nov. 1 at $6,338 per month for Weisenberg and $5,975 per month at Northwestern Elementary.Fire damageOakes gave a report about smoke damage from an electric water heater malfunction at Weisenberg.Everything plastic was damaged, but the hot water was only down for a day. Books were damaged and will be cleaned at a cost of $100,000.Ceiling tiles and 22 laptops have to be replaced."We are working with the insurance company," said Jennifer Holman, assistant superintendent.A letter of thanks will be sent to all three fire companies that responded.Sheryl Baran, a parent, thanked the district for letting parents know about the fire.Student scoresStudent performance profile scores issued earlier this month were found to be incorrect.Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said correct information was forwarded to the state, but when the state submitted its version, the professional evaluation was wrong.The profiles include many other things besides test scores such as attendance.She will attend a meeting in Philadelphia being held because of the errors.Business manager Leslie Frisbee attended a meeting to enhance understanding of the educational policy for business managers.After the first two days she says she got excited. It is a 10-month program.There are four goals for the Everybody Succeeds program, which replaces No Child Left Behind.They are to continue focus on student achievement, a study of preschools, the consideration of full-day kindergarten and to continue working with the board to be sure they have the information to be able to make decisions.Full-day kindergartenMiddle school Principal Bill Dovico, and elementary principals Jill Berlet and Maria Pullo joined forces in a full-day kindergarten discussion.Dovico said Northwestern and Catasauqua are the only local schools without full-day kindergarten.The object is to teach standards so students are ready for first, second and third grade.Full-day kindergarten allows more time for more reading and math skills to be developed and earlier remediation.Research said it helps all children succeed including those in low-income families who are prepared to fail. A higher order of thinking skills can be developed.Purposeful play also helps young children to learn.Data is being collected for discussion at the April 2017 board meeting, with full-day to begin in the 2018-19 school year if implemented.Some parents are against full-day kindergarten.Board member Darryl Schafer said he is glad the issue is being discussed from all angles.Other business• Dave Moyer will be retiring after more than 30 years of teaching science and math and being involved in the formation of the Science Honor Society. He will be recognized in May or June.• The Foreign Language and International Cultures Club will take a trip to Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic.• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said there is a right of privacy, therefore school employee's names and addresses may be redacted on right-to-know requests.• Joe Reiter, a former board member, under public comment said Northwestern Lehigh does not stop anyone from going to Lehigh Career and Technical Institute.Reiter said there will be a 0.3 percent increase in Social Security. "If we happen to raise taxes there should be a stipend for low income and handicapped."