Northern Lehigh School District doesn’t feel the need to form a new committee to allow parents to share concerns about the school during the pandemic.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link said at Monday’s school board meeting that a parent requested “a place for parents to go with legitimate concerns or ways to solve common problems when it comes to the lack of standardization and communication platforms, expectations for virtual learning assignments across grades and so on.”

Link said the parent was concerned about the focus on safety taking away from curriculum. “Unfortunately, this parent believes that there’s been little focus on the quality of education and the hybrid and full virtual models or the success of the actual learning at home.”

The parent was asking that the board consider a committee to help parents better understand curriculum, platforms between teachers and parents, clarify regulations and expectations across grades, and problem solving in these areas.

Opportunities for feedback

Board President Gary Fedorcha said, “I believe this school board itself, as well as the district, has a number of committees that can address all those concerns and at all those committees, that parents and members of the public can be part of those meetings.”

He said specific concerns can be directed to a principal.

Link said parents can also talk to the teacher or school counselor.

“We also offer for many of the areas identified in this communication, the education policy committee or the community relations committee could potentially also be appropriate venues. But really, also starting that direct conversation with the building principal as well.”

Fedorcha said he doesn’t believe an additional board committee was necessary.

“I do not see at this time a need for an additional board committee to be formed for those issues, that we do have vehicles within our system that can be asked and can be answered for those questions that parents may have.”

Director Robin Distler agreed.

However, Director Robert Keegan Jr. said, “As a grandfather of a kindergartner, and listening to some kindergarten parents, I think one of the things that we need to do is focus on the newest parents in our district,” Keegan said. “What I’m hearing is that our programs are content rich - which is a credit to the school district.

“But sometimes the ability to maneuver between the platforms and get to the instruction is difficult, particularly for the newest parents and for the grandparents who are helping out in a pinch, because there are a lot of grandparents out there that are not tech savvy, and sometimes it’s very difficult and causes a little crying and angst at the home front when we’re trying to get the work done,” he said.

He suggested addressing the newest parents in the district and “grandparents that are out there that are pinch hitting for the parents (who go to work).”

Link said that was feedback in the most recent parent survey and conversations have already started at the primary grade level.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tonia Stoker said the monthly meetings are virtual.

“Those are Title I schoolwide planned meetings, but they’re open to any parents who want to discuss academics or pretty much anything that goes on in the buildings,” Stoker said. “There’s always a forum for discussion there.

“I would invite that parent or any parents in the elementary center, grandparents as well, to certainly participate in those monthly meetings. There’s some really good discussion that happens, and a lot of action that takes place as a result of that.”

Keegan also suggested that the board have a virtual demonstration at a future board meeting.