A remediation program to help students improve their scores on the Keystone Exams will soon be shelved in the Northern Lehigh School District.

Assistant Superintendent Karen Nicholas informed the school board on Monday that the program, known as Bulldog Block, will be discontinued next semester.Nicholas said the program was a block of time the district set up at the high school to remediate the students who did not pass the exams.However, Nicholas said the district found that some students, parents and teachers had expressed concerns that the program was offered during first period, and some students were coming in late.She said the district administered a survey to those groups, and "based on that data, we will be discontinuing Bulldog Block next semester."Nicholas noted that the students won't need to take remediation next semester because the district won't get the results from the Keystone exam until March.She said the students can take the exam in May if they want, or the following January.Nicholas said the decision is a "win-win for everyone.""I think our students are going to continue to receive a good, quality education," Nicholas said.Before the report from Nicholas, Superintendent Michael Michaels stressed that Bulldog Block was a "pilot program.""It was something we tried," Michaels said. "We have to try different ways to meet the needs of our students."Michaels then heaped praise on the educators in the district."I'm very proud of Northern Lehigh, because our teachers are great," he said. "Our teachers are the gem of the Lehigh Valley."Other businessThe board:• Approved a conference request from Rhonda Frantz to attend the 61st annual PASBO Conference from March 8-11 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, with the cost of registration $299, lodging, $317, and meals, $50, for a total cost of $866, to be funded from the business office budget.• Approved a conference request from Sherri Molitoris to attend the 61st annual PASBO Conference from March 8-11 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, with the cost of registration $299, travel, $115, and meals, $50, for a total cost of $464, to be funded from the business office budget.• Approved appointing the law firm of Steckel & Stopp as solicitors for the school district in 2016. The hourly rate will be $125 per hour for general services and $145 per hour for litigation-related services, which represent a $1 per hour increase over last year's rates. The hourly rate for staff will be $98 per hour, which represents a $2 per hour increase over last year's rates. The board also agreed to further approve the retainer fee for 2016 at $2,050, which represents an increase of $50 over last year's rates.• Approved the resolution from Lehigh Carbon Community College seeking an extension of the school district preapproval for the college to acquire real estate in accordance with Section 2.2 of the rules, regulations and procedures for LCCC.• Approved the second reading of various board policies.