Minutes

BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REORGANIZATION MEETING
DECEMBER 3, 2007  


REORGANIZATION MEETING

A Reorganization Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Bethlehem Area School District
was held on Monday, December 3, 2007, beginning at 6:13 p.m., in the Dining Room at the Education
Center, 1516 Sycamore Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.	


MEMBERS PRESENT

Mr. Stanley Majewski, Board Secretary, called the roll:

Members present:  Directors Cann, Craig, Dexter, Follweiler, Haytmanek, Koch, Leeson, and McKeon - 8.
Director Amato was absent.

	
OTHERS PRESENT

Others present:  Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, Superintendent of Schools; Ellis Katz, Solicitor; Stanley J.
Majewski, Jr., Board Secretary; administrators, members of the press, and other interested
citizens and staff members.


CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Majewski called the meeting to order and stated for the record that the Honorable Anthony
Beltrami had inspected the certificate of elections and had sworn in the following school
directors:  Mrs. Michele Cann, Mr. Joseph Craig, Mrs. Irene Follweiler, Mrs. Loretta Leeson and
Mr. Eugene McKeon.	


NOMINATIONS OPEN TEMPORARY PRESIDENT

Director Craig nominated Director Dexter as temporary president.  Director Koch seconded the
nomination.


NOMINATIONS CLOSED TEMPORARY PRESIDENT

Director Haytmanek made a motion to close nominations for temporary president.  Director Leeson
seconded the motion.


ROLL CALL ELECTION OF DIRECTOR DEXTER AS TEMPORARY PRESIDENT

The question was called on the election of Director Dexter as temporary president. The motion to
close nominations was passed by unanimous voice vote. 


NOMINATIONS OPEN BOARD PRESIDENT

Temporary President Dexter called for nominations for president of the board. Director Cann
nominated Director Leeson to serve as president.  Director Follweiler seconded the nomination.


NOMINATIONS CLOSED BOARD PRESIDENT

Director Cann made a motion to close nominations for board president.  Director Follweiler
seconded the motion.


ROLL CALL ELECTION OF DIRECTOR LEESON AS BOARD PRESIDENT

The question was called on the election of Director Leeson as president and roll call was as
follows:  Yea, Directors Cann, Craig, Dexter, Follweiler, Haytmanek, Koch, Leeson, and McKeon - 8.
Motion passed 8 - 0.


NOMINATIONS OPEN BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

President Leeson assumed the chair.  She asked for nominations for vice president. Director McKeon
nominated Director Dexter. Director Cann seconded the nomination.


NOMINATIONS CLOSED BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

Director McKeon made a motion to close nominations for vice president.  Director Cann seconded the
motion.


ROLL CALL ELECTION OF DIRECTOR DEXTER AS BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

The question was called on the election of Director Dexter as vice president of the board and roll
call was as follows: Yea, Directors Cann, Craig, Dexter, Follweiler, Haytmanek, Koch, McKeon, and
Leeson - 8.  The motion passed 8 - 0. 


NOMINATION AND ROLL CALL VOTE APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS CANN AND MCKEON TO JOINT COMMITTEE OF BAVTS

President Leeson stated that the Bethlehem Area School District is entitled to five
representatives to serve on the Joint Committee of the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School.
The term has expired for two directors.

President Leeson asked for nominations for the two directors to serve on the Joint Committee of
the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School. One position is a two-year term and the other a
three-year term.  Director Follweiler nominated Director Cann. Director Craig nominated Director
Follweiler. Director Follweiler declined the position, citing that she would not be available on
Tuesday evenings. Director Dexter nominated Director McKeon. Director McKeon agreed to the
two-year term and Director Cann agreed to serve the three-year term.

President Leeson called for a vote on the confirmation of the representative appointments. The
question was called and roll call was as follows: Yea, Directors Cann, Craig, Dexter, Follweiler,
Haytmanek, Koch, McKeon and Leeson - 8. The motion passed 8 - 0.

President Leeson stated that although they have the opportunity to appoint committees tonight, she
wanted to ask for input from every board member. She asked them to inform her about their intent
with regard to maintaining their current committee positions. She said they would discuss it at
the next meeting on Monday, December 10th.


OPEN FORUM

President Leeson said that a board member had requested an open forum and asked if there were any
objections. There were no objections to the forum.

Director Koch inquired about the informational reference sheet listing current representation on
boards and committees. She said Director Amato was listed as a Trustee and School Board Delegate
and asked why he wasn't listed in the same manner as the other representatives.

Dr. Lewis stated he should be listed as a Trustee.

Director Koch also noted that she is the representative for PSBA, which is Pennsylvania School
Board Association. She said it is erroneously listed as "National" and should be changed. She
stated she does attend the Federal Relations Network Meetings, which are NSBA (National School
Board Association) functions.

Dr. Lewis and President Leeson said they would make the corrections to the listing.

Director Koch also said that she was very disappointed to hear that there would not be a
Children's Christmas Party or luncheon for the employees of the Education Center this year.  She
noted that the party had taken place for decades. She spoke with people who said they went to it
when they were young and suddenly without notice the traditional party was cancelled. She asked
administration to reconsider having the party and noted the employees of the Education Center are
important to the district and they should be shown appreciation at Christmastime. She asked them
to reconsider or do something for the employees.

Dr. Lewis replied that a committee previously organized the Christmas Party for the children. This
year they chose not to do it because there were no volunteers to come forward to do the work but
he offered that they could still do something.

Director Craig asked if it would be possible to inquire if anyone at the Education Center would be
willing to take over the program and noted that it was a tradition for years. He said he would
like to see it continue but if nobody is longer interested then he understands why they may not be
able to do it.

Director Leeson agreed with Director Craig and suggested they follow through on his suggestion.
She also said that an email was sent to the board members informing them about a new holiday
program, which involved gifts of clothing and other items for children in need. She mentioned that
board members were welcome to assist with the gift wrapping activity in the conference room.

Director Craig mentioned a successful project in which he participated and was sponsored by St.
John's Lutheran Church. He said that approximately 125 coats, including hats and scarves were
delivered to Marvine and Donegan Elementary Schools for needy children.

President Leeson thanked him for his efforts on behalf of the school district.

She also welcomed the new school board members, Directors Follweiler, Cann and McKeon and thanked
them for their willingness to serve the district. She also welcomed back existing members,
Directors Craig, Amato, Dexter, Koch and Haytmanek and thanked them for their commitment. She said
she had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Lewis and informed the board that they are very
committed and looking forward to working together. She said after speaking with each of the board
members, she knows that they are truly committed to the district along with the children of the
district. President Leeson said she is looking forward to taking on the many challenges of the
upcoming year as they pull together as a team. She voiced her commitment to treat all fellow
members with equal respect and said if at any time they feel she is not doing so, she would
appreciate a call to let her know. She concluded that it would be a challenging but exciting year
as they all come together.


EXECUTIVE SESSION

President Leeson stated that Dr. Lewis informed her of the need for a short executive session to
discuss a personnel issue. 


ADJOURNMENT

Directors Craig and Dexter moved to adjourn the meeting, which carried by voice vote.  The meeting
adjourned at 6:30 p.m. 

Attest,


Stanley J. Majewski, Jr.
Board Secretary




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