Schools are Ready for Opening Day

Members of the Nazareth Area School Board said the district is just about set to start the new school year, which is less than two weeks away.

Assistant Schools Superintendent Dennis Riker reported at Monday night's school board meeting that the grounds crew has done an "excellent job in preparing our buildings" for the new school year.

In providing his facilities and operations report, Riker stated that some dead trees and limbs have been removed from several schools and painting and sidewalk work has been completed at others. The roof project is also finished at the . The district operates six schools.

Riker also said that bus routes were mailed out on Aug. 9 and, after numerous phone calls, officials will be out reviewing and checking the bus stops, several of which are new this year.

Meanwhile, Schools Superintendent Victor Lesky addressed the district's enrollment during his report, saying the district will start the year with 53 fewer students than last year.

While the district lost about 100 students between the number of seniors who graduated high school and youngsters starting kindergarten, he said about 50 new students moved into the district over the summer.

"I believe we will be fine with our class sizes and our staffing," Lesky said.

The school board also approved the district's substitute teacher list, effective the first day of employment and pending paperwork.

While the district will have 13 substitutes waiting in the wings, that list is going to be a lot shorter this year -- in fact, five times shorter than the 70 names on last year's list.

Riker said that at the end of each school year, the district sends out a notice to its substitutes about whether they will return. He said many aren't because they have taken full-time work or are working for other school districts.

The additions are: Biology/Mid-Math, Rachel Elliott; Elementary, Lisa Barr, Amy Bates, Amanda Ferrao, Megan Groh, Abigail Heim, Justine Marano, Lindsay McCarron, Andrea Miller, Abby Mitchell; Elem./SpEd, Bridget Shanley, Danielle Stickley; Music, Steven Jonkman.

In other business:

• The state Department of Education recognized Nancy Ducey as a business administrator for keeping her technical skills current.
• The state Department of Education approved the district's special education plan for 2011-2014.
• Jennifer Paukovitch was hired as a biology teacher.
• A program for new teachers began Tuesday and runs through Thursday with teachers getting training on human resources, the business office and technology, meeting with principals and spending time in their classrooms.
• The took place on school grounds Monday.