[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6611727,"mediaKeyId","2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad","parentId",2892975,"title","Committee hears research on social media and student mental health; strong board reactions on phone bans","audioSeconds",1961,"startMs",5478000,"endMs",7439000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad&start=5478&end=7439","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad/thumbnail_5478000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611727/Pennsylvania/Committee-hears-research-on-social-media-and-student-mental-health-strong-board-reactions-on-phone-bans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611727-c1eedaeff7284fa492bee2a6610b4a6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451860&Signature=BGnfMRaEW4HhCB-y8t8Im5dQIILFfp3eWNJHuMuk-JZI9lASQ3-Rwpy-jL29SfudPbhNYrOeN1uTl4PxaaVM1G1sq5M33rhuBtAM~xJ7q1lEegbY5HIv1pOJFa~QM6IfFMYy9ZV4tWRAhUuJpbS1KVwUT4fOl9e8MZyGp5ppVfayNH2R0x2WlJi9qfAnZCgDzXuLXUsVC1DIFKSSEaPKDl~Q6xL7Gts2n6yY2ZAH1TnzU69BDjN5dHzDmvg95dE6aXIPtkqTvvDrfND5Ym0hI7anzIlbPWBHxFmWD18p9PczCI3Ci-TU5DWXSjQsdRpPej30aWKSEIl3OwBSDgHLgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bethlehem Area School District","date","2025-04-08T00:18:12.95Z","article","The curriculum committee heard the first of two presentations on student cell‑phone use and social media impacts, and the discussion drew strong reactions from committee members and attendees urging strict in‑school limits.

Nicole Bouhana, identified as an assistant principal, presented a synthesis of research: she summarized findings on typical teen device use (for example, that teens receive many daily notifications and that high social media use correlates with increased anxiety and depression) and described developmental concerns — adolescent sensitivity to social feedback and identity formation — cited in academic commentary. The presentation included a short clip of author Jonathan Haidt explaining a widely observed decline in adolescent social interaction after smartphones and social media became pervasive between about 2010 and 2015.

Bouhana and staff described district committee work over two years, local walkthroughs and reviews of comparable districts that have implemented phone restrictions. Staff said some secondary buildings (Freedom, Liberty and middle schools) have implemented varying restrictions: Freedom began a restriction about three years ago, Liberty implemented a freshman‑center restriction, and middle schools implemented restrictions this year. The district will return to the committee in May with specific district‑level recommendations and proposed procedures.

Committee members and community attendees responded strongly. Several said they favor an outright ban on phones for K–8 students and much stricter controls at high school; one board member and other speakers argued that a district‑level ban is feasible because the district can enact a collective action solution — requiring all phones off during school eliminates the asymmetry that makes a single student’s limit ineffective. Other members asked staff to include comparative data on safety outcomes, implementation experience from other states and a clear plan for parent communication and office phone access if the policy reduces in‑class phone use.

Staff emphasized the next step: district staff and a committee will return with recommended guidelines and implementation procedures in May. The committee did not vote on a policy at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BASD School Board Facilities and Curriculum Committee Meetings - April 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An assembled team summarized research on teens' social media use, brain development and school impacts; the committee heard calls from multiple board members and attendees urging a strict ban on cell phones in K–8 and tighter limits in high school. The district will return in May with policy recommendations.","taxTitle","Bethlehem Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",12921,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611731,"District expands Keys to Literacy training as part of PDE comprehensive plan to strengthen content‑area literacy",1251,3025000,4276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad&start=3025&end=4276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad/thumbnail_3025000.jpg","/articles/6611731/Pennsylvania/District-expands-Keys-to-Literacy-training-as-part-of-PDE-comprehensive-plan-to-strengthen-contentarea-literacy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611731-f5fcd0b92ae3ba02cb6ef86205f5e5af/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451860&Signature=ZK8QvfyB7DdEmfnigQlAgca6OIpVDeRNc2ieN~~oG2Y7Y8yi9Att60xFlcFvfRhuzIujA55j5yGLeZu3byTNjpeOqc2phzavA1tonZLcuDCUOdeSrzihvKS3UvhtBhsIjsrrJkQOmSubz5sJfVmDDU1czlDA8A~yqpXlw7XhBHIKkITUJs-Ej1lkQKkxIk4AbCAgUCdQxBQk~BRFZBPVDoh7XuDpyLW6aMaWpcF0S1~ztDl1LLQz6X0-nB1pe3LE41kORtbJ5IvkdhA5MMcInragTifY8vSA-p9U5oUzmQoHXVAUM3BlgBfe4v4lQ9f0Jp8JU~SMEa72rVEqCyouEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bethlehem Area School District curriculum committee reviewed the district’s Pennsylvania Department of Education comprehensive plan and a large professional‑learning rollout of Keys to Literacy (KTL) strategies aimed at improving content‑area literacy across grade levels.

Staff described the comprehensive plan as an annual PDE requirement and said it aggregates district data, demographic information and goals for literacy and math. The committee heard a focused presentation on KTL — routines and high‑leverage strategies designed to help students access complex texts across content areas — and staff said KTL training emphasizes comprehension, vocabulary and writing routines that teachers can use consistently across classrooms.

Mrs. Harper, who led the KTL presentation, described the approach as evidence based and aligned with state standards; she told the committee that training uses a limited set of repeatable graphic organizers and routines (for example, two‑column notes and top‑down topic webs) so students encounter consistent strategies across teachers and grade levels. Staff said administrators were trained first, then cohorts of teachers: an initial cohort of roughly 73 teachers completed full KTL training, and a larger rollup year engaged approximately 548 teachers district‑wide during the most recent year.

Committee members asked about differentiated supports for students with disabilities and how KTL fits with trauma‑informed and restorative practices. Harper said routines are scalable by scaffolding — teachers can provide partially completed organizers or sentence stems for students who need more support — and that consistent routines can reduce student anxiety by offering structure; staff also said trauma‑informed and restorative approaches run concurrently in classrooms but that KTL is focused on literacy skills rather than being a substitute for socio‑emotional programming.

Staff urged the committee that continued implementation and coaching are intended to make KTL routines “normal” classroom practice and said classroom walkthroughs show teachers and students using KTL strategies with grade‑level texts. The curriculum committee did not take a formal vote; staff said the comprehensive plan and professional‑learning updates will appear on the April 28 board agenda.","Curriculum committee members heard a presentation on the district’s PDE comprehensive plan and the Keys to Literacy (KTL) professional learning rollout; staff said KTL training focuses on high‑leverage routines for comprehension, vocabulary and writing and that hundreds of teachers have taken part across grades.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611735,"District to purchase accessible playground for Freemansburg Elementary with church, PTA and district contributions",285,1853000,2138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad&start=1853&end=2138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad/thumbnail_1853000.jpg","/articles/6611735/Pennsylvania/District-to-purchase-accessible-playground-for-Freemansburg-Elementary-with-church-PTA-and-district-contributions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611735-a51dd3a012988c87f3e48a635ffd38ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451860&Signature=U-qBJ8I1j64rFOucfcXZ5skvApwZX6Z1sfdoXqSPjUh-vuWzcYtZJnFyXSF53HGSKnAaNvZ9KhOl1gBV5wg4Qy8QnKElNbRHMmEgt-lhasQJ7v7WtKzbqvlKL7ZLK0nrYMZ9w~TcjU5CE8kf0~764bK0nHIk7KxfuhGC~5f3VUYp-HF32V5D1L4jakeNR-mIVo2hh6boG75bBWwn-Zaue~Oqz20MF2vyRbeTE7e~ZqCcLWPhz6tCdA6CcmC58pkg7QPn6TXrzYYQQaj1R8QgN5~dJc99EEnUyojvO3c737IvxpMAYnL9VWoAmO~vRRBzD02JAZ5eMR4NSCCzGqDcLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff told the facilities committee they will seek board approval on April 28 to purchase a playground for Freemansburg Elementary using a combination of a donation from Grace Church, PTA contributions and a district share.

Staff said the total playground structure cost is about $70,000 and that the district contribution would be approximately $19,000; the district contribution would cover site preparation, surfacing and freight so fundraising dollars are maximized toward the play structure itself. The committee noted the district has previously provided similar site preparation support when PTAs and community donors raised funds for equipment.

Committee members asked whether the proposed playground would be accessible to students with disabilities. Staff said the structure will include ground‑level play events and accessible surfacing; although it will not include large ramps that lead from ground level to the top of the structure, the surfacing will be ASTM certified and, staff said, compliant with ADA guidance for accessibility. The staff presentation said the school’s staff, including the lighthouse team and several IU classrooms, participated in selecting the structure and colors.

Staff said the new playground is expected to be installed and ready for the August start of the school year. The committee did not take a vote at the meeting; staff said the purchase and funding plan will be on the April 28 board agenda for approval.","The facilities committee discussed an agenda item to purchase a new playground for Freemansburg Elementary combining a donation from Grace Church, PTA funds and a district contribution; staff said the playground will be accessible and use ASTM‑certified wood chip surfacing meeting ADA guidelines.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611740,"District renews transportation manager contract, rolls out Stopfinder app and recommends cellular radios for buses",199,1400000,1599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad&start=1400&end=1599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad/thumbnail_1400000.jpg","/articles/6611740/Pennsylvania/District-renews-transportation-manager-contract-rolls-out-Stopfinder-app-and-recommends-cellular-radios-for-buses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611740-f946f2dc0726bc27427511651b8bb61b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770451860&Signature=fKYIg-78uKzKXTK1I0dZMFUdMZrabEDeh~FPwCPjwRJyOG~WcGH~bNHOimoc91T-RRa3TdY-D2IlklUz2KPtJ~e-pEDg-QQe~Xyzb21AHbg8FK4L50QwGUTScS4rk2MUahDdziu9HseWTJTvIn02YFotkXhS92Q8vJ8yrscG5qVojZhCyFA9T~~oBRtwQJEmMrW0DGVMnxCKjGPpixkG8mEj5HDRC9FLAPGCO12yhVuMIyhfGq3COm8cltSt-wvav2Si0fhq52Cpicth~lnJjQ8nc3TuVN1EqH8lR2cG9QA8IXsJoc4Ee-H0oFAcQV2JbdEzuJe7ZFAiXwPXopLKzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District transportation staff told the facilities committee they will recommend a one‑year renewal of the Transpar Group contract to continue on‑site general manager and consulting services after completing a three‑plus‑one‑plus‑one contract term.

Staff also said the district finished rolling out Stopfinder, a parent bus‑tracking app, to all elementary families. The app allows parents to view a live bus location within about five minutes of a scheduled stop, set time‑based push notifications and create geofences around a stop to receive arrival or departure alerts. Staff said the elementary rollout had about 610 users in the pilot and added roughly 660 more during the final rollout; the district plans to expand the service to middle school and special education families after evaluating elementary use.

On radio systems, transportation staff presented a recommendation to move from tower‑based analog radios to cellular push‑to‑talk radios and recommended awarding a five‑year solution to FirstNet, citing total cost of ownership and better coverage in parts of the district. Staff said they tested traditional digital radios and cellular devices with drivers and dispatchers and found the cellular option gave clearer audio and broader coverage; they explained the district looked at multi‑vendor proposals and prioritized five‑year lifecycle costs over a low‑cost first year.

Committee members asked a few operational questions about the app and the contracts. Staff said two‑way messaging in the parent app exists as a feature but is currently turned off as the district pilots the system; they also described the Transpar renewal as the first one‑year option of the renewal cycle and told the committee they were satisfied with the vendor's support in keeping drivers in place.

None of the transportation items was voted on in committee; staff said the Transpar renewal, the FirstNet radio recommendation and related contracts will be advanced to the April 28 full board meeting for formal action.","The facilities committee heard staff recommend a one‑year renewal with Transpar Group for transportation management, announced district‑wide rollout of the Stopfinder parent bus‑tracking app for elementary families, and recommended switching bus radios to a FirstNet cellular push‑to‑talk solution based on five‑year cost and coverage tests.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611747,"Bethlehem Area SD outlines Fountain Hill Elementary demolition, temporary move and related land‑development steps",815,1154000,1969000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad&start=1154&end=1969","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2892975-845783e47824464925851574a86242ad/thumbnail_1154000.jpg","/articles/6611747/Pennsylvania/Bethlehem-Area-SD-outlines-Fountain-Hill-Elementary-demolition-temporary-move-and-related-landdevelopment-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611747-6cf9b5386f278a5b04c1c5b051c4f534/orig.mp4?Expires=1770400329&Signature=XH0cwDl3~HfrU-68AYra9RfWyK1WKHh8s7U6O2vFTl-ApDe7TiFqr4gZu3t8QiB2STr6dk50dIeW8oo6BAq~RrH8qDh9gPqD22WL66ipttEm4efhls52JQDzG29d4qpaxTvliwBVRghyMTp4cji8Y7KCDXXVUaBopUU2iMJhe-cQld7xmsBinaTBDF~h~vtPZoUX3xfbeqqHjvrwzsfUHR8a8hO70uVD89lf2927qZe2jxMPUvRqefQrtCtVG2Jl1iGd~BLl8BYvbJ6-F9ayXw1gklAJGREy8qx-Pub0dBZ-AybMlk4YJVhNbkcO-~uYBNSe8-erhv4JLNc3a69hzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District facilities staff updated the Bethlehem Area School District facilities committee on the Fountain Hill Elementary School replacement project, saying students will occupy a temporary facility on Valley Center Parkway beginning June 1 and that demolition of the old school will follow.

The update came at the start of the facilities committee meeting, where staff said construction contracts were authorized last month, a pre‑construction meeting is set for April 17, and submittals for the work are “rolling in fast and furious.” The presentation said the district remains on track to have students’ last in‑person day at the old Fountain Hill site before moving to the temporary location ahead of construction.

The district also told the committee it is carrying multiple agenda items related to Fountain Hill for the April 28 board meeting: land development improvement agreements, sidewalk and parking easements, stormwater best‑management agreements, PPL right‑of‑way and infrastructure installation agreements, and PlanCon paperwork for Parts G and H. Staff described those items as routine components of the land development and approvals process and said they are proceeding with conditional borough approvals and the associated escrows, sureties and rights of way.

Staff invited the community to a final walk‑through of the existing Fountain Hill building in early April; the meeting noted former students, neighbors and alumni will be welcome to tour the school before demolition and to identify items they might want to preserve. Committee discussion included a brief mention that some mementos might be repurposed for the new building and that staff have talked with teachers and community members about the logistics of moving and preserving selected items.

On the timeline, staff said the temporary Center Valley Parkway facility is in the last phases of fit‑out and is expected to be ready for occupancy June 1, and that the district is planning site work and demolition at the old Fountain Hill site after students relocate. Staff also told the committee that if the state’s PlanCon reimbursement program is reconstituted or funding becomes available, the district will have Parts G and H ready for submission.

The facilities committee did not take a formal vote on those agenda items at the meeting; staff described them as items that will be before the full board on April 28 for consideration.","District staff told the facilities committee that Fountain Hill Elementary students will move to a temporary site in Center Valley Parkway before demolition and construction; multiple land‑development agreements and PlanCon paperwork will appear on the April 28 board agenda.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears research on social media and student mental health; strong board reactions on phone bans

District expands Keys to Literacy training as part of PDE comprehensive plan to strengthen content‑area literacy

District to purchase accessible playground for Freemansburg Elementary with church, PTA and district contributions

District renews transportation manager contract, rolls out Stopfinder app and recommends cellular radios for buses

Bethlehem Area SD outlines Fountain Hill Elementary demolition, temporary move and related land‑development steps