[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6260226,"mediaKeyId","3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a","parentId",3134284,"title","District advances summer learning, AVID membership, health partner MOU and student travel proposals","audioSeconds",1299,"startMs",6214000,"endMs",7513000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a&start=6214&end=7513","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a/thumbnail_6214000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260226/Pennsylvania/District-advances-summer-learning-AVID-membership-health-partner-MOU-and-student-travel-proposals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260226-3909d10e0431dd082310b3c9f4e9d2e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651257&Signature=NJQwB62gSqhnCWlXoHn1dTX4Qp2UNpvLZUnN88zPj9~rQG5xvpM8QbuC1WrRAwqpn1u-6LR7lqbGHchAhVIlO-2PFqUXYJEbNfTAyR4VHWc7CFfWxICNitA9~xlEPKjmM~vkCbMq6Es9BjsxJUnMHpkyNyU8aZO9qckx1B-APJtPWm9bEjPdw7xktIiXCaozuWu6vvOk4C-eC~zqH-fzleHQBOpjqsH3HC4W-gPpIg17NEuGzobkOvMFSIgRQZOR2gvc1wutgra2tygvYOHesTXLYBu2PkOLYpBUK0cdWKrpwvDANhPIS9ZUHMypJ8BdXrdNR684ZT1QrY0qPFILBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-27T00:43:00.82Z","article","Administrators told the board the district’s summer learning plans will offer literacy, math, social‑emotional supports and career‑exploration opportunities for rising grades, with specialized options for English learners, refugee students and students needing credit recovery. Doctor Malika Savoy presented program dates and said most summer programming will run Monday–Thursday, with some extended 21st Century programs operating on a different schedule.

The board approved (moved forward) several items to the regular meeting for final action:

- A renewal of a memorandum of understanding with Valley Health Partners (community health center) to continue partner‑provided services.
- An AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) membership, professional development and library package for middle schools at a total district cost of $71,556 ($17,889 per middle school), presented by Melissa Smith.
- A proposed facilities availability plan from the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit covering special‑education facilities: administrators said the plan has no direct impact on district students and moved it forward.

Administrators also asked the board to approve two international student‑travel proposals for summer 2026:

- William Allen High School: multi‑city Europe trip (Rome, Madrid, Paris). Estimated student cost about $4,500; chaperone ratio approximately 1:6. The trip includes language and history curriculum connections and a project‑based learning component.
- Dieruff (Diop) High School: Costa Rica trip focusing on Spanish plus biology/astronomy connections. Estimated student cost about $3,500; chaperone ratio approximately 1:5.

Board members asked specific safety questions about passports and human‑trafficking protections. Administrators said the district’s vetted tour vendors (EF Tours and others) carry liability insurance, perform pre‑travel risk assessments, train staff chaperones, and submit emergency protocols; administration said it would provide written documentation of those protections to the board before students travel. The board voted to forward the travel proposals to the regular meeting with direction to supply the requested safety information and to continue fundraising assistance for students.

Several summer‑program items, including a Foundation partnership to provide free summer programming at South Mountain Middle School with district lunch service, were also moved forward by unanimous or unrecorded committee votes and will appear on the regular meeting agenda for final approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ASD Committee of the Whole / Regular Board Meeting 04/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Administrators presented summer learning, partnerships and student travel proposals and the board moved the items to the regular meeting pending final documentation on cost and safety.","taxTitle","Allentown City SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",12919,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6260231,"Board committee approves districtwide rollout of ParentSquare communication platform",420,3334000,3754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a&start=3334&end=3754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a/thumbnail_3334000.jpg","/articles/6260231/Pennsylvania/Board-committee-approves-districtwide-rollout-of-ParentSquare-communication-platform","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260231-b4be54f91a67b45ff47f722425a3bcfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651257&Signature=HNk4L7yGgk4ZdGTaHdY5Sss7pjkMtRJ8uQtJ--qYKIbUtCGIAWt7o2b7DkLusIYeTartpyoGnNVksMVi5K6SJqqfKGbutiUi1PixrZuutg2cGT5ZsPavgadTmgV57wBuMP31rOrWs4V04RU0NV9BoTwH8oUEkF2t4tf5vplLXB8PPwsCJ8t82qgW-ChGlyR2NzkGJ445tTWwI0IjibwjnDMo9Dm5O-vVFtY-U7mKwwW5g5j4U2gWvCA8COFfD-Pg1XGogy88iD~Zr2FS-VPCf-cSY6XhxRS91WtJNojmeCfk-uJEurCbENGr01y2D-QG86zawNq5mhZg9vM9YeADQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Allentown School District committee voted to forward an action to the full board to adopt ParentSquare as the district’s unified family‑communication platform.

Miss Monley introduced the item, saying the platform would align with Goal 3 of the district strategic plan and replace the patchwork of free and paid tools schools currently use. Administration said the plan aims to ensure consistent, secure and professional communication across all school sites and to help schools comply with existing district policies on privacy and acceptable use.

Melissa, a ParentSquare representative on the Zoom meeting, answered board questions about line‑item pricing. She said the different year labels (for example, “Engage Premium 2025” versus “2023”) are an internal naming convention for package and accounting purposes; the vendor provides the same set of features and year‑to‑year enhancements are included.

Board member Miss Green asked how the platform clearly improves on the patchwork of existing tools; administration and the vendor said the district‑level contract will standardize messages and eliminate multiple disparate subscriptions across schools. After brief Q&A, the committee took a motion and second and voted to move the item forward; the motion carried without objection.

The vendor was available to answer additional questions at the regular board meeting. Administration said cost details and implementation timeline will be provided with the item at final board action.","The board moved forward a plan to adopt ParentSquare as a single, districtwide family communication platform to replace multiple free and paid systems. A ParentSquare representative explained pricing is a naming convention and features are consistent year to year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6260237,"Board advances strict adult‑student boundary policy after extended debate over gifts and reporting",2156,4084000,6240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a&start=4084&end=6240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a/thumbnail_4084000.jpg","/articles/6260237/Pennsylvania/Board-advances-strict-adultstudent-boundary-policy-after-extended-debate-over-gifts-and-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260237-8068d6d881f04db79bfd82af205b6727/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651257&Signature=HPlt0jKe9FvBtasNtLOpdTvVmDixcVWkJBffJ6sOjMFYdiwcug4OaIoNEmqiKbuMovSaDLi86lVIiDY3ZgdnmSzXCSkUzlx6PVL0sR-h-S8fTstUCoZoMdgXjAC80wQWaiYlKwljviKtZ0--IhR5DqiCh~FEEjeRWx9vw1WveA6sEb6eIZqnoDJyGgMhdbshh3CAZyXPSKNJ-q76GznrgApThxS3OGo0AwnBe-TXJoKxXeHQmk5cOoIy1wrzrvTWwlREYEtjWWfxZMEvKTsssR84hth17xGZE9zQfZpewyaov-3VxJ9DDxeUhAG5xvy0WhAtn5CAQXS5am1E-NO2Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Allentown School District board voted in committee to move Policy 824, a new policy on maintaining professional adult‑student boundaries, to the regular board meeting after more than an hour of discussion about scope, enforcement and unintended consequences.

The policy, presented by Mister Sang, prohibits romantic or sexual relationships between district adults and students “regardless of the student’s age,” language that prompted questions from several directors about whether the phrase “students of any age are not legally capable of consenting” should remain and how that wording reads. Attorney Sotanic said the proposed language tracks recent criminal and institutional law changes and that the policy reflects a higher standard for employees.

Board members pressed administration on several practical points. Directors sought clarity on whether the policy would prohibit classroom positive‑behavior incentives (small class prizes), how the policy interacts with the student code of conduct, and whether the district should allow administrator‑approved charitable gifts in cases of demonstrated student need. Doctor Birx and other administrators emphasized that the policy includes a written‑approval requirement from building principals for any personal gifts and that the policy does not intend to block organized, school‑approved class rewards or district‑facilitated charity. The policy already contains language requiring written approval for personal gifts to a student.

Several speakers urged additional safeguards: one director asked that anonymous reporting be added to the reporting section; legal counsel confirmed mandatory reporting and existing statutory obligations remain in force. Board members and counsel described examples of past grooming cases that began with small gifts, which supporters used to argue for strict limits and administrative oversight. Opponents said overly broad language could prevent well‑intentioned staff and community members from helping students in need and asked the board to adopt more tailored language or stronger procedures rather than a categorical interdiction.

After debate, the committee voted to forward Policy 824 to the regular board meeting for final action. Committee discussion produced two specific clarifications that administrators said would be emphasized when the policy is presented to the full board: (1) personal gifts to a student require written principal approval; and (2) existing student conduct rules remain the tool for regulating student behavior toward adults. Administrators also noted the policy will be highlighted in onboarding materials and mandatory employee training.

A minority of board members said they would likely oppose the policy as written at final vote, citing concern that the language could unintentionally limit charitable assistance to students who need immediate help.

The board’s committee action sends the policy to the full board for a roll‑call vote at the regular meeting.

Looking ahead, administration said they will present the final draft to the board again with the committee’s clarifications, and they will outline the district’s reporting and onboarding processes when the board takes its final vote.","The Allentown School District board moved Policy 824—maintaining professional adult‑student boundaries—forward to the full board after extended discussion about banning romantic/sexual relationships, limits on staff gifts to students, mandatory reporting and anonymous tips. One director voiced opposition to parts of the policy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6260222,"Votes at a glance: committee actions moved multiple education, facilities and policy items to regular board meeting",4515,3195000,7710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a&start=3195&end=7710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3134284-f4052f3194ffd2f5e033ea4056cb899a/thumbnail_3195000.jpg","/articles/6260222/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-actions-moved-multiple-education-facilities-and-policy-items-to-regular-board-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260222-bd911a39f36d2d5b1b15e4e65bb43b32/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651257&Signature=OldSlz5Rr0heLCnJEJBcGEK4-IyrOGop690jLQOSW4yud0o5DJBR9I7Id841lg0LljFNjBrSDAv18KWbB71GAP1Scy7eWpBuALO~nzp0agtD4-wIy3tZ2QUkQiloW9cogqZu8cG1EDrS5iIm3eTbbSULAxIe0wIzrxG1ckf5XI7efIwXoZBX1vLRzTskLICVhcEpSqk~xH~fW4wdG1WtWSnOj3SOAGb2bS~W0UhGrO9ykPxibDnCrUfxyv~w9iQ6nDru~xvv0d8hW6NpSrqfzbk0CTy75tvMhdLeR6KJPDMlDPA644dTjuOZ9NETWiNW5GeRYEY-Z4LfqN9PSKAQqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Allentown School District board’s committee meetings on April 24 produced a set of procedural approvals and referrals that will appear on the district’s regular board agenda. Key committee actions (items moved forward to the regular board meeting) included:

• Policy 824 — Maintaining professional adult‑student boundaries: Moved forward after extended debate; committee voted to send the policy to the regular board meeting. Committee discussion produced clarifications about principal approval for personal gifts and increased onboarding/training. One committee member signaled opposition; final roll‑call will occur at the regular meeting.

• ParentSquare communication platform: Committee moved the vendor adoption forward after vendor Q&A about package naming conventions; administration will submit contract cost and implementation schedule to the full board.

• AVID middle‑school membership and professional learning: Committee moved a $71,556 package (district total; $17,889 per middle school) forward for final action.

• Valley Health Partners MOU renewal: Committee moved the health‑center memorandum of understanding forward for final approval.

• Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit facilities plan (availability plan for students with disabilities): Committee moved the IU plan forward; administrators said the proposed plan has no direct impact on district students.

• Student travel proposals (Dieruff High School/Costa Rica; William Allen High School/Europe): Committee moved both travel proposals forward for final board consideration and requested written vendor safety documentation (insurance, risk assessments, emergency protocols) and passport/trafficking safeguards prior to travel approval.

• Several smaller items (school scoreboards, SMJ Communications, summer partnerships, and other operational items) were moved forward by committee voice vote; most carried without recorded opposition.

Votes in committee were generally voice votes recorded as \"aye\" with motions carrying; where a roll call occurred on the full agenda, the final tallies will appear in the regular meeting minutes. Policy 824 attracted the most discussion and a recorded dissent in committee; administration will return with final language and supporting materials for the full board.","At committee meetings April 24, the board forwarded multiple action items to the regular board meeting for final approval, including Policy 824, ParentSquare rollout, AVID membership ($71,556), MOU with Valley Health Partners, Carbon Lehigh IU facilities plan and international travel proposals. Policy 824 drew the most debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District advances summer learning, AVID membership, health partner MOU and student travel proposals

Board committee approves districtwide rollout of ParentSquare communication platform

Board advances strict adult‑student boundary policy after extended debate over gifts and reporting

Votes at a glance: committee actions moved multiple education, facilities and policy items to regular board meeting