BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem Area Superintendent Jack Silva laid out his 2024-25 priorities for the school district at Monday's school board meeting.
Silva, who became chief of schools last year, is focused on improving students’ grade-level academic achievement and attendance, he said.
When it comes to academics, the focus is on math and literacy.
For years, the district has been dedicated to its initiative to get students reading by third grade, which Silva called the “biggest turnkey in our system.”
Silva was a leader on this effort in his previous role as assistant superintendent and chief academic officer, which he held for 13 years prior to becoming superintendent.
The district’s goal is to help students continue academic success in literacy throughout the upper grades while also paying attention to math achievement, he said.
Internal district data will be important for measuring success on these priorities, Silva added.
“Of course, state assessments matter, but what we do matters more as far as how we internalize that – how our students achieve goals, how our principals and our supervisors address those challenges in their daily work,” he said.
Based on 2023 state testing, BASD students had the lowest math and literacy scores in Northampton County. This is the most recent available data from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, commonly called the PSSA.
In English language arts, 42.1% of BASD students scored at least proficient. In math, 25.9% of BASD test takers were at least proficient.
Attendance
Silva said reducing chronic absenteeism across the district is another priority.
A student is chronically absent if they miss 10% of school days for the year. In the Bethlehem Area School District, that’s 18 days.
Absenteeism has been more of a challenge for Bethlehem Area and school districts across the country since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Silva said schools throughout BASD use different attendance strategies.
School Director Emily Schenkel said the district can improve communication between parents and teachers on attendance by using more communication tools and ensuring translation services are available.
The Bethlehem Area School District will eliminate race and family income as predictors of school success by guaranteeing equitable access to opportunities for learning and growth.Bethlehem Area Vision Statement
School Director Silagh White asked if the district can track data to see the impact of student participation in extracurricular activities on their attendance.
Silva said such data may not show causation because other factors can impact attendance. He said research shows that extracurricular activities, mentorship programs, affinity groups and academic interventions can all improve attendance.
The district will be reviewing its September attendance report to see how students are doing in terms of attendance so far this year, Silva said.
Multi-year goals
As for multi-year goals, Silva plans to strengthen his work with school directors, as well as provide organizational leadership to his executive cabinet and administration, which consists of about 100 employees.
The superintendent will also support the school board and his administration in achieving goals for financial stability, facilities improvement, workforce development and operational efficiency.
Silva’s other goals include ensuring safety, promoting a positive school culture and maintaining strong community partnerships.
School Director Winston Alozie highlighted Silva’s commitment to equity and diversity.
Silva added there’s an equity component to all goals, meaning the district will look at specific data and use strategies to ensure equitable access to learning for students.
He said equity is essential to the district’s vision statement, which says BASD will seek to “eliminate race and family income as predictors of school success.”
