The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 22

THIRD THE MORNING CALL THURSDAY, DfcCEMBLR 15 1983 B3 sn ost Valley students already taking right classes By GARY T. KOCHER Of The Morning Call Curriculum requirements Beginning with the class of 1989, high school graduates in Pennsylvania will have to amass 2 1 credits in grades 9-12, as opposed to 13 credits in grades 10-12 now. This chart compares current requirements in districts in Lehigh and Northampton counties with the new requirements. Mario J. Donnangelo, principal of Salisbury High School, said 98 percent of last year's graduates had at least the 21 credits that the state will be requiring.

"They courses may not be required, but they take them," he observed. Nonetheless, most officials predicted at least some expense to hire additional faculty or write new courses. Brackbill gave the highest estimate $50,000. "By adding courses at the top end, you're not going to be making a better student," he said. "We're going to need more remedial programs for students." He believed would be needed just for faculty training.

"The courses aren't any good if you don't have the teachers to teach them," he reasoned. Most vocational students spend a half day at area vo-tech schools, and therefore have only a half day for academics, i Russell H. Roper, superintendent of the Pen Argyl Area School District, said one proposal to deal with the situation is to get a state waiver on the graduation requirements for those students. However, Roper disliked that solution. "If we're going to tighten requirements, why do we start creating waivers?" he mused.

"It seems incongruous." A better path, he suggested, is changing the vo-tech system to allow only two years of half days, or one year of full days. Such changes are under study by a blue ribbon committee at the Eastern Northampton County Vo-tech, and informally at the Lehigh County Vo-tech. Some districts had already taken action to increase requirements before the state acted. The Bethlehem Area School District was the first in the two counties to go above 21 credits for graduation. The Allentown and Northwestern Lehigh districts just this year took actions to increase requirements, and administrators in the Saucon Valley district are set to recommend 25 credits to the board next month.

Lehigh Valley school officials say most students' here are already meeting the state's new curriculum requirements, but additional teachers and development of new courses will cost something. Another problem they mentioned one of concern i on a statewide level is how students who attend a vocational-technical school will have enough time to meet the new academic requirements. "I don't think it's going to have a significant im- Pact," reacted Carmen J. Riola, superintendent of the arkland School District. However, he added, "The time is right.

I think students will benefit." The most frequently mentioned impact of the new directives was expansion of math and science both in faculty and types of courses. The new set of requirements "does not address those students who are not above average," said A. Landis Brackbill, Nazareth Area superintendent. "We're going to have to be offering not only a high level math course but also a course for those who will be going to work right after high school." Riola agreed: "We can't ask all kids to take algebra or trigonometry in keeping with the kinds of kids who have not been taking those courses." Dr. Wilford L.

Ottey, superintendent of the Bangor Area School District, had a novel idea for how to increase the science offerings there for vocational students. The district has its own horticulture course as a vocational elective in 9th grade. Dr. Ottey said he might convert it to a science course easy enough to do because the teacher holds certification in science. "I'll call it botany," he chuckled.

"Not every kid is going to be a computer programmer or electrical engineer no matter how 'high-tech' we get." in I i I I i i I i Total Eng. Math Science Soc. Gym Arts and Electives CredKs Stud. Health Human- ities .7. New State Requirements (Grades 9-12) 21 3 3 3 1 2 Lehigh County Districts Allentown (9-12) until 1987 18.5 4 2 2 3.5 1 6 effective 1987 21 4 3 3.5 3.5 1 Catasauqua Area (9-12) on1 until 1988 20 4 2 2 3 .5 8.5, effective 1988 21 4 2 2 3 .5 95 East Penn (10-12) 16 3 11 3 1 7, (Note: Minimum 5 credits per year) Northern Lehigh (10-12) 16 3 2 1 3 1.8 5.2; Northwestern Lehigh (9-12) 20.5 4 2 2 4 2.8 Parkland (10-12) 16 3 1 1 3 1 7 Salisbury Township (9-12) 17 4 2 2 3 1 5 Southern Lehigh (9-12) 20.8 4 2 2 4 M.3 7.5 Whitehall-Coplay (9-12) 18 4 2 2 3 1.8 5.2 Northampton County Districts Bangor Area (10-12) 13 3 1 1 3 1 4 Bethlehem Area (9-12) 21.3 4 3 3 4 2.3 5 Easton Area (10-12) 15 3 1 1 3 1.5 5.5 (biology) Nazareth Area (10-12) 15 3 11 3 "1 6 Northampton Area (10-12) 16 3 1 1 3 1.8 6 Pen Argyl Area (10-12) 17.4 4 2 2 3.5 1.4 4.5 Saucon Valley (10-12) 15 3 1 1 3 2.5 4.5 Wilson Area (9-12) 19.3 4 2 2 3 1.3 7 III.

I 1 I I I I I State orders tougher curriculum 'Includes .5 credit in computer science. "Includes driver education. For vocational students, total is 16.9; adjustments are made in social studies and efectives. One must be math or science. Note: One credit is usually equivalent to daily study of a subject for a full year.

is a compromise. I think it's going to get people thinking creatively. "The 12 goals are in there for planning. Curriculum must be fluid. This will be an impetus to constantly revise and improve." Some educators fear the new academic requirements leave too little time for vocational students to complete their shop courses.

Mrs. Benovitz minimized the problem and suggested approaches such as allowing vocational students to spread yearlong academic courses over more than one year. The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the largest teachers' union in the state, was a bitter opponent of the original revision proposal. Continued From Page B1 10-12 had to take only one course each in those subjects. However, many local districts have stiffer requirements than the state minimum.

When curriculum revisions were first proposed to the board in January 1982, they were of a much more radical character and touched off a heated debate. The early version structured curriculum around the state's 12 Goals of Quality Education, instead of on traditional subjects such as English and social studies. The goals include items such as self-esteem, understanding others and family living. Critics decried the wholesale revision of courses that would be needed under the goal-oriented approach. When Dr.

Wilburn became secre- tary early this year, he asked the board to delay until he could study the matter. In the meantime, a spate of reports by the National Commission on Excellence in Education called for curriculum reform geared more heavily toward academics. In June, the board came out with what essentially was adopted yesterday. The new version says curriculum should "be based on" the 12 goals, but the goals' part in the new regulations is minor. Madge Benovitz, the main board member to shepherd the proposals through to completion and who originally appeared to favor the approach, said yesterday, "This the elementary years pupils must have these subjects: United States history, Pennsylvania history, geography, civics and safety.

Secondary students (grades 7-12) must take, at a minimum, five math courses, five science, five social studies, and six English. These courses also must be taken, but need not be for a full year: six physical education, two arts, two music, one home economics, one industrial arts, one A spokesman told the board yesterday that the final version had "many positive changes," but that the union feels they still have shortcomings. One is the lack of a stated approval and compliance process for districts. Required for elementary students each year will be English, reading, spelling, writing, math, science, social studies, health, physical education, music and art. Sometime during reading, two health and one environmental education (which may be integrated into other courses).

Additional subjects that must be offered to secondary students are vocational, business and consumer education; two foreign languages; laboratory sciences (including biology, chemistry and physics), computer science (which may be integrated into other courses); industrial arts, and home economics. Phillipsburg-to-New York City run by train service will end Dec. 30 By RANDY KRAFT Of The Morning Call "The ridership there is low," said Mariani. NJT exDects to save ud to $1.46 WJT plans to trim bus runs to NYC New Jersey Transit also plans to reduce the number of buses running between New York and Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton from 13 to 10 a day. The decision to make the reduction was made in mid-October, but no date has been set yet.

A public bearing will be held in January or February before that cutback is finalized. A NJT spokesman said the hearing probably will be in western New Jersey, rather than in one of the three Pennsylvania cities. "The hearing will be in New Jersey because we're a New Jersey agency," said Richard Mariani of NJT. "Our primary concern is New Jersey residents. We want to talk to New Jersey people." The proposed cutback is not expected to cause major problems for those who travel by bus between New York and the Lehigh Valley, since several private companies make the same run.

1970. That bankrupt railroad was later taken over by Conrail. Next month NJT will market the Raritan Valley rail service by mailing train information to more than 43,000 homes within 5 miles of the tracks between Phillipsburg and Raritan, which is in Somerset County. Mariani said it's the first direct marketing campaign ever conducted by NJT. One additional train (No.

5700) will leave High Bridge at a.m. weekdays and arrive in Newark at 7:11 a.m. There are two other morning trains from High Bridge and one leaving at mid-afternoon. A new return trip will be made (by train No. 5703) at 4:40 p.m.

from Newark, arriving in High Bridge at 6:07 p.m. That will be the earliest of four afternoon and evening trains from Newark. There also is a morning train that leaves Newark, arriving in High Bridge shortly after noon. There is no service on Saturdays, Sundays and weekdays. Mariani said free parking is available in a High Bridge municipal lot.

Round-trip fare from High Bridge to Newark is $7. add one additional train from High Bridge to Newark early in the mornings on weekdays and one more from Newark to High Bridge later in the afternoons. (At Newark, passengers transfer to other trains, which run under the Hudson River to New York.) Mariani said the two additional trains are being put into service in response to requests from people who wanted an early arrival in Newark and an early return to western New Jersey. In addition to Phillipsburg, two other, stops west of High Bridge will be eliminated. They are Hampton and Glen Gardner.

NJT spokesmen said a total of about 80 people a day use the trains at those three stops. Mariani said NJT has no plans to give up ownership of the railroad right-of-way between High Bridge and Phillipsburg. "We will not sell the right-of-way, we will not rip up the tracks," he said. "No one knows what the future is going to hold. If there's a tremendous development in the 21st century we don't now anticipate, it could pave the way for restoration of the service.

"We don't think that's going to happen, but it's another example of how we're bending backwards to keep our options open for the benefit of those residents." He added that NJT is even making sure any road construction will not eliminate the ability to run trains to Phillipsburg in the future. The Phillipsburg-to-Newark service has operated without interruption since 1976, according to Mariani. It was first operated by Conrail, and NJT took over in 1979. He said Central Railroad of New Jersey had operated passenger trains on sections of what is now called the Raritan Valley line as early as 1852. It discontinued passenger service tween Phillipsburg and Newark in million a year by terminating its Raritan Valley service farther east at High Bridge.

The statewide public transportation corporation wanted to end rail service to Phillipsburg almost two years ago but postponed the decision several times because residents requested that a more thorough study be done including the possibility of making it more financially viable by extending the service into Pennsylvania. Another NJT spokesman said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation could not provide "the magnitude of funds required" to extend the passenger rail service across the Delaware and into the three cities in the.Lehigh Valley. NJT's board made its final decision to end the service on Oct. 18. The transit corporation is going to Passenger train service linking Phillipsburg to New York City will end on the second to last day of 1983.

The cutback also ends the possibility that rail service across New Jersey to New York eventually will be extended over the Delaware River into Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown. The New Jersey Transit trains will make their last runs as far west as Phillipsburg on Dec. 30. Starting Jan. 3, a Phillipsburg resident who wants to catch a train to Newark will have to drive about 15 miles east to High Bridge in Hunterdon County.

NJT spokesman Richard Mariani said only about a dozen people at Phillipsburg are using the trains regularly. He guessed that only one or two of those passengers are from Pennsylvania. I-U 20 finds its budget shortfall won't be as large as first feared Bucks man accused in death of trucker found in KuhnsviSS Abbruzzese said the normal full By TIM DARRAGH Of The Morning Call ber, December, February and April. The 25-percent balance is paid June 1. In other business, it was noted that a congressional supplement to the Education of Handicapped Act (Part B) will mean a budget increase of about $46,000 for I-U 20's special education budget.

The I-U 20 agenda reported that the increase is equal to an additional $9.03 per student. The local budget will be revised from $904,085 to $950,065. Finally, I-U 20 board executives were approved yesterday. Roland Featherman of the East Stroudsburg Area School District was appointed president, replacing Dr. George M.

Hoerner of the Easton Area district; Thomas G. Macarro, Saucon Valley district, continuing as vice president, and treasurer, Thomas Jones, Wilson Area district, replacing Vincent C. Paukovitch, Nazareth Area district. ing the bank tax is known as Act 66, according to I-U 20. Abbruzzese said the anticipated loss of interest income because of the late payment of the balance would be between $15,000 and $20,000.

"That's not that significant," he said. The total sum that all state school districts will receive today is about $60 million. It is broken down into $60,831,686 for the Equalized Subsidy for Basic Education and $889,310 for vocational education subsidies. Subsidy payments of 15 percent of the annual budget are made five times a school year, in August, Octo- payment would be more than $6 million. The State Supreme Court recently ruled that a major source of funding for intermediate units, the bank shares tax, was unconstitutional.

Because of a delay in enacting substitute funding legislation, Abbruzzese had said I-U 20 would receive only its 25-percent share of the December subsidy until mid-January. The result would have been the loss of about $34,000 in interest, he said. But yesterday I-U 20 officials were told that they will receive the balance of the December subsidy on Dec. 28. The new legislation replac- Colonial Northampton Intermediate Unit 20 last night revealed that its budget shortfall for this month will not be as large as anticipated because of the recent enactment of a substitute for the state bank shares tax.

I-U 20 Executive Director John A. Abbruzzese Jr. said the unit along with the other intermediate units in the state will receive 25 percent of their December subsidies today. For I-U 20, he said, that will mean a payment of $1,544,308. Bethlehem barracks; the Holmes County, Ohio, sheriff's office, and Springfield, 111., police department.

The victim's body was found after 10 p.m. Oct. 25 by Trooper Frank Karvan, who was assisting Miller's three brothers in a search for him. Miller had been missing for four days. He reportedly had been heading home after dropping a load of cargo in Jersey City, N.J.

The brothers started searching for Miller when he failed to telephone home and report on the progress of his trip. Police said Miller was in the habit of making frequent calls to his home while on the road. Investigators said the brothers had located the trailer with identifying marks of TIP in orange letters near the top of the left front of the trailer. The truck-tractor used by Miller was found a quarter-mile away just off of Old Route 22. Investigators said there was no sign of a struggle inside the trailer.

Miller's body was found lying face down at the base of the front wall of the trailer. His head was pointing toward the rear. There was evidence that two slugs had hit the inside front wall of the trailer. Troopers said there is a possibility that Miller may have been shot and killed somewhere else and the trailer dropped at the truck stop. A 34-year-old Bucks County truck driver has been charged with the Oct.

25 shooting death of Edward A. Miller, 22, of Dundee, Ohio, whose body was found at a Kuhnsville truck stop. Kenneth James Williams of General Delivery Route 611, Revere, has been charged with criminal homicide and robbery by state police at Fo-gelsville. Troopers said W7illiams is confined to the Jefferson County Jail in Louisville, on a theft charge. Miller's body was found in the rear of an empty trailer parked on a lot at the Trexler Truck Plaza along Old Route 22 in Kuhnsville.

Lehigh County Coroner Robert C. Weir said Miller died of a single gunshot of the back. Lehigh County Dist. Atty. William Piatt said extradition proceedings to return Williams to Lehigh County were initiated yesterday.

Investigators said warrants charging Williams with homicide and robbery were sworn out Dec. 7 before District Justice Mary Beth Shank-weiler of Trexlertown. They said they received confirmation on Tuesday that Williams is in the Jefferson County Jail. State police said the arrest of Williams will be the result of a combined investigation involving troopers from the Fogelsville, Dublin and 242 to get degrees during ESU rites A total of 242 students will be receiving degrees from East Strouds-burg University during commencement exercises at 11 a.m. Saturday with President Dennis D.

Bell presiding. Of the 159 undergraduates to re- ceive degrees, 52 will receive bachelor of arts degrees through the School of Arts and Sciences, and 16 students will receive bachelor of science degrees through that school. One associate of science degree from the School of Professional Studies will be awarded. Bachelor of science degrees will be presented through the School of Library displaying senior citizens' art The Bangor Public Library is displaying art works by members of the Slate Belt Senior Citizens Center during the month (if December. The exhibit includes paintings created by the senior citizens during art classes led by Winifred Lee each Wednesday morning.

Artists whose works are on display include Mary Kleedorfer, Ange-lena Cappola, Jeni Romano, Cora Combs, Erna Knabb and Nellie Hess. The paintings will be in the library's Centennial Room and may be viewed Mondays through Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Professional Studies to 15 in elementary education, 3 in early childhood education, 7 in hotelresort management, 5 in media, communication and technology, 4 in recreation and leisure services management, 4 in secondary education and 11 in special education. The School of Health Sciences and Physical Education will graduate one student each in allied health education and in health education, 4 in physical education, 32 in physical education with teacher certification and 3 in speech pathology and audiol-ogy.

total of 83 master's degrees will be awarded including 55 master of education degrees, 21 master of science degrees and 7 master of arts 6e-grees. Hospital offers class for expectant parents A free class on labor and delivery procedures for expectant couples will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Warren Hospital's Classroom 3. Ann Lokushek, an obstetric nurse on Warren's staff, will discuss such topics as the process of labor and delivery, medication and anesthesia use, care of the family after delivery and hospital policies and procedures. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The program is open to patients who are at least seven months pregnant. For further information or to register call the hospital's patientcommunity health education department at 859-6777..