BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Members of the Bethlehem Area School District’s board of directors heard a presentation Monday night about a study related to the “district design process.”
The board’s finance committee heard from educational consulting firm Steps To Achieve, which has been recommended to conduct a comprehensive enrollment, building utilization and boundary study to determine redistricting options.
“Steps To Achieve is all about data, data analytics, and taking a look at data and presenting it to individuals, boards, to nonprofits,” said Jane Coughenour, a former superintendent and K-12 principal who would lead the proposed project.
According to board documents, the study would review and validate demographic data, develop 10-year enrollment projections, assess building capacity and utilization, gather community input and create five district design scenarios for board consideration.
Bethlehem Area School District’s spending plan includes cutting numerous support staff and teaching positions through attrition and restructuring.
District officials said nine firms submitted proposals and three finalists were interviewed before the recommendation was made. The cost of the study is not to exceed $108,500.
If approved, the project would begin in August 2026 and continue through June 2027. The process includes community meetings, stakeholder surveys and public presentations before final recommendations are presented to the school board.
District officials said the final deliverables would include enrollment projections by school and grade level, utilization reports for all 22 district buildings, five fully analyzed planning scenarios and a final report intended to guide future decisions on facilities, staffing and district operations.