Even though classes are not in session, Northampton Area School District Board of Education met - virtually, that is.

The meeting room in the administration building, where the school board and administrators meet twice monthly, was empty March 23, except for NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik, NASD Business Administrator Matthew Sawarynski and NASD Secretary to the Superintendent Denise A. Vilkauskas.

The three school officials, observing the 6-foot social distancing guideline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mitigate community spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), did not sit next to each other as they looked at a large video screen on the wall in front of them.

As they sat at boardroom tables, they listened to and saw images of some of the nine school board members, each of whom was voting and talking from their homes. Also participating in the teleconference was Attorney C. Steven Miller, NASD solicitor.

It was a school board meeting unlike any other in the history of the school district - until, that is, the age of COVID-19.

The school board meeting, which began shortly after its 6:30 p.m. scheduled start, was open to the public. Chairs were placed at the recommended distance around the room’s perimeter. Only a reporter for The Press, who sat at a table halfway back in the room, was present.

The first order of business at the board meeting was a unanimous 9-0 vote to approve a policy: “A majority of board members shall be physically present at a board meeting when a board member attends through electronic communications. The suspension is appropriately invoked due to the extraordinary circumstances of the coronavirus, which has been declared to be a pandemic.”

“I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to participate,” Kovalchik said to the board members.

Kovalchik had debated about holding the meeting, for which the agenda was posted on the district website March 20.

Kovalchik decided to go ahead with the meeting because there were bills to pay and matters to vote on to keep the school district running.

Earlier in the day March 23, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf extended the school closings until at least April 6.

Kovalchik explained the Pennsylvania Department of Education would then allow school staffs to return April 6 to get the schools ready April 7 and 8. Students would not return for classes until April 9.

“There is some speculation that the closing can last longer than that,” Kovalchik said.

“All our students received computers when they left March 13 (the last day of school before the closure),” Kovalchik said.

According to the school calendar on the NASD website, district schools are scheduled to be closed April 9, 10 and 13 for the Easter holiday weekend.

April 9 is listed on the calendar as a possible school district makeup day.

Also listed on the calendar as possible school makeup days are June 4, 5, 8 and 9.

Kovalchik told school directors it’s uncertain whether or not the PDE will require mandated school attendance days.

NASD employees continue on the payroll until April 9.

“There are some school districts that are furloughing staff. We have not done that,” Kovalchik said.

Also, citing the coronavirus pandemic, PDE canceled Pennsylvania System School Assessment (PSSA) tests, in English language arts and math for grades 3-8, and Keystone exams, in algebra 1, biology and literature for grades 7-11.

PDE submitted waivers for the tests to the U.S. Department of Education, with federal officials expected to grant the waivers, President Donald Trump said at a news conference.

Another decree by Wolf, issued March 19 and which went into effect March 23, ordered nonlife-sustaining businesses to close. This brought Lehigh Elementary School construction to a halt March 20.

The $35.7 million, 97,000-square-foot school along Blue Mountain Drive in Lehigh Township is scheduled to open for classes in fall 2021.

Kovalchik said the project is ahead of schedule and should still open as planned.

NASD’s free bagged lunch program, which began March 18, is averaging 300 lunches per school day, Kovalchik told board members.

Kovalchik also briefed school directors on the 2020-21 NASD budget, with an update to be presented at the next scheduled board meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. April 6, or at the April 20 meeting.

The proposed budget is expected to be presented for a vote at the May 4 school board meeting.

The closing of Northampton County Courthouse because of coronavirus concerns has left several district real estate tax appeals cases in limbo, which could affect revenue for the proposed NASD budget.

Sawarynski said PDE approved NASD’s application for budget exceptions, which have been approved in previous years and which the district has never invoked.

The district did its part to help stem COVID-19, not only by holding a virtual school board meeting. Kovalchik said the district came to the aid of East Allen Township EMS personnel and St. Luke’s University Health Network by providing medical supplies, including gloves, masks and disinfectants.