The Northampton Area School District could receive a windfall of $800,000 in basic education funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 2021 budget.

The funding, as well as the exact amount, remains uncertain.

Even if the funding is allocated, it may be needed for additional staff, it was noted at the June 28 NASD Board of Education meeting.

And, even though NASD plans for five-day, face-to-face instruction for the 2021-22 school year, the school board voted unanimously 9-0 to approve temporary emergency provisions.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 664 gives parents the authority to decide whether their child should advance to the next grade, a decision now made by the student’s teacher and school.

Parents have until July 15 to decide if their child should be held back. The bill applies to the 2021-22 school year, citing learning lags because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill includes special education students. The Senate- and House-approved bill was sent June 28 to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

The Senate and House of Representatives’ $40.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2021 that starts July 1 was approved June 25. It includes $300 million more in education funding. Wolf has stated he would sign the budget.

The budget includes kindergarten through grade 12 public education funding of $100 million more for 100 of the poorest school districts, $30 million more in prekindergarten funding and $50 million more in special education funding.

If NASD receives the $800,000 in funding, it might have to be used to hire additional staff for students held back as a result of Bill 664.

“It looks like there’s an increase for public education,” NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said in his June 28 report to the school board. “Some school districts will receive more, based on reduced and free lunch programs and other formulas. For Northampton, it’s not as much as some districts are getting.”

Kovalchik said he was happy the state moved forward with approving the budget and didn’t hold off until July or August. This gives the district some more time to plan, especially factoring in the potential Bill 664 changes.

“The governor is signing Act 664, which allows parents to recall each student,” Kovalchik said.

This could create financial considerations.

“Special education students can stay in school until age 21. If a special education student turns 21, the last year they can stay is until they are 22,” Kovalchik said.

This could potentially require the district to employ more aides if needed for any students held back.

“We didn’t budget for any additional staff,” Kovalchik said, referring to the recently approved NASD 2021-22 budget.

If there are more students repeating grades, it could affect the district’s master schedule, placement and individualized education plans.

Parents have until July 15 to complete the application to hold back their child. The first day of classes for the 2021-22 school year is Aug. 30. Teachers return Aug. 23.

Kovalchik said the administration would like to put the $800,000 in funding, if it is received, toward bolstering the district fund balance, which is $7 million, down from $12 million to $15 million in recent years.

“What we’re hoping to do with the 1.5-percent tax increase and the $800,000 is build up our fund balance and hire additional staff, if needed,” Kovalchik said. “We don’t have anything official from Harrisburg. That’s the system. It’s not the school district, the school board, the administration or staff.”

Kovalchik said that, even though in-person education this fall is plan A, there are four plans in place, including plan B, which is a hybrid model.

The temporary emergency provisions, an addendum to the agenda June 28, remain in effect during the 2021-22 school year.

The approval authorized Kovalchik and NASD school board President David Gogel to sign the provisions, which will be submitted to the Pennsylvania secretary of education for approval.

The NASD administration is “to take all actions necessary to carry out and implement the temporary emergency provisions.”

“We have to get [the provisions] into the state by July 1,” Kovalchik explained. “We now have to do an update to the health and safety plan.”

“Does that mean the administration can decide whatever it wants to do and close the schools and go virtual?” asked Kim Bretzik, of Moore Township, during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“If we have to shut down school tomorrow, and we don’t have a school board meeting for two weeks, what can we do?” Kovalchik asked.

“Make sure you include the parents and the grandparents in your decision,” urged Paul Nikisher, of Lehigh Township.

“I think that one thing that the school district did very well was communicating. Anything we knew, you knew,” Kovalchik said.

“He informed everybody. He was on top of everything,” said school Director Chuck Frantz, referring to Kovalchik.

“We were one of the first school districts that came back K through 9,” Kovalchik added. “We were the most aggressive school district that came back in March.”

The administration emailed letters to parents and guardians and posted the letters, sometimes daily, on the NASD website about confirmed COVID-19 cases in district schools; emailed letters concerning protocol for virtual, hybrid and in-person classes; and posted video chats by Kovalchik on the NASD YouTube channel to update district residents about COVID-19 mitigation efforts and other NASD news.

Kovalchik posted a video chat June 29. It can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=U6FLDDHHPd4.

“He did a great job informing parents,” Frantz said of Kovalchik. “He kept them up to date on everything. I can’t thank him enough.”

“My grandson goes to Lehigh Elementary, and we were informed,” added school Director John Becker.

“Nobody communicates to this board more than Mr. Kovalchik, before COVID-19 and during COVID-19,” school Director Roy Maranki said.

“I teach in another school district, and, as a staff, we did not get as much information as Northampton,” school Director Ross Makary said.

The NASD Board of Education is next scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. July 19 in the cafeteria at Northampton Area Middle School, 1617 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

NASD board meetings are expected to continue at the middle school through 2021.