Most of the Nov. 9 Saucon Valley School Board meeting centered around a presentation from the Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School’s CEO, Susan Mauser. She shared several updates regarding the Bethlehem school – which 33 district students currently attend – including LVA’s intent to move from its current campus to a larger building near its current location.

Board Vice President Dr. Shamim Pakzad presided over the meeting in place of President Susan Baxter, who missed her second consecutive meeting. Acting Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty also again chose, for the third meeting, not to provide a superintendent’s report.

Mauser’s presentation began with a general overview of the school’s function. LVA pulls students from 19 districts across grades K-12 for a total enrollment of 1804 students. It has been in operation for about two decades, renting a series of converted office buildings off Valley Center Parkway and Schoenersville Road since 2004.

Mauser said LVA intends to purchase the FL Smidth building in the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park on Schoenersville (across from the Wawa) for the 2023-24 school year. The building is about 65,000 square feet larger than the school’s current location, and the $15.5 million purchase will be more cost-effective than what the school is currently paying in rent, she said. The Bethlehem Area School Board unanimously voted against LVA’s construction of a brand-new, $80 million facility.

Board member Michael Karabin asked what the purpose of the presentation was and if any immediate action was being expected from the board. Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald indicated that since a revised charter presented in Dec. 2019 wasn’t approved, and the previous 2017 charter expires Dec. 31, the next step for the district is to hold a vote on the charter at the Nov. 23 meeting.

After the presentation, the business portion of the meeting was again quite brief for the third consecutive meeting. The board approved the impending retirements of two teachers in 2022, as well as the hiring of several support staff members and substitute teachers. The board also voted in favor of an Elementary After-School Homework Club, which will feature eight paid advisors for a half-hour each school day.