The Saucon Valley School Board removed one of its final remaining COVID mitigation measures at its March 8 meeting, as students and staff will no longer be required to wear masks on district buses.

Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty proposed eliminating mandatory masks in one of the few places where they were still required: school buses. Upon the recent expiration of the federal mandate on the topic, Vlasaty said she decided to make the motion after “meeting with stakeholders in the district to make sure everybody was on board.”

Board President Dr. Shamim Pakzad then took the opportunity a step further, proposing to amend Vlasaty’s motion to scrap the standing ‘tiered’ Health Plan altogether. He suggested replacing it with a statement that affirms the superintendent’s authority to temporarily implement mitigation measures at her discretion (in the event of a future increase in COVID cases locally).

Vlasaty would still have to bring a motion for approval at the next appropriate meeting or the measure would automatically be discarded, Pakzad said.

Board member Edward Andres expressed his general support for eliminating COVID mitigation measures permanently, although he said he was unsure of the purpose behind Pakzad’s additional proposal. Pakzad likened it to somebody going away on a trip and leaving behind a spare key with a trusted neighbor, “just in case,” he said.

Most of the board was fully supportive of both motions, although member Bryan Eichfeld inquired whether or not districts are still legally required to have documented health plans.

District Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald affirmed they are and explained the potential practical implications in the future. It’s likely that once the 2021-22 plan expires at the end of the year, the 2022-23 school year’s plan will hopefully resemble Pakzad’s proposal, the president added.

Unconvinced, Andres said he was “saddened” by the thought that, “even if just for two weeks” masks could again be required at Vlasaty’s “sole discretion.” He said he felt that there’s “no real benefit in having the parents be worried that the masks could be coming back.”

After a mildly contentious exchange with board members Shawn Welch and Susan Baxter, Andres was the lone ‘nay’ vote, with the eight others approving the amendment.

In other business, Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Executive Director Dr. Chris Wolfel was on hand to present its 2022-23 budget. With its central office located in Easton, the public agency provides support services to 13 school districts over career and technical centers in Northampton, Monroe, and Pike counties.

When fully staffed, the unit has about 1,500 full- and part-time employees with a total budget of $269 million, Wolfel said. The operating budget, which he said was the only portion subject to board approval, is one of 48 segments and only comprises 1.8 percent of the IU’s overall revenue.

There will be no increase to the school district’s obligation for 2022-23, Wolfel affirmed. Under the proposal, Saucon’s total contribution - proportional to its size relative to other IU member districts, he said - will be approximately $23,500 for the second consecutive year.