The April 26 Saucon Valley School Board meeting was a mixed bag of good and bad news: numerous academic and other achievements by district students, teachers and staff were celebrated, but anticipated budgetary concerns put somewhat of a damper on the evening’s spirits.

The session began in earnest with the Superintendent’s Report, with Jaime Vlasaty ceding her time to Business Manager David Bonenberger to provide an update to his April 12 presentation on the upcoming 2022-23 Budget Timeline.

At the previous meeting, Bonenberger explained that the district is likely looking at a significant and troublesome deficit due to an assortment of increased costs and committed expenditures without imposing a tax increase on Saucon Valley residents.

He displayed updated figures which further pinpointed the estimated shortfall at closer to $2.7 million, which factored in “fully taxing (residents) to the index,” which the Pa. Department of Education lists at 3.4 percent - tied with several other districts for the lowest in the state.

Bonenberger further stated that an over $5 million increase in assessed property values in the district brought an additional $268,000 in tex revenue this year. Additionally, under Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed state budget, the district would gain an additional $977,000 in funding, but Bonenberger said it was impossible to know if and when it might be passed.

In other news, Vlasaty congratulated the high school on its recent U.S. News Top Schools ranking of #1887 nationally (and 66th-best in Pa); last year, the school ranked #2312. Board President Dr. Shamim Pakad added that although Saucon was also ranked #2 in the Allentown Metropolitan area, it was the top public school in the region.

High school Principal Tamara Gary was on hand to help recognize several standout students and extracurricular organizations for their high achievements, as well. First to be recognized were members of its Reading Team, led by school librarian Amber Sams, who noted that the team finished third in its recent regional competition.

Gary also celebrated the school’s 64 Future Business Leaders of America club members who competed at its recent regional competition. Of those 64, 36 moved on to the state competition in Hershey, and one - senior Nick Magnotta, son of board member Tracy Magnotta - was overall champion in their field (personal finance).

Additionally, Gary invited the school’s Debate Team advisor, social studies teacher Jessica Friday, to say a few words about their successful showing at a recent regional competition hosted by the district. Friday noted that Saucon’s first win at the competition was particularly impressive since it was the club’s first time participating.

In district business, the board approved Jillian Brodhead to assume the role of Director of Special Education and Student Services at a salary of $120,000 annually (prorated). Brodhead, who will be abdicating her current position in the Exeter Township School District, previously served under Vlasaty in the Special Education Department in the Easton Area School District in the mid-2010s.