The Jan. 24 Saucon Valley School Board meeting was exceptionally brief. Without a scheduled Safety Report from Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty - postponed due to her illness - only a small handful of routine business items appeared on the evening’s agenda, with perhaps the most immediately impactful move the approval of a new head varsity football coach.

Anthony Brinkley, a third grade teacher for his native Catasauqua Area School District who last served as Wide Receivers and Running Backs Coach at Moravian University, will receive a stipend of $8,586 for his duties.

In a statement, the district said “After an extensive process of interviewing candidates and a review of their qualifications, Coach Brinkley rose to the top of the candidacy pool and we are confident he will positively impact our students and our Saucon Valley community.”

Otherwise, the board voted in a mostly symbolic gesture to affirm that they will not implement a tax increase on district property owners greater than the state Dept. of Education’s annual index for 2023-23.

Notably, the board immediately followed with a related motion to approve a non-binding resolution for a “0 percent tax increase” for the same academic year. Directors offered no discussion on either motion.

Additionally, some taxpayers may see some changes to their tax liabilities, with the board’s approval of the appraisal of several properties which recently changed hands.

However, Business Manager David Bonenberger and director Shawn Welch both assured district residents that only commercial deals were to be looked at, and private residents had no cause for concern.

Lastly, 20 more teachers’ appeal for additional pay was approved, with each to receive $10.00 for supervising students on Dec. 22 for time beyond their scheduled school day.

Due to inclement weather, buses were withheld from departure until Vlasaty received a positive report on local roads from the Hellertown Police Department, she said at the Jan. 10 meeting where 50 elementary school teachers appealed for extra pay totaling $900.

Bonenberger said he was unsure whether this additional $200 would be the last of expenses or if there were still more outstanding invoices.