The March 14 Saucon Valley School Board meeting was significantly shorter and less contentious than the last. However, it saw a notable piece of business handled nonetheless: the approval of a new five-year teachers’ contract through 2027-28.

The terms of the agreement drew strong comments from several directors. Board President Susan Baxter said she appreciated that leaders from the Saucon Valley Education Association teachers’ union proactively decided to meet with the board (and Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty). “I think... overall we came to what we believe is a fair contract,” Baxter added.

Bryan Eichfeld said that in his decade-plus tenure as director, he’d never voted to approve a teachers’ contract. However, “I’m very happy to say that this will be my first [aye] vote,” he said.

Shawn Welch echoed Baxter and Eichfeld’s sentiments, adding, “we were on track for something… unpleasant, and I think cooler heads prevailed.” He noted, however, that he reserved concerns about the latter years of the contract.

Not everybody felt so positive, however. Director John Conte announced he would vote against the agreement due to its “affordability,” pointing to expected capital expenditure increases over the upcoming years.

Ultimately, only Conte voted to oppose the contract, with all other members ratifying it by an 8-1 tally. Following the approval, union leaders Eric Folk – a teacher and chief negotiator – and SVEA President Laura McCarthy spoke briefly in support of the agreement.

In other news, an amendment to the 2023-24 high school Program of Studies’ proposed credit allotment was passed. This component of Principal Walter Pawlowski’s original plan, which was met with confusion at the last meeting, had been identified as in need of further refinement. Now, all semester-long courses will count for a full credit, while those that last for a half-semester will be worth a half credit.

Additionally, Vlasaty announced that Kindergarten registration is underway, with screenings scheduled for May 10 and 11. She added that in light of 2022’s challenges, July’s Extended School Year support program is set to be fully staffed.