The April 11 meeting of the Saucon Valley School Board was brief and uncontroversial, highlighted by several expected but noteworthy fiscal decisions.

First, on the heels of recent presentations from officials representing the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School and Northampton Community College, respectively, well over a million dollars in total annual contributions were on the agenda for approval.

The Vo-Tech accounted for the lion’s share of the evening’s allocations. Of its $14 million-plus total budget for the fiscal year, the school requested just over $1 million from Saucon Valley, for an increase of $140,436 (about 16 percent) from 2022-2023.

Additionally, of Northampton’s forecasted $7 million in upcoming annual expenditures, the district would be responsible for $291,232 - a much more modest yearly jump of $1,791, or only about a half percent.

Lastly, the board addressed Colonial Intermediate Unit #20’s general operations budget. Of the IU’s nearly $4 million budget, Saucon is on the hook for $24,354, a $594 (2.5 percent) increase in its annual contribution.

Each of the allocations passed by a unanimous 9-0 vote.

In other news, elementary school Principal Amy Braxmeier introduced the brand new “Big Panthers-Little Panthers” program.

Assisted by several staff members at both levels, high schoolers partner with elementary students. The program has grown from a dozen mentor-pupil relationships in December to currently about 50, Braxmeier said. She credited high school Principal Walter Pawlowski with the idea, as his previous district employed a similar program.