With a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against Saucon Valley School District regarding the controversial approval and subsequent cancelation of an After School Satan Club continuing to dominate local and regional headlines, the school board’s preemptive revisions to its facilities use policies were the focus of its April 25 meeting.

For the vast majority of the approximately 40-minute session, the board proposed multiple changes, which were directly triggered by the last several months’ turmoil, to five related policies.

Board Vice President Dr. Shamim Pakzad raised a few concerns with some of the terms and language employed by the drafts, and some conversation followed. Generally, concerns were limited to definitions of several “groups,” or classifications, of potential occupants and permitted activities.

However, there was virtually no opposition to the broader concept of tightening the standards for outside groups who wish to use district facilities, while also allowing for greater discretion on a case-by-case basis for Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty.

District Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald helped guide the development of much of the phrasing of the policies, and although Director Michael Karabin objected to a clause within one of the policies, the changes were ultimately unanimously approved.