The 2023-24 property tax reduction allocation of $1,849,950.70 has been accepted to reduce property taxes and set the homestead/farmstead exclusion at the same fixed amount in Northampton Area School District.

The NASD Board of Education voted 9-0 at the May 8 meeting to approve the allocation under the Taxpayer Relief Act (gaming funds).

In other business at the May 8 meeting, school directors voted 8-0 to approve:

• Collaborative agreement/contract for services between Community Services for Children Inc. and NASD for 2023-24 to implement a Pre-K Counts classroom at Franklin, George Wolf, Lehigh and Moore elementary schools. There is no cost to the district.

• Collaborative agreement/contract for services between Community Services for Children Inc., Head Start of the Lehigh Valley and NASD for 2023-24 to implement two Head Start Pre-Ks for 40 pre-K students residing in the district. The cost of the program is $40,000, which will be paid through district Title I funding for the two pre-K programs.

• NASD revised health and safety plan for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The board approved the revised NASD health and safety plan, which is required under the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Since the plan may be subject to further revisions, whether it be immediately or from time to time as required by changing circumstances or federal or commonwealth orders and guidance, the superintendent of schools is authorized to adjust the plan based on the approved mitigation chart and input from state and local health care advisers as described in the plan. Changes are on the district website, nasdschools.org, and are being communicated to parents/guardians.

• Revised and new policies for adoption - student expression, distribution and posting of materials; students experiencing homelessness, foster care and other educational instability; conflict of interest; approve the removal of policy 255: educational stability for children in foster care

• Memorandum of understanding for dual enrollment programs between NASD and the following institutions of higher education as per the requirements of section 1525 of the Pennsylvania School Code: DeSales University, Lafayette College, Liberty University, Northampton Community College and The Pennsylvania State University

• Utilization of agency nurses and health room assistants via contract with General Healthcare Resources, doing business as GHR Education, effective July 1 through the end of the 2023-24 school year

• Recognition agreement between Northampton Area School Security Association and NASD, effective July 1-June 30, 2027

• Mandatory attendance of school police officer Robert Holler at the 2023 basic school resource officer training course in Clayton, Del., May 21-26, at $1,485.17, which is included in the approved 2022-23 NASD security budget

• Sharon Seritsky, 12-month curriculum secretary, grants and special programs, effective May 22, pending receipt of proper documentation, at $24.29 per hour, with benefits

• Tax collectors for Northampton Borough, Bath and Chapman boroughs and Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore townships for the 2023-24 school year - school real estate tax, Keystone Collections Group; school per capita tax (PSC 679, Act 511), Keystone Collections Group; delinquent school real estate tax, Portnoff Law Associates; delinquent school per capita tax, Keystone Collections Group, Statewide Tax Recovery

• 2023-24 supply bids - cleaning, $36,776.84; maintenance, $72,237.58; total, $109,014.42

• Integrated pest control management services: three-year service agreement with Solo Pest Control, Walnutport, July 1-June 30, 2026

• Athletic ticket prices for the 2023-24 school year as follows: student, $3; adult, $5; senior citizen (62 and older), free

The board of education next meets 6:30 p.m. June 12 in the auditorium at Northampton Area High School, 1619 Laubach Ave.