School Board Considers Credit Reduction, Renews LERTA

The Saucon Valley School Board held an eventful meeting Oct. 23, discussing the possibility of new curriculum requirements while also approving a five-year LERTA extension.

Several students attended the meeting to express their opposition to the potential reduction in mandatory credits for major subjects: English, mathematics, social studies and the sciences. The current system requires students to take five English, four mathematics, four social studies and four science courses.

The proposed curriculum, presented by high school principal Eric Kahler, would decrease each of these minimum requirements by one course. It is meant to “give students options,” according to superintendent Dr. Sandra Fellin.

This was the first time the issue was presented at a school board meeting, leading board member Lanita Lum to describe the overwhelming public opposition as “unfair.”

“We have not even begun to take a look at this,” Lum said.

The board will, however, begin to take a look at the requirement changes for the future.

In other business, Ed Konjoyan and Majestic Realty Co. received their requested 5-year extension of the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program applied to 441 acres of company-owned property, as the board approved the extension unanimously.

The property is located on formerly industrial "brownfields," which are typically considered less desirable areas for development.

The LERTA extension will allow future tenants of the property to pay taxing authorities according to a formula that is based upon the land’s value prior to its development--over an abatement period of 10 years--thus encouraging the renting of the property.

The original vote at the board's Oct. 9 meeting was tabled, in part due to concerns about the hiring of construction workers from outside the Lehigh Valley and the state of Pennsylvania. That issue was not ignored at Tuesday’s meeting.

“This land is very accessible to Philadelphia and New York City,” said board member Bryan Eichfeld. “I'd like to see some kind of report after three years showing that local people are being hired.”

Treasurer Edward Inghrim echoed this sentiment.

“I think people from the area should get first dibs at jobs, if that’s possible,” Inghrim said.