The Saucon Valley School Board has decided to refrain from hiring a full-time kindergarten teacher.

During the June 25 board meeting, school board members voted down district Superintendent Sandra Fellin's proposal to turn a part-time kindergarten teacher into a full-time position. Board member Charles Bartolet made a motion to support Fellins' recommendation, which failed 4-3. Voting in opposition were board members Susan Baxter, Bryan Eichfeld, Edward Inghrim and Michael Karabin.

To date, there are six kindergarten classes in the fall with a total of 146 students, with class sizes averaging 23-24 students. Fellin said her proposal would reduce student numbers to 20 or 21 students.

"Our kindergarten numbers are starting to get a little higher than we're used to in Saucon Valley," Fellin reminded board members.

Fellin stressed by turning the position into full-time it would make kindergarten classes "much more reasonable."

The money for the full-time position would have been generated by pulling roughly $40,000 from the district's fund balance.

Board member Lanita Lum said she supported Fellin's proposal due to the kindergarten numbers possibly changing from now until the start of the school year in September.

"If this is something you think you need for this year, then by all means I certainly support it," Lum said.

Eichfeld then made a motion to move the home economics teacher back to part-time and convert the kindergarten position to full-time. Bartolet asked Eichfeld why he didn't initially vote for the position when the motion was on the floor.

Eichfeld said he regretted his previous vote on the home economics teacher.

"So, yes, I had a change of thought," Eichfeld said. "One of the reasons I voted for it is I really like and respect Julie Garvin, the teacher. That's why I was swayed. But, in retrospect we're not hiring her, so it was not a correct vote in my mind. So, I look at this at an opportunity to change it [vote]."

Board member Sandra Miller commented another vote on the issue was not appropriate.

"These are two separate issues ... it's inappropriate at this time, a month later ... to change our minds," she said.

Eichfeld's motion failed 4-3, with Bartolet, Karabin, Lum and Miller voting against the measure.

The board will again discuss whether tor keep the kindergarten teacher part-time or convert the position into full-time at the next school board meeting July 23.

In other business, the school board approved by a vote of 5-2 Mark Sivak to fill Sandra Stack's vacancy on the board. Sivak currently serves as the Bethlehem Area School District Director of Budget and Finance.

Stack, who resigned from the board last month, relocated to Texas due to her husband's new job opportunity.

"I think he would make a good appointment for the school board," commented Inghrim.