Community education classes will be back in session this fall in Northampton Area School District.

By a 7-1 vote Monday night, the Northampton Area School Board approved the Community Education Program for the 2013-14 school year and a $3,746 stipend for program coordinator Margaret Schell.

"There's a good foundation here," Schell said of the program, which included approximately seven classes attended by about 50 district residents this past spring.

Schell urged continuation of the program to take advantage of the new swimming pool and other facilities in the offing at the new Northampton Area Middle School. Construction will begin this spring with an anticipated fall 2015 opening.

"I think that what they're [class attendees] looking forward to is the new pool and auxiliary facilities," said Schell.

The community program is expected to resume in September or October.

Schell plans to publicize the program with one-sheet newspaper inserts, take-home handouts for students and social media postings. Program information is available and will be updated on the NASD web site.

Voting against the program was school board Vice President Jane Erdo, in absentia.

NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik read a statement which he said was emailed to him by Erdo, stating, in part: "The board would give it one more year to break even."

The statement added that Erdo wanted her vote to be counted in favor of discontinuing the program.

The community education program lost $1,456 for the 2012-13 school year, less than the $1,637 loss for the 2011-12 school year.

There was no community education program last fall. Schell was appointed coordinator in January.

"She did a fantastic job pulling the program together and getting people to attend," Kovalchik said.

Initially, 15 community education classes were offered, but eight were canceled for the 2012-13 school year.

"As a parent and district resident, I know it's time and money," Schell said. "I wouldn't run the non-essential programs."

Among the most popular classes, she said, were swimming, yoga, Zumba and quilting.

She said computer technology was not popular.

"I guess I'm competing with the Apple store down there in Whitehall," Schell said.

Schell spoke enthusiastically about the community education program. She described putting the program together, securing instructors and signing up attendees as a "fun process."

She said many in the district are already looking forward to fall classes.

Schell credited the NASD administration, singling out Assistant Superintendent Jeanette Gilliland, Director of Operations Robert J. Yanders and the human resources and instruction technology departments with helping to make the program run smoothly.

Of the seven school board members attending Monday night's meeting, several spoke favorably about the community education program.

"I don't think you had enough time. I think you deserve a shot," board member Jennifer Miller told Schell.

"I think it's good PR [public relations]. I don't want to take it away," said board member Judy Odenwelder.

Miller recommended offering the classes to parents and children. She said sewing and knitting have renewed popularity.

"It was always emphasized for the adults," board member Jean Rundle said of the program. Rundle agreed with Miller that mothers and daughters might enjoy taking a class together.

Board member Dr. Michael Baird also weighed in.

"If you stop [community education] at this point, it will take you four to five years to get it back," he said.

Initially, the July 22 school board agenda listed two options to be voted on for the community education program: Option 1, to continue it, and Option 2, to discontinue it.

By consensus, school directors agreed to only place Option 1 on the agenda for a vote.