Students at Broughal MS using the planetarium may soon have a place to sit. During Bethlehem Area School District's finance committee meeting Aug. 5, members reviewed previous arguments and expected costs and decided on whether to add fixed seating for the planetarium on the agenda for a vote at the next board meeting.

Since the school's opening in 2009, anyone using the planetarium has had to either sit in temporary seating such as folding chairs or sit on the floor, which has led to complaints of stiff necks from looking at the stage from an awkward angle.

During the discussion of the school district paying for the addition of fixed seating, Board Vice president Michele T. Cann voiced her opposition to the plan, saying the planetarium and the seating for the facility is an extra and not something that the district should be paying for.

Speaking in support of purchasing fixed seating, Board member Aurea Ortiz said the problem was inherited from a previous board and that the district has a responsibility to fulfill the beautiful planetarium's purpose in comfort.

The lowest estimated cost for new seating, $23,809, was submitted by Corporate Environments. Donations for planetarium seating by the school and community total $5,000, and grants are also being pursued.

Board member Irene Follweiler also indicated she would be opposed to the district paying for seating. The matter was added to the agenda for the next BASD meeting Aug. 12, for a vote.

Among other items discussed was a letter recently sent to parents with children attending a school other than their home school under the No Child Left Behind Act stating the district would no longer be providing transportation to these students.

The topic was brought up by concerned Freemansburg parent Naomi Stocker, who received this letter and wanted to know why this change was made and why no one was about the transportation change. According to Stocker, without transportation her son will have to walk along a route that includes a dangerous intersection and poor or no sidewalks to get to East Hills MS.

Superintendant Dr. Joseph J. Roy responded to Stocker's concern, saying the transportation change was made due to Pennsylvania filing for a waiver and school districts are no longer required to provide transportation to students who choose to attend a school other than their home school under No Child Left Behind and that these students are now considered open enrollment students.

Cann, Follweiler, Ortiz and Roy discussed at length the expected responsibilities of the district and estimated expense of transporting hundreds of additional students, but came to no definitive conclusion.

The Aug. 12 meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at East Hills MS.