Saucon Valley School District school board member Bryan Eichfeld considers a chapter of a high school environmental science textbook on global warming "propaganda."

At the board's June 24 meeting, Eichfeld urged the board to replace the textbook with what he called "true science."

"There's a lot of clear propaganda in this chapter," he told board members.

Eichfeld took issue with how the book presents global warming. According to him, the book presents the topic of global warming by offering political propaganda rather than science and fact.

District Superintendent Sandra Fellin said the textbook has been extensively reviewed by the science department to ensure it's a proper fit.

She said the books the board voted on for next academic year all line up with the district's curriculum.

Board member Sandra Miller said she was surprised a member of the school board would attempt to restructure the district curriculum based on a specific ideological viewpoint.

Miller said she is confident the science department made a reasoned decision in selecting the book and that the book is compatible with state educational standards.

"It's not appropriate for us to be going down this road," she said.

Board member Ralph Puerta said Eichfeld's suggestion leads the district to dispose of independent thought by its students. He said by virtue of the enormous amount of information available today, students themselves can make a reasoned decision.

Eichfeld's motion failed to generate support among the board.

In other business, the school board unanimously passed the 2014-15 budget amounting to $41 million.

It is the sixth year in a row the district has passed a budget with a zero percent tax increase.

The school district anticipates using roughly $87,000 from the $13 million savings account to balance the budget.

Included in the budget is $118,000 to purchase a new bus, $8,000 for new sand for the pool pumps and $7,500 for five new bus cameras.