Without immediate plans to buy additional land, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville, has asked participating school districts to sign a resolution permitting it to buy at a future date.

For Northwestern Lehigh, that approval was given at the Jan. 21 school board meeting.

Both the Carbon County and Allentown LCCC sites are considered insufficient for the programs.

The college lost out on one purchase because it had to get permission from all involved districts and another buyer bought the property.

That is why the LCCC trustees requested the preapproval to provide flexibility. There will be no cost to the districts when a purchase is made.

The resolution was adopted.

Board member LeRoy Sorensen asked why the Allentown site had been chosen, in preference to something more warm and fuzzy, and said something suitable should be chosen next time.

As the college needs to make education as convenient as possible, the Allentown site will continue to be used.

Though downtown parking is a problem, board President Paul Fisher said that section of Allentown is in the midst of a revitalization program.

Board member Joe Reiter said the property will become a lucrative place to be suitable for Allentown and part of Bethlehem students.

"We have to serve the community," Reiter said. "It's a great idea to expand the facilities in Allentown."

Superintendent Dr. Mary Anne Wright said there were handouts on the desks for School Board Recognition Month but they will wait for the February meeting as the presentation involves students who were not present because of the snow.

The renewal of the contract for Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Holman is available on the website.

Fisher thanked her for being easy to work with.

The following over-night high school trips were approved: Science Team to New Haven, Conn., Jan. 16-17 (retroactive); Science Team to Solon, Ohio, Jan. 30-31; both for Science Olympiad competitions; and Future Business Leaders of America to Jersey Shore, Pa., April 13-14, for a Leadership Conference.

The board announced any 2015-16 tax increase will be under the 2.2 percent index.

LCCC, Lehigh CarbonTechnical Institute and Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 are preparing their budgets.

LCTI representative Bill Dellicker asked if the board wanted a representative for those organizations to be present when the budgets are presented.

The board agreed the budgets could be reviewed by the finance committee.

Business Manager Leslie Frisbee asked if the board members wanted hard copies, but they were satisfied with the computer PDFs.

Bids were approved for two 77 passenger buses, including an option for a three-door storage compartment from M.A. Brightbill Body Works, Lebanon, at a cost of $166,924 for both.

The board also approved a bid of $6,700 for Herpel's Auto and Truck Lift for a van lift installed on a 12-passenger van.

Bids were also awarded to SSM Group, Reading, for oversite on an asbestos abatement plan for a boiler at $2,600; and for NBC Environmental LLC, Aston, for asbestos removal on a boiler at a cost of $1,650.