The May 12 school board meeting began on a positive note, as Superintendent Dr. Craig Butler spoke highly of the district’s implementation of remote educational programs under unprecedented circumstances. He touted the continuing success of instruction through programs such as Schoology and Seesaw, saying, “Over the last month or so, [participation is] up at the elementary school level with weekly and total items up over 900 percent. At the high school in the last month, we had over 23,000 discussion and assignment items, and in the middle school we’ve had slightly over 21,000 items and discussions.” He also lauded food service personnel, who have been providing meal distribution to families in the district twice a week at various district locations for the duration of the COVID-19 closures. He described the department’s effort as second to none.

The board unanimously approved the first reading of an updated Food Allergy Policy, calling the previous policy outdated. Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald said the original iteration of the policy was about 12 years old, and the update would help ensure that there is cross-collaboration between broad policy and individualized student plans such as I.E.P.s and others to “make sure that we are fulfilling federal law.”

Butler cited his own grandson’s allergen vulnerability while stressing the importance of having a thorough, sound policy, noting, “perhaps if you don’t have a family member or a loved one that’s impacted, you don’t realize the potential severity” of an unexpected allergic reaction from a child. Board President Dr. Shamim Pakzad added, “It’s literally a matter of life and death.”

Later, the board unanimously approved the final budget for the 2020-21 school year. The budget totals $47,883,061, with a shortfall of $178,222, which will be reconciled from the district’s fund balance with a zero millage increase for district taxpayers.

The board also affirmed, with a 7-2 vote, plans to hold a June 5 virtual graduation ceremony, provided by Mobil Technologies Graphics for a cost of $4,626, which, according to high school Principal Tamara Gary, is “mostly in line with previous years.”

Pakzad expressed some desire to potentially hold an in-person ceremony in July, saying he had heard at least two districts had made a similar decision.

“I still don’t understand why we can’t wait to make this decision later in July,” he said, with Edward Andres echoing these sentiments.

Referring to Fiona Kramer, a high school senior who spoke during the earlier community portion of the meeting, Andres said, “[Kramer] asked about surveying the senior class, if that seems like no harm in doing that … it only provides us with information as to how the class as a whole feels.”

Butler replied, “Ms. Gary did survey the students. I don’t know how long ago. There was 97 percent approval” of the virtual graduation plans.

Gary explained that with 180 graduating students, a physical ceremony with families attending as guests as well is, “just not going to happen… it all comes down to what the [CDC recommended] guidelines are. It’s not going to be the same.”

She said she had met with senior class officers, who said they would rather use July and August as a tentative time frame for a make-up senior prom and senior send-off, respectively, as each would only involve roughly 200-300 people.

The two dissenting votes ultimately came from Pakzad and Andres, who were not convinced.

EDITOR’S NOTE: After approving a virtual graduation ceremonies, the board changed its collective mind in favor of a drive-thru ceremony as presented in the May 22 SAUCON VALLEY HS NOTES column by Kiera Sager. That ceremony is still set for June 5. See graduation calendar on A16 for more details.