The Saucon Valley school board returned to in-person meetings March 23, with administrators, board members - sans Tracy Magnotta and Sandra Miller, who joined remotely via Zoom - and a small number of attendees present for the first time since COVID-19 began spreading in Pennsylvania a little over one year ago.

The meeting, which was held in the high school auditorium, was briefly delayed by some technical difficulties, as it was being broadcast live over Zoom for those who could not or do not yet feel comfortable attending. The meeting is also, as always, available for subsequent viewings on the district’s YouTube channel.

The dominant topic of the meeting was once again the middle and high school’s After School Remediation Program. Middle school principal James Deegan and assistant high school principal Amy Braxmeier joined to provide another update on the program’s attendance and outcomes for participating students. The program is being offered to students in grades 7-10 labeled by teachers as ‘failing’ or ‘in danger of failing’ one or more core subjects.

Student enrollment remained generally steady since the last update, Deegan said, with only slight variations in attendance among grades 7-10. Teachers who identified struggling students at the beginning of the program were asked to provide follow-up data regarding the effects of the program on their academic performance on a survey sent out March 17, nearly a month into the program.

Results were mixed, as statistics provided by Deegan and Braxmeier showed an over 40 percent increase in positive outcomes for middle school students as determined by work completion, assessment grades and overall grades.

High school students, however, were somewhat less likely to show such increases. A total of 86 middle school and 25 high school students were represented in the survey. Data obtained from similar surveys sent to students and parents showed similar results.

Superintendent Dr. Craig Butler praised the program, saying, “I do hear comments from the kids (and) from the teachers… saying ‘I think the majority of the kids in this class are making progress.’” He added “It’s going to take time for them to, as (Braxmeier) said, to work their way out of the situation they went into.” He also noted the value of students building relationships with the teacher(s) providing instruction during sessions.

The board voted to extend the program through at least May 13, with possible expansion to elementary-level students discussed to likely begin with the 2021-22 school year.

Board Vice President Dr. Shamim Pakzad alzo inquired about potentially needing to amend the district’s Health and Safety Plan to accommodate the possibility of more students returning to in-person instruction soon. Parents whose students have remained as part of the district’s cyber program will be given one last opportunity, as of April 4, to return to in-person instruction for the fourth quarter.

Butler ensured that the process would be happening in a timely manner. Pakzad urged expedience and simplicity in allowing students to return, and said he has heard from multiple families, in light of recently-relaxed CDC guidelines, who would like to resume sending their children for in-person instruction as soon as possible. “I would hope that… before we break for Easter, we’ll be ready to bring these children back,” Butler said.