The community education program is continuing this spring in Northampton Area School District.

The program may continue in future semesters based on a vote by the NASD Board of Education.

School directors at the March 9 board meeting voted 5-3 to defeat a motion that stated: “Approve the discontinuance of the community education classes for the spring session of the 2025-26 school year and in subsequent years.”

In a subsequent vote at the board meeting, school directors voted 8-0 to “approve the list of community education classes and roster of instructors with stipends for the spring session of the 2025-26 school year.”

Discontinuing the community education program is being looked at by school directors as one way to reduce the 2026-27 NASD budget deficit, which is $9.3 million, according to NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman at the March 9 board meeting.

At the Feb. 5 finance committee meeting, concerning the community education program, school Director and finance committee member Kristin Soldridge said, “If we can’t make it profitable, then we have to look at it.”

A chart presented at the finance committee meeting stated eliminating community education could save $10,000.

In other business at the March 9 board meeting, school directors voted 8-0 to approve the following.

• 2026 Kindergarten Readiness Title I Camp offered to incoming kindergarten students June 8-11 and 15-18 and the following district personnel to teach the Title I summer camp: Kelly Allabach, Erica Amato, Nicole Cramer, Nicole Dougherty, Jennifer Haley, Heather Miller, Jaqueline Schucker, Denise Straub, Beth Trexler, Gina VanLuvanee and Sydney Warner. The program will be grant-funded through Title I available funds. There will be no cost to the district.

• Reappoint Craig Neiman as school board secretary effective July 1-June 30, 2029, at no additional compensation, and approve a public officials bond for Neiman as board secretary effective July 1 in the principal amount of $100,000 at no additional cost to the district

• Voluntary transfer of Kaitlynn McNally from assistant principal of Siegfried Elementary School to third-grade teacher at Lehigh Elementary School, effective Aug. 17, at a salary of $100,587, with benefits, based on NAEA collective bargaining agreement, masters, Step 15 and agreement

• Erica Boettlin, a short-term substitute mathematics teacher at Northampton Area High School, effective March 5-May 8, at per diem rate of $188

• Michelle Weissmann, LTS special education instructional assistant at NAHS, effective on or before March 10 to the end of the 2025-26 school year, at $21.38 per hour, with benefits

• Austin Hicks, LTS special education instructional assistant K-3 autistic support at Siegfried Elementary, effective on or before March 10 to the end of the 2025-26 school year, at $21.38 per hour, with benefits

• Deanna Souza, second-shift custodian (Tuesday-Saturday), Northampton Area Middle School, effective July 1, at $31.27 per hour, with benefits

• James Alexander, third-shift custodian (Sunday-Thursday), at NAHS, effective July 1, at $31.27 per hour, with benefits

• Lynn Ujvary, third-shift custodian (Monday-Friday), at NAHS, effective July 1, at $31.27 per hour, with benefits

• Theresa Funk and Mark Bendekovits to attend FBLA state leadership conference, along with six FBLA students, April 13-15 in Hershey, at a cost not to exceed $3,284. All costs to the district are included in the board-approved curriculum and NAHS 2025-26 budgets.

• Attendance of Matthew Frailey, athletic director and Jenn Bodnar, assistant athletic director, at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association Conference in Hershey, set for March 17-20, for required continuing education requirements and other pertinent information regarding the PIAA, at a total cost of $2,923.48, which will be paid from the 2025-26 athletic department board-approved budget

• NASD comprehensive plan to be implemented July 1-June 30, 2029

• Affiliation agreement between Eastern University School of Nursing and NASD, effective Aug. 1-December 2026, for the placement of nursing practicum students in district schools

• Revised listing of 2025-26 fall season head and assistant coaches, with their designated payments, effective July 1

• Creation of a high school student activity account for the Debate Team

At the March 9 board meeting, school directors voted 5-3 to approve a removal from the agenda: the transfer of $500,000 from the general fund to the capital reserve for future capital improvements effective March of this year.

At the March 9 board meeting, school directors voted 8-0 to not approve a Lehigh Township fire tax donation of $2,531.82 to Lehigh Township Fire Company.

The school board is scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. April 13 in the auditorium at NAHS, 1619 Laubach Ave. The finance committee will meet 6 p.m. April 2 in the library conference room at NAHS. The facilities committee meeting is set for 6 p.m. April 20 in the library conference room at NAHS.