BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Saucon Valley School Board on Tuesday agreed to be a continuing partner of Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School for a half-century.
Northampton Area School Board on Monday approved its role in the deal, while Bethlehem Area School Board is up for the same vote in the coming weeks.
The previous BAVTS agreement among the three schools, originally established in 1995, was set to expire in June.
The new deal would be valid from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2075.
It's paired with a memorandum of understanding that outlines financing arrangements for a new BAVTS satellite campus to go in at the former Factory LLC property, 315 Columbia St. in South Bethlehem.
The price for the facility is set to not exceed $25 million.
Bang for the buck
A $46.6 million expansion originally was planned for the BAVTS campus at 3300 Chester Ave., Bethlehem Township.
BASD officials have said the new Columbia Street campus would be a better bang for the buck.
It would provide room for at least an additional 330 student seats and the same new programming once proposed for the expansion.
That includes aviation mechanics, vet tech studies, cybersecurity and medical and office administration.
“So whether you’re sitting there or here, please be sure our community knows the value of a BAVTS education.”Vivian Demko, Saucon Valley School Board member, speaking on the new 50-year BAVTS agreement
Until recently, the 40,000-square-foot facility was a business incubator space for food and beverage companies.
BASD facilitated the purchase of the property, which cost $8 million.
More updates on the expansion are planned once all schools have voted on the agreement, according to NASD Board President Kristin Soldridge, who also serves with the BAVTS Joint Operating Committee.
It’s been more than a year of back-and-forth over whether Saucon Valley School District would be included in the newest agreement.
In September, Saucon Valley school directors said its students only make up 9% of the 1,408 students at BAVTS.
SVSD has called for a different cost-sharing plan that would be based only on student enrollment — the current one accounts for student enrollment and market values of district homes.
The other two districts never much budged on that request.
'Passing the torch'
On the bright side, officials said, the next 20 years of the newest deal will have SVSD spending $4.5 million less than previously expected.
“I support BAVTS. I don’t think that there’s a good alternative for our students right now.”Donald Carpenter, Saucon Valley School Board treasurer, on the new 50-year BAVTS agreement
“I support BAVTS," Saucon Valley School Board treasurer Donald Carpenter said. "I don’t think that there’s a good alternative for our students right now.”
Saucon Valley School Board member Vivian Demko said that, in a way, she and her colleagues are “passing the torch” to their successors.
And the road to getting there has come with some difficult negotiating.
“You’ll be almost or my age, [maybe] a little bit older, by the time this contract comes up again,” Demko said to those to come later.
“So whether you’re sitting there or here, please be sure our community knows the value of a BAVTS education.”
Here's what the Saucon Valley board thinks of the incoming agreement.
On Monday, Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Jack Silva said the joint operating committee was hoping to see the deal completed by the end of February so schools can move forward in associated planning and course selection.
“Bethlehem has had a commitment for over 90 years of vocational education," BASD board member Winston Alozie said.
"And so no matter where we decide, we want to make sure we’re on the right side of this. But it’s good to hear that our neighbors are seemingly aligned with us.”
