Saucon Voice first reported that the relationship with Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech was in question over funding in this article. This morning, an email was sent to District parents with further clarification.
The statement can be read here, unedited, and in its entirety.
To VoTech families and broader SVSD community,
In the last few weeks inaccurate and misleading information has been shared on social media and stated at the podium of the school board meetings that has caused anxiety and confusion for our community related to the future of VoTech education for our students. The school board adopted a resolution in its September 12 meeting that explicitly and unequivocally reaffirmed the commitment of SVSD to continued access to VoTech for SVSD students. That is the bottom-line information that should alleviate the concerns of our community, and we hope this message will serve to confirm that stance.
To share more information with the community, here is the key issue: SVSD is a part of a consortium that includes two other neighboring districts and has been around since 1965. The contribution of each district into the BAVTS budget is unfortunately not fair to Saucon Valley residents and taxpayers, students, teachers, and staff. According to this formula, SVSD has paid a much larger cost per student compared with the other two districts. During the last 20 years, even though SVSD students have made up only 7.7% of BAVTS’s students, SVSD ended up paying for about 12.4% of the cost of equipment, capital projects and debt services of BAVTS, a whopping 50% more than our fair share. On average, over the last 20 years, we have paid for 141 seats, while sending only 88 students. Our taxpayers have paid millions of dollars more than our share of students, money that could have been used to enhance education in our district for all of our kids including those who attend BAVTS.
This agreement is up for renewal. In addition, BAVTS is considering a large construction project that costs over $80 million, which will impact our district for the next 20 years. We support BAVTS and want it to thrive, but we cannot continue overpaying, especially with the expansion cost on the horizon. Correcting the formula is more critical now than ever. We have asked BAVTS partners to fix the problem so each district can pay their fair share.
Let’s be clear: This is not a political issue. It's about doing the right thing for our students, staff, and taxpayers. We are committed to protecting our community's interests and advocating for what is best for Saucon Valley. We are not in favor of causing panic or spreading rumors on social media – that does not help anyone, and we would end up paying for it. We ask you to stay informed and engaged. Together, we can secure the fair deal Saucon Valley deserves for VoTech education.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Susan Baxter, President and the Saucon Valley School Board Directors
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