Schools
Middle School Soccer Makes a Comeback
Savings in text book purchases is enabling school board to bring soccer back to middle schools.
The middle school soccer program, seemingly dead after the last budget was adopted, is apparently poised to resume this coming spring.
An unexpected windfall came when the district saved money on the purchase of new textbooks, according to Assistant Superintendent Jack Silva, who told board members Monday night.
With virtually no public in attendance, the news came during the Bethlehem Area School Board's Curriculum Committee meeting Monday evening.
Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The vote to formally move the $24,000 needed to run the program from the textbook account to the athletic funds is now set to come before the board at its regular meeting later this month.
Board members have previously said that despite being cut from the 2011-12 school year budget, . Reactions, though there was little comment from the board, suggest members will likely approve the transfer of the funds by a wide margin.
Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Board President Michele Cann said, “Our high school athletic program is excellent, and it didn't get there by accident. I definitely support the middle school soccer program.”
Textbook costs came in lower than expected after the administration negotiated further discounts on the books' purchase, leaving about $56,000 in unspent money that was earmarked for new learning materials, Silva said.
