Middle school sports are back in Lehighton Area School District’s 2020-21 budget, thanks in large part to a voluntary pay freeze by administrators, but transportation for students remains out before a scheduled board vote on Monday.

The district has a $1.78 million budget deficit. As of Thursday, a budget plan presented by the administration includes a 1.76-mill tax increase generating $580,376, a voluntary pay freeze by administrators saving $59,093, the elimination of the technology director and assistant business manager administrative positions saving $154,189, the elimination of certain extracurricular programs due to COVID-19 concerns saving $84,614, and the elimination of nonmandated transportation due to COVID-19 concerns saving $992,810.

That would leave the budget at a surplus of $91,053.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the administrative team for stepping forward,” resident Susan Salerno said. “In this day and age, that is really something huge and it’s a positive thing they did.”

As of Thursday night, transportation was still out of Lehighton’s budget, but administration said that could change depending on COVID regulations and funding.

“We are continuing to talk to our transportation contractor to see if there is a way we can safely transport students given the guidelines we are dealing with due to COVID and, at the same time, we are looking at funding sources to pay for it and still remain at a balanced budget,” Business Administrator Patricia Denicola told the finance committee.

One of those options could be a debt restructuring that would save $1.3 million over each of the next two years.

“If we put all the right pieces together over the next few years, the refinancing plan could help us get through some lean years,” Denicola said. Asked if he was concerned about students leaving the district for outside charter schools due to the transportation cut, Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said Lehighton is providing an option for students who don’t feel safe returning to the classroom in the fall because of COVID-19 concerns.

“We are developing plans to give those students an online option with our current teachers,” he said. “We would have a teacher for each grade level where the students at home could sit in front of a computer and watch that teacher teach in their classroom. For example, you have an algebra class at 9 a.m. and you would log on and see your algebra teacher teaching that class. Instead of sitting physically in classroom, you’d be sitting at home. You would still be submitting assignments and things like that.”

The district will eventually be unveiling its full return to school plan, which will need to be board approved before it can go into effect.

“Since this pandemic began our administration has been working days, nights and weekends to try and get this together,” board member Rita Spinelli said. “They are networking with other groups and districts. This is not just coming up off the top of their head. I know the hard work they are doing.”

According to a list provided by administration, the high school extracurricular advisers removed from the proposed 2020-21 budget over COVID-19 concerns were art exhibit; chess; debate; drama/theater production; Future Business Leaders of America; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; FCCLA assistant; newspaper; Odyssey of the Mind; photographer; Red Cross; Students Against Destructive Decisions; Scholastic Scrimmage (head and assistant); Science Olympiad (head and assistant); senior assembly; show choir; ski club; stage manager; theater production (band and vocal); weight training (fall, spring, winter and summer); and travel.

The middle school advisers removed from the budget were Ace; art exhibit; band 5-6; band 7-8; chorus 5-6; chorus 7-8; drama/theater; Future Business Leaders of America; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; intramural (fall, winter and spring); newspaper; Odyssey of the Mind; 6th Sense; show choir; stage manager and photographer.

Denicola said the removal from the budget does not mean the programs won’t be funded again when COVID restrictions are eased in future years.

Lehighton has eliminated a number of teacher positions through attrition over the past few years including nine elementary, one English, one English as a second language, one family and consumer science, two guidance, two history, one kindergarten, three math, one music, one psychologist, one nurse, one science and four special education positions.

The district still maintains five music teachers, while other districts in the surrounding area maintain around three, Denicola said.

“I still think Lehighton’s commitment to music is over and above some of our neighboring districts,” Denicola said. “We don’t like any of these cuts. They are all important positions, but unfortunately the financial situation we are living in has required these eliminations over the years.”