Northern Lehigh School Board plans to return to in-person meetings next month.

The board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. July 12 to approve its new health and safety plan that is required by July 30.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link said, “Everything is trending in the right direction where we’re able to start to kind of roll back many of these mitigation efforts. I would ask for consideration that we return either in July or August to in-person meetings, and then give us some time to work out. I would also recommend that when we do return to in-person meetings, that we continue to livestream meetings with some modifications so people at home can also view the meetings.”

However, Link said that is something they would need to work through with Director of Technology Eric Hill.

Director Michele Martineau asked if they will still take questions electronically, or will people be required to attend the meeting to talk.

“I think that’s part of the logistics that I would need to request time to work through with Mr. Hill as to what exactly that would be like kind of living in both worlds,” Link said.

Hill responded, “My suggestion is if we are going to be live and in person, my suggestion would be to have participants be live in-person as well. We can still stream it, but trying to bring somebody up on a meeting while everybody else is live would be a little difficult to stream that way. I would suggest that if people want to participate, that they also show up live as well.”

Board President Gary Fedorcha said the plan is to livestream, as well as potentially have face-to-face meetings.

Director Gale Husack asked about doing some additional communications to notify the community.

Fedorcha agreed, and added it will be on the district’s website.

Husack then weighed in on the situation.

“I wouldn’t object, but I would be concerned with the board room and based on the number of participation that we’ve had in the past on virtual meetings, not sure if that would continue if we are in person.”

She asked how the district will handle additional people in the boardroom.

“Or, if we’re going to limit the number of people in our board room, so that we’re just prepared for what that looks like,” Husack said.