Lehighton school board reorganizes, one vacancy remains

Needing a ninth board member to fill out its slate for 2018, Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors will accept letters of interest and meet on Dec. 21 to discuss potential candidates.

The vacancy was created after Gail Maholick, who won both a four-year and a two-year term in November’s general election, took the oath of office during Monday night’s reorganization meeting and accepted the four-year term.

Incumbent director Larry Stern was elected as board president by a 5-3 vote, receiving votes from himself, Wayne Wentz, Andrew Yenser, Stephen Holland and David Bradley Sr.

Joy Beers voted for herself, joining Richard R. Beltz and Maholick.

Earlier in the meeting, outgoing board member Stacey Duerst said it was imperative to “elect a president that parents know will work with our administration to continue providing education our children need.”

The vice president’s seat came down to a coin flip after four votes for Wentz and four for Beers. Wentz won the position after the coin came up tails.

Lehighton solicitor William Schwab said the district had 30 days from Monday night’s meeting to fill the board vacancy, leading Bradley to immediately make a motion to appoint Richard D. Beltz, owner of Beltzville Airport.

“He got the next most votes in the general election for the same seat,” Bradley said.

Beltz was at the meeting with an attorney, Paul Rossi of Lancaster County.

“I am concerned with the four elementary schools being sold off so quickly and cheaply,” Beltz told the board. “I knew the new elementary school would have to come sooner or later.”

Rossi, meanwhile, referenced a board vacancy following the death of William Hill Jr. in 2016. A board stalemate landed the decision in President Judge Roger Nanovic’s lap, when he chose David Krause.

Rossi accused the previous board of trying to undermine the process this time around.

“The prior board’s attempt to reach out to the judge before this meeting took place was inappropriate,” Rossi said.

A visibly upset Schwab told Rossi to “stop right there,” adding that “no discussions of any kind had taken place with a judge.”

“I didn’t take a position when Mr. Hill died either,” Schwab said. “I was there to answer general board questions.”

After much back and forth on whether a vote would be taken on the appointment of Beltz, the board deadlocked 4-4.

When Bradley asked if anyone in the room had a reason why they thought Beltz wouldn’t be a qualified candidate, Lehighton resident and physical education teacher Mike Lusch said he felt Duane Eidem is more qualified for the seat because Eidem had been a prior board member.

Though running for two different seats, Eidem received 1,569 votes in the general election to Beltz’s 1,288.

“It’s my recommendation that we open it up to the community to submit letters of interest for the open position,” Stern said.

Bradley responded, saying “he didn’t care if others were interested.

“We have a district full of voters who made a decision,” he added.

“The people have spoken and they should be listened to.”

After Stern called for a recess until the letters of interest were submitted, Bradley stated he was “formally protesting against Stern’s ability to silence members of the board.”

Lehighton will accept the letters of interest until Dec. 20.