Panther Valley board member resigns
For the third time in a year, Panther Valley School District is looking for a new school board member.
Board member Christopher Kerestes submitted his resignation to the board this week, effective Friday.
The board accepted his resignation at its meeting Thursday night. Kerestes, Renee DeMelfi, Keith Krapf and Joseph Faenza were absent.
According to district Superintendent Dennis Kergick, Kerestes has moved out of the school district.
Board member Gary Porembo said the board should send Kerestes a letter of thanks for his service.
“Yes, it would be nice to send him a letter thanking him for his service,” Board President Wayne Gryzik said. “We’re going to miss him. He had a lot of expertise which helped us tremendously.”
Kerestes, who was appointed to fill a board vacancy last March and re-elected to a four-year term in November, served a total of 18 months on the board.
He served as chairman of the athletics and activities committee as well as the personnel committee.
He is the second board member to resign in the last year. Anthony DeMarco resigned last August. The board also had to fill a vacancy last November when William Mansberry won a seat on the board but did not accept it due to health reasons.
The board has until Sept. 9 to appoint a replacement. The replacement won’t fill Kerestes’ four-year term, however. According to state law, the four-year term will be on the ballot in the Nov. 2019 municipal election.
“I credit the people that serve on this board of education, as well as those who have served on previous boards,” superintendent Dennis Kergick said. “I look forward to working with whoever ends up being successfully appointed.”
The district has already advertised the vacancy. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the school district.
Interested candidates are asked to send a letter of intent to Panther Valley School District (Attn: Panther Valley Business Office) 1 Panther Way, Lansford, Pa., 18232. Letters should include why the candidate wants to serve as a school director as well as any qualifications and experience that may benefit the board and school district.
The deadline to submit letters is 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22.
