Slatington woman appointed to vacant school board post

A Slatington woman has been selected to round out the Northern Lehigh School board of directors.

On a 7-0 vote, the school board on Monday appointed Michele Martineau of Slatington to fill a vacant seat. Director Gale Husack was absent.

Martineau was chosen over two other applicants after the board conducted interviews with all three during a special meeting held before the board’s regular meeting.

The two other individuals who applied were Christopher Adams of Slatington, and former Director Debra Bower of Walnutport.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link thanked all the candidates for showing interest in the position.

All three candidates were asked to answer a series of questions during the board’s special meeting.

Martineau, 46, is a mother of two children who attend school in the district.

She said she decided to take the advice of her eldest son, who told her she should apply for the vacant post.

“I really wanted to do it,” Martineau said. “I enjoy the community.”

Martineau said she’s passionate about education, and really likes the direction the district is going in.

She said she believes the changing job market is a major challenge right now, and that it’s important to let the public know that they have their and the students’ best interests at heart.

Martineau said she would hear out any member of the community who came to her with a conflict, and then tell them to attend a school board meeting and discuss it with the board.

After the meeting, Martineau expressed her satisfaction at having been chosen as the board’s newest director.

“I’m excited to get started,” she said. “I’m looking forward to assisting the school board and having the students have the best experience they possibly can, and meeting the community’s changing needs.”

Martineau will fill the seat until December 2019. To serve beyond then, she will need to run in the municipal election.

At that point, the seat will be only a two-year seat to complete the end of the term, which expires in 2021.

Last month, the board approved the resignation of Director David Roberts, who is moving out of the district.

Roberts was appointed to the school board in April. He took over for Bower, who resigned from the board in March due to health reasons.