School Board Meeting Info Summary: Dec 4th, 2024

Southern Lehigh School District Board Meeting Summary

Date: December 4, 2024
Location: Southern Lehigh High School Board Room
Meeting Type: Annual Reorganization Meeting
Full Video: YouTube Link
Official Meeting Minutes: December 4, 2024 SLSD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Minutes FINAL
Full Unofficial Transcript: December 4, 2024 UNOFFICIAL School Board Meeting Full Transcript

The Southern Lehigh School Board held its annual reorganization meeting to elect a new President and Vice President for the 2025 calendar year. All nine board members were present, with Tim Kearney and Mary Joy Reinartz attending remotely. Emily Gehman presided over the meeting.

Emily Gehman was nominated for temporary president and approved unanimously to chair the reorganization proceedings. Nominations for board president followed, with Emily Gehman, Eric Boyer, and Tim Kearney each receiving nominations. Kearney declined his nomination, leaving Boyer and Gehman as the candidates. A motion to allow discussion prior to voting failed by a 4–5 margin. In the subsequent roll call vote, Emily Gehman received five votes (Kruse, Boyer, Gehman, Kearney, Torba) and was re-elected president for another one-year term.

Nominations for vice president were then opened. Candi Kruse and Stephen Maund were nominated. Another motion to allow discussion failed by a 4–5 vote. In the roll call vote, Candi Kruse was elected vice president with six votes in favor (Gehman, Boyer, Reinartz, Kearney, Kruse, Torba).

The board approved routine financial housekeeping items, including the annual depository resolutions and authorization to use facsimile signature plates for board officers. These motions passed unanimously.

During board member comment time, Stephen Maund and Mary Joy Reinartz expressed concern about repeated leadership terms and suggested revisiting board policies to encourage officer rotation. They also raised concerns about meeting attendance and the need for clear participation expectations. Melissa Torba highlighted the district’s recent “Super Bowl” meeting where principals shared data on student achievement and staffing needs, urging the board to prioritize budget planning that supports student services.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Mahon noted that formal budget discussions will begin in January, starting with the presentation of the district’s annual audit and an overview of strategic priorities.

The meeting concluded with congratulations to the new board officers, well wishes for the holiday season, and a special acknowledgment of the debut night of the girls' wrestling team. The board then adjourned.