Palmerton Area School District has appointed a Salisbury Township administrator as its new business manager.

The school board, on an 8-0 vote at a special meeting on Tuesday, agreed to hire Diane Serfass at a salary of $76,000, effective June 18. Director Sherry Haas was absent.Serfass, who has served as assistant business administrator in the Salisbury School District for the past three years, was hired to a three-year contract.A resident of Jonas, Serfass thanked all those who were involved in the interview process."You did a very thorough job," said Serfass, 54. "I'm really looking forward to coming."Debra Demyanovich, director of human resources, said the district received eight applications for the position.Of those, three candidates were interviewed at level one, and two at level two, Demyanovich said.Superintendent Carol Boyce said Donna Les, who has served as the district's financial consultant since April of 2011, will remain in that capacity until June 30. Boyce said Les will assist Serfass during her transition period.Prior to being promoted as financial consultant, Les was hired by the district in Jan. of 2011 as part-time, interim acting business manager.Serfass previously served as assistant business administrator in the Lehighton Area School District for three years; two years as a Fiscal Officer II for the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging; and five years as Senior Accountant of the Office of Fiscal Affairs with the County of Monroe.She has a BA in Economics, as well as a BS in Management/Accounting, both from East Stroudsburg University.After the meeting, Serfass told the TIMES NEWS she looks forward to her new position."It's a very demanding job; it's ever-changing, so you have to be flexible," Serfass said. "My goal is keeping tax increases as minimal as possible."Also on Tuesday, the board agreed to an increase in breakfast and lunch prices for the 2012-13 school year.As a result, breakfast will increase 5 cents, from $1 to $1.05 at the elementary and secondary grade levels, while lunch will increase 11 cents, from $1.65 to $1.76 at the elementary level; and 10 cents, from $1.85 to $1.95 at the secondary level.The increases are a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, whereby districts are required to increase lunch prices annually.In other business, the board:- Approved the contract renewal for Nutrition Inc. for the 2012-13 school year.- Announced a budget presentation will be held at 7 p.m. May 8.