In January, the Jim Thorpe Area School Board appointed John Ciavarella to fill an opening on the school board. Ciavarella will be finishing the term of the late Thomas Henry.

This week Ciavarella has accepted the appointment and was sworn in to the board.The members of the school board paid tribute to Henry.Henry served on the school board for 12 years. He also served as the JT school board representative on the Joint Operating Committee for Carbon Career and Technical Institute."Tom will be missed," said board member Pearl Downs-Sheckler.Board member William Allison remembered Henry for the many local stories Henry would tell."He is going to be well missed by us and everyone in the school. He was always friendly," recalls board member, John Partenio.Board President Dr. Clement McGinley, Board Vice President, Robert Schaninger, Randall Smith, Dennis McKinley, and Gerald Strubinger also commented that they would miss Henry.Superintendent, Dr. Barbara Conway, stated that Tom was a great man. She said he always supported the students with their needs, as well as at their school events.In other news, all of the board members were recognized by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association for School Board Director Recognition Month. The board members were presented with certificates by Conway.Henry's certificate will be presented to his wife and family.