A Northampton County man has been dubbed as new business manager in the Palmerton Area School District.

By a unanimous measure, the school board on Tuesday appointed Matthew Sawarynski to the post, effective Nov. 10, at the starting salary of $87,500, prorated.Sawarynski will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of current business manager Diane Serfass, who resigned because she accepted a position as business manager at the Monroe Career & Technical Institute in Bartonsville.Serfass took over as business manager in May 2012.Before that, Donna Les had served as the district's financial consultant after initially being hired as part-time interim acting business manager in January 2011.Superintendent Scot Engler welcomed Sawarynski to the district."It's bittersweet," Engler said. "We're sad to see Diane go."Engler told Sawarynski that he has some rather huge shoes to fill, but is confident he will do well.Sawarynski currently serves as a certified public accountant with Minerals Technologies Inc. in Bethlehem.A resident of Northampton, he said he believes his experience will bode well for his new position."I thought it would be a good fit," said Sawarynski, 41. "I want to bring a fresh outlook on things, and new perspectives."Sawarynski said he's excited to get started.In other business, the board:• Approved Matthew Kosciolek as high school social studies teacher, $40,362, prorated, effective Oct. 27, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of David Lavin.• Approved Mary Stahler as Title I Instructional Assistant at S.S. Palmer Elementary School, effective Nov. 1, at the rate of $13.38 an hour for up to 29.5 hours per week. This is a new position funded through Title I monies; if these funds are reduced or become unavailable, this position may be eliminated.• Approved Sandra Gombert as a substitute cafeteria employee, effective Oct. 22.• Accepted the retirement of Terry Kistler, high school/junior high school custodian, effective Jan. 19.• Approved the insurance renewal, effective Nov. 12, as follows: general package, boiler and automobile insurance, $80,818; school board legal liability, SBI Insurance, $20,660; excess liability (with $5,000 limit), Old Republic, $13,174; Cyber Risk Insurance, Travelers, $6,590; and terrorism coverage, $132.• Accepted the bid of $50 from the Palmerton High School Girls Soccer Club for the lot of 60 used girls' soccer uniforms.