Despite pleas from several parents, a kindergarten teacher in the Palmerton Area School District has been relieved of her duties.

On an 8-0 vote Tuesday, the school board approved the dismissal of Lauren Smith from employment as a teacher in the district. Director Sherry Haas was absent.Before the board's vote, a trio of mothers, each of whom have kindergarten-aged children who were taught earlier in the school year by Smith, voiced their support for her.Linda Marlatt said the children whom Smith taught "miss and love her dearly.""Since she's gone, we've seen a difference in their learning," Marlatt said. "We'd like to know how we can get her back as our (children's') teacher."Michelle Frantz was the next mother who went to bat for Smith.Frantz said she, as well as others, "deserve some explanation."Frantz said she wants to know why her child continues to come home with the same learning material.Kathi Anderson said that since Smith has been gone, the students have not learned as much as they did when she was their teacher.Anderson said that Smith "did very well teaching our children."No explanation was offered by the board on the matter. Superintendent Scot Engler declined to comment.In June 2013, the board hired Smith as an elementary teacher at a salary of $37,882.The board hired her on an 8-0 vote, with an abstention from Haas.Other businessIn other business, the board:• Approved Christina Bradley and Olga Blahy as guest teachers, effective today.• Approved Norman Zern as a substitute custodian, effective today.• Granted permission to business manager Matthew Sawarynski to attend the annual PA Association of School Business Officials conference in Hershey from March 11-13, at a cost not to exceed $750.