Palmerton Area School District's board of directors approved a five-year contract extension for its superintendent, Scot Engler, on Tuesday night.

Engler's deal came following a 7-2 vote, the same tally by which the board extended him a year last August.The extension takes him through June 30, 2022.Currently, Engler's salary is nearly $117,210. Tuesday's extension includes a 4 percent raise for 2017-18 and a 2 percent raise each year after that."I'm grateful to the board for the continued opportunity to help move the district forward," Engler said Wednesday morning."We have a lot of good stuff going on and I'm just looking to help build on those many successes. We are in the midst of a $26 million renovation project. We're going to start full-day kindergarten this year, and in the next year or two we're looking to revamp our schedules with the addition of a junior high cafeteria. I think there are a lot of positive things to look at here and I'm thankful and happy to be a part of it."The majority of board members voiced their support for Engler following a portion of the meeting with critical comments from a handful of residents."I feel compelled to tell you if I had to vote right now, I would vote no," said Kathy Lendvay-Fallow, who is a lock to take a board seat in December. "An effective leader is not punitive."Outgoing board member Sue Debski credited Engler with keeping his cool while under fire from the public."I want to apologize for all you have been put through," Debski said. "It is disgraceful. There are ways to say you don't agree with someone, but you don't deserve the disrespect. You have held your own and I appreciate everything you have done, taking the district in a positive direction. Things are being built, we have new projects and our teams are united in the district."Meanwhile, Palmerton graduate Brandon Mazepa referenced several lawsuits, three filed by high school Principal Paula Husar and another by a former Towamensing Elementary teacher, in which Engler is named as a defendant.Mazepa also asked for more community oversight, pitching the idea of a citizen advisory committee, which he said is allowed for in school policy."Are you truly committed to the success of all students in this district?" Mazepa asked Engler."Yes sir," Engler said.Josann Harry also defended her vote, telling the public, "I'm doing the best I can as a board member.""I'm doing this for the students, the parents and the community," she said. "I'm in this for the right reasons."As they did last year, directors Sherry Haas and Barry Scherer voted against the contract extension.Both made it clear, however, that their votes had nothing to do with the public criticism of Engler."Those comments in no way influenced my decision," Scherer said. "I have my reasons for voting no, but I don't want anyone thinking it was bending to public pressure."