The Jim Thorpe School Board has a new president and legal representation.

The board voted to appoint Pearl Downs-Sheckler as president. Sheckler has served on the board for eight years and is up for re-election in 2019.

“Hold onto your hats, gentlemen,” Downs-Sheckler joked as she took the chairman’s gavel from outgoing President Dennis McGinley.

McGinley nominated her for the position. He said he believes that the other board members should get a chance to lead.

Following Downs-Sheckler’s appointment, the board voted to move its regular meetings to the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings had been held on the second Monday of the month.

Downs-Sheckler said other than that, board members should expect more committee meetings to discuss topics in order to make the full board meeting more efficient.

“We want administrative reports, and we want more committee meetings. Open communication,” she said.

During Downs-Sheckler’s tenure, the board will continue to use a consultant to search for a new superintendent. They voted last month to authorize Pennsylvania School Boards Association to conduct a search. Superintendent Brian Gasper’s contract expires next year.

Shortly after taking the gavel, Downs-Sheckler moved for the board to appoint new legal representation. The board appointed Beard Legal Group as its solicitor. Attorney Carl Beard previously served as board solicitor between 1996-2006. Board member Glen Confer said he recalled Beard also helping to negotiate during a strike in the district in the late ’80s.

He replaces Greg Mousseau, who served as solicitor for the past 11 years.

The only board member who voted against appointing Beard was John Ciavarella.

“This isn’t personal, I just feel we have quite a few ongoing litigations right now, and I don’t think it’s a good idea that we bring in a new solicitor,” Ciavarella said.

In other business

The board voted to accept a $25,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The grant will go toward measures improving security at the entrances to the district’s two elementary schools, according to Gasper.

The board accepted, with regret, the resignation of cross-country coach Drew Benyo.