It wasn’t pretty with several juvenile disruptions, but the Pleasant Valley school board managed to appoint a new superintendent during their first virtual meeting through the use of the online meeting platform Zoom.

With more than 240 logged in to watch and listen to the meeting, Lee Lesisko, who holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and instructional technology, was approved for the position of superintendent in a 7-2 vote.

Two school board directors voiced their approval of Lesisko as being good at his position as director of technology for the school district and as a person, but thought he does not have the administrative experience for superintendent.

“I think he thinks he can do this,” said Director Daniel Wunder. “I need to be inspired.”

Director Susan Kresge said she met with Lesisko on her own before making a decision. She said she doesn’t think his answers were specific enough.

“He does a wonderful job in the work he does now,” she said. “He just doesn’t have the experience.”

Kresge also felt his contract offered too many perks. His salary will start off at $155,000, which is $14,000 more than he made as director of technology. The contract allows for his salary to be increased a minimum of 2% on July 1 of this year, pending a satisfactory review by the board, and guarantees the 2% minimum increase for each year of his term. His term begins on April 1 and runs to June 20, 2023.

Previous Superintendent David Piperato also started at $155,000 in the 2017-18 school year. He resigned in September to take the same position in the Easton Area School District.

Kresge also disagrees with the benefits package.

According to his contract, Lesisko will be permitted, beginning June 30, 2021, to redeem any unused vacation days, up to five days, and have the funds deposited into an account established by him in a 403(b) tax sheltered annuity plan. The amount would equal his gross annual salary divided by 260 days.

She said that with the current state of the economy and the uncertainties that lie ahead, “I’m not going to support these items either.”

“I wish him all the best,” Kresge said. “I want nothing more than for him to be successful.”

Director Norman Burger also said he thinks Lesisko needs more experience before taking this position, but he would reluctantly vote yes for his approval.

Lesisko has 27 years of experience in education. He has been with the Pleasant Valley School District for the last 14 years first as technology coordinator from 2006 to 2012, then as the lead administrator for the PV Cyber Academy in 2012 and as director of technology in 2017.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer and information science from Bloomsburg University, a Master of Science in classroom technology from Wilkes University, and a doctorate from Widener University.

In addition to being an instructional technology specialist, he also holds a Principal K-12 Certificate and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility and has written more than 20 research studies and publications.