The leading vote-getter in an uncontested Palmerton Area School District primary election will take her seat on the board of directors a few months early.

Stacey Connell was appointed by a unanimous vote Tuesday night to fill the term of Katherine Baumgardt, who resigned from the board earlier this month to take an English teaching position at the high school.

“I want to thank my family and friends for all of their encouragement and help along the way,” Connell said. “I also want to thank the community because it was their support during the primary that got me here. I’m here, ready to learn and I hope to do a good job for the people of Palmerton.”

Connell tallied 1,430 combined votes from Democrats and Republicans during the primary. She was one of four candidates on the primary ballot vying for four open seats.

Baumgardt’s four-year term was set to end at the end of 2021 and she had not sought re-election.

The Palmerton Area School District board of directors on Tuesday also approved the following actions:

• Authorizing the administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors LLC. as independent financial adviser, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC as bond counsel, Boenning & Scattergood as underwriter, and its local solicitor in conjunction with the potential refinancing of some or all of its Series of 2016 bond.

• The lunch price of $4 for adults for the 2021-22 school year.

• The service level agreement tax services with Berks County Intermediate Unit for real estate and per capita taxes.

• The purchase of replacement playground equipment for the S.S. Palmer playground from Recreation Resource USA at a price of $26,072. Playground equipment is being funded through a donation of $16,500 from the Palmer/Parkside PTO with the remaining funds coming from the S.S. Palmer activities account.

• The donation from the Palmer/Parkside PTO in the amount of $16,500 to be used for the S.S. Palmer playground equipment.

• The annual renewal agreement with Heartland Payment Systems for cafeteria POS system license and support for the 2021-22 school year in the amount of $2,391.50 payable from the food service fund.

• Brett Hoch as high school math teacher at a salary of $46,750.

• Morgan Hesse as elementary teacher, grade 3, at S.S. Palmer Elementary at a salary of $47,750.

• Chelsea Wyant as elementary special education teacher at S.S. Palmer Elementary at salary of $47,250.

• Christine McCarroll as high school special education teacher at a salary of $48,750.

• Sonya Porter, S.S. Palmer; Brooke Magill, high school; and Jenna McHugh, high school, as instructional assistants at the rate of $16.28 per hour.

• The resignation of Eileen Heiney as cafeteria team leader at Parkside Elementary. Heiney will remain as food service employee at the rate of $15 per hour.

• Keri Repnyck as team leader food service employee at the rate of $15.10 per hour.

• Teresa Reed and Wendy Magner as team leader food service employees at $15.72 per hour.

• Abby Bankos, Jennifer Hedmeck, Amanda Kromer and Kristy Santee as food service employees at the rate of $13.85 per hour.

• Diane Fronheiser as part-time custodian at Towamensing Elementary at the rate of $14.67 per hour.

• The resignation of Whitney Kern as secondary librarian/gifted teacher.

• The Leader in Me agreement for the 2021-22 school year in the amount of $64,686.74.

• The KRE Security LLC, athletic agreement for the 2021-22 school year in the estimated amount of $15,000.

• The KRE Security LLC, district agreement for the 2021-22 school year in the estimated amount of $163,500.

• KRE Security guards Brian Conte, high school; Sabu Richards, Towamensing; and Mark Thomas, S.S. Palmer and Parkside for the 2021-22 school year.

• George’s Transportation bus drivers and bus routes for the 2021-22 school year.

• The student athletic and coach handbooks for the 2021-22 school year.

• Athletic season passes and ticket prices for the 2021-22 school year.