The Jim Thorpe Area School Board met last night and elected Bill Ackerman to be its new president.

Ackerman, who last served as vice president and who has been on the board since 1983, was elected on an 8-1 vote. Harold Fredericks opposed the appointment.

Ackerman replaces Charles J. McHugh Jr., who held the presidency for the past two years. It is customary in the district that the president serve a two-year term and that he is succeeded by the vice president.

Richard Karper, a director since 1993, was elected to be the new vice president on the same 8-1 vote.