Palmerton Area School District is bringing back a familiar face to temporarily lead two elementary buildings.

The school board on Tuesday night voted 5-3 to approve retired administrator Richard DeSocio as substitute principal of Parkside Education Center and S.S. Palmer Elementary School at a rate of $500 per day, with a start date still to be determined.

DeSocio retired in late 2024 after 21 years with Palmerton, most recently serving as junior high school principal.

Voting in favor of his appointment were MaryJo King, Erin Snyder, Stacey Connell, Alyson Krawchuk-Boschen and Rob Moyzan. Opposing were Danielle Paules, Sherry Haas and Brandon Mazepa.

Board members debated the $500 per day rate before the vote. Paules questioned whether the rate was consistent with what other administrators earn in the district.

“The current Palmer principal makes $400 a day per diem,” she said. “The high school principal makes $483 a day, the junior high principal makes $388 and the Towamensing principal makes $385. I don’t agree with $500.”

Superintendent Angela Friebolin said the rate reflected the total compensation package.

“We look at the totality of the compensation,” she said. “Compensation is more than just salary. I won’t say the total compensation for those other positions in a public meeting, but it’s a lot more than $500 a day. This is a bargain.”

Haas said she researched principal pay across the state.

“The average for Pennsylvania elementary principals is around $420 a day,” she said.

In 2017, Palmerton brought on two interim principals for the high school at $475 per day. In 2019, it tabbed an interim superintendent at $525 per day.

Snyder said the small increase since 2017 was reasonable given inflation and experience.

“Are we really going to argue over $25?” she said. “Sherry, you were on the board then and were fine with it eight years ago. It’s detrimental for students to go without leadership. Having a principal with a background in counseling can really help these kids and support teachers and our current counselors.”

Connell said she supported the decision and was glad to see DeSocio returning to the district.

“Having Rich back with us is going to be a benefit,” she said. “He knows our schools and our community.”

The vote came shortly after the board retroactively accepted the resignation of Ralph Andrews, who had served as principal at Parkside and S.S. Palmer since 2021.

Andrews is leaving Palmerton to become principal of Hanover Elementary School in Bethlehem. The board accepted his resignation effective Sept. 23, 2025, with a release date still to be determined.

“We are extremely proud of Mr. Andrews,” King said. “We’re excited for the opportunity that lies ahead for him.”