Since new Superintendent Dave McAndrew Jr. arrived in June, Panther Valley School District has filled three vacant administrator positions, finalized two major contracts, purchased laptops for all students, and approved its COVID-19 health and safety plan.

“We’ve gotten a lot accomplished,” McAndrew told the school board on Thursday. “Thank you for your support.”

On Thursday, the school board finalized two major contracts and rounded out its new administrative team.

School board members approved a two-year agreement with the teachers, a one-year transportation contract, and hired a new building and grounds supervisor.

The Panther Valley Education Association contract is for two years, effective Aug. 1. The teachers approved the contract last week. They cast “drive-­thru” ballots in the parking lot of Panther Valley Intermediate School in order to maintain social distancing.

PVEA President Tara Yuricheck said the contract is fair to all parties involved under the current unprecedented circumstances for education.

“This is the result of working together with our new administrative team and school board members on our common goals,” Yuricheck said.

Both sides were able to reach an agreement in principle prior to the expiration of the current contract.

Under the contract, working conditions remain largely the same. The starting salary for a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree is $37,899. There is no blanket pay raise, but each teacher will continue to be able to earn raises based on their years with the district, and the number of postgraduate college credits they earn. When all of those raises are combined, it equals about a 2 percent annual increase in total teacher compensation.

Jesse Walck, business manager for Panther Valley School District, said the contract was favorable to the district and the teachers.

“It’s fair to the teachers, it’s fair to us, and we’re happy to work with them. Hopefully we’ll continue to work well together,” he said.

The school board also approved a new one-year contract with its bus provider, Kistler Transportation. The contract runs through June 20, 2021.

Walck said the price per bus run will remain the same for the district, and the cost of each van run will be $7 less.

If the district decides to go to full remote learning, the district will only have to pay 70 percent of the contract rate.

The district’s COVID-19 health and safety plan calls for two students per seat if the district opens in the “green” or “yellow” phase.

The school board also voted to hire a new building and grounds supervisor, Scott Fisher, at a salary of $57,000. Fisher takes over for George “Smokey” Krajnak Jr., who retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

A newcomer to the school district, Fisher said he has 25 years experience in industrial maintenance which will help in his new position.

“We’re very excited to have Scott,” Walck said.

In July, the district hired a new Junior-Senior High School principal, Patricia Ebbert.

In June, Walck was hired as business manager.

In other business, the school board:

• Agreed to move the first day of school to Sept. 8. Jim Thorpe, Lehighton and Palmerton have all delayed their first days to Sept. 8 as well.

• Accepted the retirement of Richard Morgans, Junior-Senior High School Teacher, effective the end of the 2019-20 school year.

• Approved the hiring of Debbie Weaver, part-time elementary school cashier, at a rate of $15.35 per hour; Jennifer Barrup, part-time elementary school server, $13.65 per hour; and Kelly Gott, substitute cafeteria worker, $9.25 per hour.

• Approved the repository sale of two properties in Summit Hill, two in Lansford, and one in Coaldale.