Lehighton Area School District unanimously approved an agreement Monday night with the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit to conduct an executive search for its next superintendent.

The agreement, which runs through the end of September, outlines the specific terms and conditions under which the CLIU will operate, including a comprehensive fee structure and detailed service provisions.

For a facilitation support fee of $3,000, CLIU will manage the search process, providing “executive, director, professional, and administrative assistant support.”

Lehighton will cover all advertising costs and any additional unforeseen expenses incurred during the search.

The CLIU, per the agreement, will be responsible for a variety of services including “the development and submission of advertisements, creation of an application packet via Frontline, tracking and screening of applicants, and conducting reference checks on selected candidates.”

All subsequent steps, from interviewing candidates to finalizing offers and contracts, will be handled by Lehighton.

Lehighton approved a separation agreement with Superintendent Christina Fish calling for her to leave the position at the end of May. Fish received a $115,000 severance payment and 24 days of unused vacation time totaling $12,549.36. The district agreed to pay for medical benefits for Fish, along with her spouse and any eligible dependents, until Aug. 31, 2025, unless she takes a job where the benefits have “at least an 80% actuarial value.”

Fish was hired in June 2022 and had a contract that was set to run through Aug. 31, 2025.

Jack Corby is serving as interim superintendent at a contracted rate of $680 per full day.