Palmerton Area School Board approved a series of teacher reassignments Tuesday night for the 2025-26 school year, citing equity and efficiency across school buildings as the primary reasons.

The decision, which affects around a dozen professional employees, prompted opposition from parents and community members who say the changes are disruptive and were made without sufficient input.

Board President Earl Paules said the reassignments are part of a broader effort to address inconsistencies across the district’s elementary schools — Towamensing and S.S. Palmer — which currently function more like separate entities.

“We are not two separate school districts. We are one,” Paules said. “We need to look out for everybody.”

Paules acknowledged the district had previously considered a full grade realignment, which the board voted against after listening to community feedback at town halls. But with the two schools operating under different conditions, Paules said, the reassignments are an attempt to bring more consistency without placing a greater financial burden on taxpayers.

“We could have added another $60 million for a new school, $30 million for moving sixth grade to the junior high,” he said. “We didn’t do any of that.”

Transfers

The board unanimously approved Tuesday’s motion, which includes the following staff transfers:

• Lindsey Armitage, reading specialist: S.S. Palmer to Towamensing.

• Stacey Behler, reading specialist: Towamensing to S.S. Palmer.

• Michelle Muffley, library: S.S. Palmer to Towamensing.

• Kristen Heller, Library: Towamensing to S.S. Palmer.

• Lisa Ward, Grade 6: Towamensing to S.S. Palmer.

• Monique Hofford, Grade 5: S.S. Palmer to Towamensing.

• Nikolai Millen, Grade 6: S.S. Palmer to Towamensing.

• Lindsay Serfass, Grade 3: Towamensing to S.S. Palmer.

• Angela Rivera, Grade 1: S.S. Palmer to Towamensing.

• Emily Turek, Grade 4: Parkside to S.S. Palmer.

• William Zeky, STEM: Towamensing to Junior High.

• Joshua Nenscel, dean of students K-6: High School to S.S. Palmer.

Paules also addressed concerns about transparency.

“We do not talk behind closed doors,” he said. “The board is acting in the best interests of all 1,700 students in the district. By moving teachers, it doesn’t mean you don’t support them. We do support them.”

Lynn Passerini, a district parent, took to the microphone during public comment to voice frustration over the decision, calling the process rushed and lacking in collaboration with teachers and staff.

The reassignment of elementary teachers, she said, undermines student success by breaking trusted relationships.

“My daughter struggled with reading, but having Mrs. Behler as her reading specialist for multiple years has changed everything,” she said. “Their bond went beyond what’s written in an IEP. Because of that, my daughter, who once resisted reading, now loves it.”

Passerini said she launched a petition opposing the reassignments, which has gathered hundreds of signatures from parents, staff and community members. She urged the board to reconsider and questioned the rationale behind some of the moves — especially those involving cross-building swaps rather than reassignments within the same school.

“This is incredibly disruptive,” she said. “Why not transition Mrs. Ward to sixth grade within her current school where she already knows the students and staff?”

Passerini also criticized the timing of the decision, pointing out that the district recently hired a new director of curriculum who has yet to start.

“Why are these changes being made before she has had the chance to contribute?” she asked. “Why hire someone to lead the curriculum and not allow her to do that job? For me, this entire process has not seemed aboveboard. It was done behind closed doors. Parents, staff, and the public have not been involved.”

Michael George, who will be on the ballot for school board in November, also called on the board to reconsider the approach.

“If we’re talking about equity, uprooting some tenured teachers and moving them around may jostle it a little more than expected,” George said. “Perhaps there’s another alternative to help those students achieve the equity we’re looking for.”

Despite the calls for reconsideration, the board approved the reassignments with a unanimous roll call vote.

Paules acknowledged the emotional nature of the issue but stood by the board’s decision.

“We support our teachers — all of our teachers,” he said. “And when we make decisions, it’s with the best interest of every student in mind, not just a few.”

K-6 dean of students

Nenscel will be leaving his position as a high school technology teacher to take the elementary dean of students position.

“I want to thank the board and administration for the opportunity,” Nenscel said. “I look forward to the challenge and working with everyone to make Palmerton greater.”

Paules said the move is designed to support Principal Ralph Andrews by taking on student discipline responsibilities. While the position is based at S.S. Palmer due to its larger student and staff population, Paules noted that Nenscel will also be available to assist at Towamensing Elementary when needed.

“If Kelli would be gone … he would be able to go up there and fill in for her,” he said. Paules added that the district is promoting from within by giving Nenscel an opportunity to grow professionally.

“We’re basically hiring within and letting him learn that position … giving him the ability to be able to move his career forward — and someday maybe be an administrator right here in Palmerton.”