Marching band season is just around the corner, and Palmerton Area School District does not yet have a high school music teacher.

Matthew Blanchard resigned from the high school music position June 19 to take a position in Maryland, leaving behind not just a classroom vacancy but four extracurricular programs without a faculty lead: concert band, jazz band, fishing club and, perhaps most urgently, marching band.

Blanchard did not vacate the marching band position until July 12.

The district has three finalists and is moving quickly.

“We did start the interviews for music, and we’ll have our second round interviews on Monday,” Dr. Daniel Heaney, assistant superintendent for academic programs and technology, told the board Tuesday night. “We have three strong candidates that we feel pretty good about.”

The music opening is one of three teaching vacancies the district is racing to fill before students return for the 2026-27 school year. High school Spanish and special education positions are also open following the resignations of Perla M. Javier Perdomo, effective July 13, and learning support teacher Christine McCarroll, effective June 18.

The district identified a special education candidate and extended an offer, Heaney said, but was turned down.

“We reposted that,” Heaney said Tuesday.

As recently as two weeks before Tuesday’s meeting, the district appeared to be in good shape heading into the fall. “

About two weeks ago we were very close to being full staff, but that’s changed a little bit in the last few weeks,” Heaney said.

The needs extend beyond the classroom. The district planned to interview two instructional aide candidates Wednesday at S.S. Palmer Elementary and is posting short-term and long-term substitute teaching positions at both Palmer and Parkside Elementary. Crossing guards are also in short supply.

“If anyone knows anyone that would be interested in being a crossing guard, we’re down a few crossing guards this year, so we could certainly use some help in those areas,” Heaney said.

Anyone interested in open positions can apply through the district’s website at palmerton.org under the human resources section.