Two Salisbury Township School District officials made a surprise visit to the March 10 Salisbury Township meeting and the Board of Commissioners welcomed them with open arms.

The school officials’ visit wasn’t on the agenda and they had no agenda other than to improve relations between the township and district.

It seems the township officials gave them good marks.

“We’d like to open up a forum for the school district and township,” Salisbury Township School District Board of Education President Frank Frankenfield said.

Attending the township meeting with him was Salisbury Township School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss.

The township commissioners’ response was immediate, jovial and laudatory.

“We’ve been looking to open up dialogue,” Commissioner Vice President Robert Martucci Jr. said.

“We’d like to sit down and discuss matters,” Commissioner President James A. Brown said.

“I’ve always wanted there to be more discussion,” Commissioner Debra Brinton, who offered to sit in on school board meetings on behalf of the township commissioners.

“We thank you for attending,” Commissioner Joanne Ackerman said to the school officials.

Ziegenfuss, in his second year as superintendent, noted he has worked for the Salisbury district for 10 years, most recently as assistant superintendent and prior to that as director of data and technology.

Frankenfield, school board president for three months, was vice president for one year and has served on the board for eight years.

“One of the things that’s unique is that the township and the school district is the same” [in terms of geographic boundaries],” Ziegenfuss said.

“How can we work together and have the school district a hub for the township?” Ziegenfuss said.

“It’s a wonderful place to be, this township and school district,” Ziegenfuss said.

“It’s definitely a breath of fresh air for you to come in,” Brown said to the school district officials.