Members of the Parkland School Board offered words of gratitude and gifts to retiring fellow directors Robert Bold and Jef Reyburn for their years of service and commitment to the education of district children.

Bold served 20 years. Reyburn was on the board for eight years.

Superintendent Richard Sniscak offered comments at the Nov. 19 school board meeting.

“Bob and Jef were longstanding board members who cared immensely about our students, staff and administrators, and who were always strong proponents of educating the whole child through a comprehensive academic, arts and athletics program,” Sniscak said.

Bold, who had a 30-year career as an industrial arts teacher in the Allentown School District and an additional 22 years as a substitute after his full-time retirement, joined the board in 1999.

He served as president five times and vice president three times.

As president of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 board of directors from 2009 to the present, Bold supported endeavors for children with special needs and worked to provide opportunities for their advancement.

Bold was the legislative liaison for Region 8 of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and provided reports at school board meetings on what was, or was not, happening in Harrisburg.

In 2009, Bold was designated a master school board director by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and in 2018, received the first Friend of Education Award from the Parkland Education Association.

Bold was well known for his participation in Read Across America Day, an annual celebration of reading in March around the time of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

He wore a “Cat in the Hat” hat as he traveled to every elementary school in the district to read to the children.

“I started early and kept going all day,” Bold said.

Parkland Director of community relations and development Nicole McGalla reported a copy of the Dr. Seuss book, “Horse Museum,” will be given by the staff to each elementary school library in honor of Bold.

There is a special dedication sticker inside each book commemorating Bold’s 20 years of service to the school board.

McGalla expressed gratitude for Bold’s work.

“Thanks for always advocating for children, especially those with the biggest hurdles to climb,” McGalla said. “Thanks for pursuing us, such as when you helped us start an education foundation which has given $1 million to Parkland schools since we started that back in 2011.”

Board President Lisa Roth recognized Bold for devoting an entire lifetime to thinking about children.

Upon his departure, Bold gave a bit of advice to the board.

“Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow,” Bold said. “The kids that we have today have 70 to 80 years of tomorrow.

“It’s up to us to make sure they have good tomorrows.

“Thanks to the board for their dedication to the kids of Parkland School District, and thanks to the staff who are doing that five days a week.”

Board members thanked Reyburn for his many insightful questions and comments at meetings through the years.

They were appreciative of that, as they all learned a lot from his inquiries.

Reyburn always took a close look at expenditures and asked many questions at budget seminars.

“We thank Jef Reyburn for his leadership and service,” Sniscak said.

Reyburn, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Kutztown University, coached football for the South Parkland Youth Association for about a decade.

He has worked as general manager of Moyer’s Services Group, in Souderton and Allentown, and before that, he worked in sales and marketing for Merck Pharmaceuticals.

Neither Reyburn nor Bold sought re-election this year.

Reyburn said family obligations have increased since he joined the board eight years ago.