The Parkland School Board recently approved Jeffrey Bartman as principal of the Fred J. Jaindl Elementary School.

He will assume the leadership role in January 2021 after the retirement of Diana Schantz who has been principal since the school opened in 2010.

Bartman is currently assistant principal at Springhouse Middle School, a position he has held for the past seven years.

Bartman earned both his Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education with a major in general science and biology and his Master of Education degree from Kutztown University.

He received his principal’s certificate from Wilkes University with a major in education leadership.

Bartman was a middle school science teacher for 17 years in Parkland.

Superintendent Richard Sniscak commented on Bartman and his new assignment.

“Jeff is a strong leader and possesses highly effective communication and interpersonal skills that allow him to be effective with children, parents, teachers, community members, and fellow administrators,” explained Sniscak. “He is known for his direct involvement with students, staff and parents.

“We are quite pleased to announce his appointment as the new principal at Fred J. Jaindl elementary and we wish him the best in his transition.”

Located along Weilers Road in Upper Macungie township, the Jaindl school received silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 78,000-square-foot building has a thermal roof and a geothermal heating system.

The school was constructed to accommodate about 600 children in kindergarten through fifth grade in a section of the district with a rapidly increasing population.

The school was named for the late Fred J. Jaindl, a local farmer and businessman whose family owned the parcel where the building is situated.

Jaindl’s estate accepted a price of reportedly $2 million below fair market value for the land.

With housing development continuing at a rapid pace in the southern portion of the district, enrollment at the Jaindl school reached its capacity.

The new school, Veterans Memorial, is ready to open and alleviate crowding at the Jaindl and Fogelsville elementary buildings.