The East Penn Board of School Directors conducted its annual organizational meeting Dec. 4.

A reading was held of the of Lehigh County Election Board’s Certificates of Election which certified returning members Dr. Joshua Levinson and Jeffrey Jankowski, along with new directors Shonta Ford, Timothy Kelly and Gabrielle Klotz as having won seats in the Nov. 7 election.

They were quickly sworn in.

Levinson was returned to his previously held post of president. Adam Smith was elected vice president. Voting was unanimous.

In the absence of Board Secretary Janine Allen, Treasurer Robert Saul presided over the meeting until Smith was elected president pro tempore to briefly oversee the election of officers.

The directors approved the meeting schedule for 2024. The dates are as follows: Jan. 8 and 22, Feb. 12 and 26, March 11 and 25, April 8 and 22, May 13, June 10 and 24, July 8, Aug. 12 and 26, Sept. 9 and 23, Oct. 14 and 28, Nov. 11, Dec. 2 (reorganization) and 9.

The board also voted to designate the East Penn Press as one of three media outlets for advertising purposes during the 2024 calendar year.

There were four requests to address the board.

Allentown resident Cecilia Gerlach, Heather Harlen, of Emmaus, Macungie resident and Emmaus High School Class of 1999 alumna Imogen Wirth and Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons, of Bethlehem, stepped up to the podium.

All expressed congratulations to the newly-minted directors as well as appreciation for the bipartisan work of the East Penn School Board. It was noted Ford was the district’s first Black female board member.

After adjournment, Sarina Torres, owner of Lehigh Valley-based Sarina’s Berries, LLC, provided cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries for an impromptu reception.

No executive session was held before the public forum.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled Dec. 13. The public can access documents through BoardDocs via a link on the district website.

Livestreaming of meetings is available on the district’s YouTube channel.