Panther Valley school administrators had nothing but praise for the district's elementary school principal as they officially accepted her resignation Thursday night.

Mary Figura is leaving for an administrative position in Pine Grove School District next month.The board voted to accept her resignation Thursday night. Superintendent Dennis Kergick said that she has been an asset to the district."I also know she had made innumerable contributions to this district. She's been quite an asset to the school district."Kergick praised Figura for her work on after-school programs at Panther Valley Elementary and working on the school's 100 book challenge, amid tight financial circumstances."I'm hopeful Mary will be happy in her new position, and I wanted to say thank you for your service to the district, its families and its students," he said.Kergick said that Figura officially started in May 2013.Figura told the board that the decision to leave her students was difficult, but she is looking forward to her new position."I'd like to thank the board for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great school district; my colleagues for always being so supportive; my staff for making my job easier, because they worked so tirelessly with my kids; my students because honestly they make me a better administrator," she said.School officials also praised two other outgoing employees. They accepted the resignation of cafeteria lead cook Martha Shemansik, effective Feb. 28 of next year, and transportation clerk Brenda Chasarik, effective Dec. 16."I know Ms. Shemansik has been here a long time. She'll truly be missed in the cafeteria," board president Anthony DeMarco said. "And Brenda has been fantastic in transportation.""A long time ago I think you heard me say this district is far more than buildings and books and scores, it's the people that make the place what it is," Kergick said.Tractor purchaseThe board was split over whether to purchase a specialized tractor that cost nearly $50,000.Building and grounds director George "Smokey" Krajnak recommended the purchase of the Ventrac tractor with attachments to cut down on the time that the school's maintenance staff spend working on fields and mowing.The total cost of the tractor and attachments is $47,181.39. The equipment would be purchased from Koch's Lawn and Garden through a state contract.The tractor would help with the many slopes on the school's property, said board member Joseph Faenza, who holds the same position as Krajnak in the Palmerton School District.But board member Irene Genther said she would like to see the board hold off on purchasing the tractor until they have finalized plans to replace the roof at Panther Valley Elementary. Kergick said that the district still plans to replace the roof at PVE, possibly as early as this school year.The board voted 6-3, with Genther, Renee DeMelfi and Wayne Gryzik voting no.The board also announced that Melinda McArdle has been nominated to attend the Notre Dame Excellence in Teaching Conference in South Bend, Indiana, on Oct. 21. McArdle was chosen by the Notre Dame Club of Schuylkill County for the honor.