Northern Lehigh School District finalized the contract for its new superintendent Monday.

The school board appointed Matthew J. Link as the district’s new superintendent, for a term beginning on Jan. 1, 2018, and ending on June 30, 2021.

Link will start at a salary of $147,000. He will receive a 3.5 percent increase in each of the next three years.

Former superintendent Michael Michaels was making $147,383 at the time of his retirement.

The vote was 8-0, with Director Kristie Wilk absent.

Link, who attended the meeting with his wife and two children, praised the district.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved with the search process,” Link said. “I cannot wait to get here, meet all of the students, all of the staff.”

Link, 42, of Schnecksville, is the assistant superintendent of Kutztown Area School District, a position he has held for the past four years. He has been with that district for the past 10 years.

After the meeting, Link said he is “beyond thrilled” of his appointment as superintendent of the Northern Lehigh School District.

Link praised the search process, which he said “really sent all the right messages to me.”

“They seem like a great group of people with high expectations.”

Link said he is, “Very excited to meet all of the student body, staff, support staff, and listen to what their concerns are and what they are most proud of in Northern Lehigh.”

“I believe my experience in leading student service programs, human resources, and policy development will be very beneficial during my transition to Northern Lehigh, and throughout my time here,” he said. “I’m anxious to dive deeper into their curriculum, instruction and assessment practices to help ensure all students experience success while feeling connected to the many adults here to support them.”

On June 22, the board named Jack Corby as the district’s interim superintendent.

Corby, who started July 1, was hired at a daily rate of $525 in the interim capacity due to the retirement of Michaels on June 30, after nine years with the district.

In all, 24 applications were received for the district’s superintendent position. That field was then narrowed to 10 applications by the Superintendent Search Committee.

From those 10 applications, six candidates were selected to interview. All six candidates accepted an initial first round interview with the district’s board of directors, which occurred on July 11 and 12.

On Aug. 21, two candidates from the first round of interviews were invited to participate in second round interviews with community members, administration, teachers, support staff and the board.

The other candidate was Jeanette Gilliland, assistant superintendent of the Northampton Area School District.