One month after a mid-meeting resignation left it one member short, Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors unanimously chose Heather Neff to fill its vacancy Monday night.

Neff, mother of a Lehighton elementary student, will finish Walter Zlomsowitch’s unserved term, which runs until December 2023.

“It’s exciting,” Neff said after Monday’s meeting. “This board is moving in the right direction by following policies and really digging in to research where we can improve as a district. I’m really excited to join them and get started.”

One of seven applicants for the seat, Neff said student safety is one area where she plans to be a strong advocate during her time on the board.

“That’s big for me,” she said. “I have a son going into fourth grade and I want to be a voice for not only him, but every student in Lehighton. I think this board really has the safety of our students at the forefront and I think that’s important.”

Last week, board members took a paper vote on their preferred choice out of the seven applicants with Neff, a lifelong Lehighton resident and 2005 Carbon Career and Technical Institute graduate, leading the way.

“She says what is on her mind and means what she says,” fellow director Barbara Bowes said of Neff. “I don’t expect her to always agree with us, but she’s also professional in her disagreement.”