Palmerton Area School District’s board of directors on Tuesday night approved the transfer of Lindsay Fronheiser from her current role as high school special education teacher to elementary special education teacher at Towamensing Elementary.

The move, district officials said, will not be immediate, as the effective date of her transfer is contingent upon finding a replacement for her position at the high school.

During the meeting, concerns were raised about the timing and process of the transfer. Director Earl Paules questioned the rationale behind taking down the job posting for the elementary school position before securing a new high school teacher.

“Why would we take the post down from the elementary school?,” Paules said. “Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep that one up also? Maybe that person would be more qualified for elementary instead of high school.”

Administration clarified that the elementary school position had been posted and filled internally, as Fronheiser had applied and was selected for the role.

Board President Sherry Haas spoke of the impact of such transfers on students, particularly those with special needs.

“Taking someone from one building to another is very important for our students ... we want to make sure what is being done is proper for all of our students involved,” Haas said.

Director MaryJo King questioned why transfers require such oversight, particularly when the move is lateral, such as from one teaching position to another.

“I think that transfers within building to building is very appropriate for those administrators to be making that decision,” she said. “I just feel like this is a little bit of slowing down the process to have it come before the board.”

The conversation revealed that there is a long-standing district policy requiring board approval for such moves.

“There is a policy that states ... building-to-building transfers must” be brought before the board,” Haas said.

While the policy has been in place for years, King said, “I think I would like to revisit that policy at a future workshop.”