Panther Valley School Board on Thursday appointed a substitute superintendent for the district, while Dave McAndrew is out on a medical leave.

Robert Palazzo, the district’s supervisor of curriculum, student and community services, will serve as superintendent until McAndrew’s return. The board approved leave for up to 90 days.

Palazzo will be paid $125 a day in addition to his current salary for filling in for McAndrew. Business Manager Jesse Walck said the additional pay will end when McAndrew returns.

In a brief statement, Palazzo said that he, the administrative team, teachers and staff will focused on closing out the school year and looking ahead to the new school year in the fall.

“Our theme for this year was “Every Panther is Connected” and we look forward to celebrating our students’ scholastic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements during the next two months,” he said.

Board President Daniel Matika had no comment regarding McAndrew’s medical leave.

Personnel

Other personnel matters the board approved included:

• Hiring Rachel Albert as a full-time secretary/transportation clerk at a salary of $16.50 an hour effective April 7.

• Accepting the resignation of Joseph Henry, a paraprofessional, effective March 28.

• Approving the following teachers to take three-credit courses: Bruce Millheim, Jennifer Jones, Kayla Kiraly, Alice Andrews and Roxanne Person.

• Hiring these summer cafeteria workers: Donna Gott, Margaret Pascoe, Georgine Jungbaer, Yaniri Espinal, Catherine Pastore, Susan Turturro, Angela Hernandez, Anthony Herschitz, Jennifer Malloy, Kimberly Digiglio, Jennifer Barrup and Victoria Maier.

• The list of volunteers for 2024-25 including Keith Kunkel, Brittany Paules, Karen Gott, Elizabeth Martens, Joseph Schmick, Barbara Ayala, Dana McAfee and Martina Welfel.

• A request by Mary Louise Gauronsky to carry over three vacation days and one personal day to the next school year.

• A change in hours for one elementary school cafeteria general worker/server position from a 5-hour shift to 5.5 hour shift, retroactive to March 20.

• The position of a floater for the cafeteria, effective immediately.

• A memorandum of understanding between the district and Panther Valley Education Association regarding benefits for one teacher.

Other

In other business, the board approved the following:

• A contract with CSIU for the district’s accounting software for 2025-26 at a cost of $20,260.

• A contract with Conrad Siegel to perform the district’s GASB 75 valuation at a cost of $8,000. Walck said this is an actuarial calculation done every two years to determine pension liability, which is done for the auditors.

• Michaela Susko as a homebound instructor in an extracurricular and support activity for 2024-25.

• The 2025-28 Panther Valley School District Comprehensive Plan, the Chapter 49 Induction Plan, the Act 48 professional development plan, and the Chapter 16 gifted education plan assurances.

• The SentinelOne Subscription License Agreement with the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, effective March 5 through June 30, 26.

The next board meeting is April 23 at 7 p.m. — a change from April 16.