David Gogel, of Moore Township, was re-elected president at the 2017 reorganization meeting of the Northampton Area School District Board of Education.

“Thank you for everything,” Gogel said. “It’s been 10 years (that he’s served on the school board).”

Chuck Frantz, of Northampton, was re-elected vice president at the Dec. 5 meeting.

“I thank David (Gogel) and the entire board,” said NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph Kovalchik.

“The district has made tremendous strides - and not only because of the middle school,” Kovalchik said. “A lot of great things are happening in the district, and we should be very proud of that. It’s a collaborative effort. We’re going to continue to move forward.”

The 2017-18 NASD budget is expected to be unveiled at the 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 board of education meeting in the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton. The school board holds its final 2017 meeting 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in the administration building.

“2017 is going to be an important year,” Kovalchik said, listing technology, curriculum, special education and facilities projects. “There’s a whole host of things that are coming down the road in the first part of the year. The best is really yet to come in Northampton Area School District.”

“I agree with you,” said school Director Dr. Michael Baird, adding, “With the possibility of a secretary of education that advocates vouchers and charter schools, we have to continue to support public schools.

“We have to be proactive,” said Baird. “For every voucher of dollar money, that’s a dollar of our budget.

In other business at the Dec. 5 reorganization meeting, school directors voted 9-0 to approve board committees.

Act 93: Baird, Gogel, school Director Judy Odenwelder

Contract negotiations: Frantz, Odenwelder and school Director Roy Maranki. It was noted that contract negotiations for 2017 include support staff, confidential secretaries and security.

Employee benefit trust: Baird

Expulsion: Frantz, Gogel, school Directors Robert Mentzell and John Becker

Facilities: Frantz, Becker, school Directors James Chuss and Chuck Longacre

K-Kids Foundation: Maranki

Meet and discuss: Mentzell and Odenwelder

NASD Community Council liaison: Frantz, Maranki, Mentzell and Chuss

PSBA liaison: Baird and Longacre

Policy: Maranki, Mentzell, Odenwelder and Becker

Public library liaison: Odenwelder

Safe schools: Chuss, Frantz, Odenwelder and Maranki

Technology: Chuss and Longacre

School directors also voted 9-0 to approve the administration recommendation that the board re-appoint Gogel to serve on the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School Joint Committee for a three-year term until December 2019.

Also approved 9-0 by the school board were 2017 meetings, 6:30 p.m., second and fourth Mondays, except for July, November and December, in the administration building:

Jan. 9 (snow date: Jan. 11), Jan. 23 (snow date: Jan. 25)

Feb. 13 (snow date: Feb. 15), Feb. 27 (snow date: March 1)

March 13 (snow date: March 15), March 27 (snow date: March 29)

April 10, 24

May 8, 22

June 12, 26

July 17 (one July meeting)

Aug. 14, 28

Sept. 11, 25

Oct. 9, 23

Nov. 6, 20

Dec. 4 (snow date: Dec. 6), Dec. 18 (snow date: Dec. 20)