The new school director on the Northampton Area School District Board of Education is a college student.

Parker Flamisch was appointed to represent Region 3, which encompasses Bath and Chapman boroughs and Moore Township, during the April 30 meeting.

Flamisch, 20, of Moore Township, is believed to be the youngest person ever to serve on the NASD school board.

Cory Fenstermaker, NASD school director from 2005 to 2013, was 21 when elected to represent Northampton and East Allen Township.

Flamisch, who will turn 21 June 19, is a junior at East Stroudsburg University, majoring in political science with a concentration in American government. He is a 2023 graduate of Northampton Area High School.

Flamisch intends to pursue a graduate degree in political science and would like to have a career in government.

Flamisch will represent Region 3 until Dec. 1, filling out the unexpired term of Kim Bretzik, who resigned. Flamisch is a candidate for the Region 3 school board seat in the May 20 primary election.

Also on the ballot for the Region 3 seat are Jamie Shankweiler Marchiano and David Gogel, the latter a school director 2003-23.

Flamisch, Marchiano, Gogel and Jerry Bretzik, who is Kim Bretzik’s husband, applied for the open seat. Each was interviewed at a special school board meeting held April 30 in the Northampton Area Middle School cafeteria.

Kim Bretzik’s March 7 resignation letter was accepted and approved by the school board at its April 14 school board meeting.

“I see myself as a voice of moderation,” Flamisch said after the April 30 board meeting. “I hope I’ll be able to serve another four years after this (appointment).”

Flamisch said he believes the budget is one of the most important issues NASD is facing.

He has been attending the school board meetings as an audience member since June 2024. During the public comment portion of the meetings, Flamisch has frequently stepped up to the podium to voice his opinions.

“I attended a lot of them because I wanted to see what was going on,” he said.

The NASD school board voted 6-2 during the two-hour April 30 meeting to appoint Flamisch. Voting for Flamisch were school Directors Dr. Michael Baird, John Becker, Joshua Harris, Ross Makary, Doug Vaughn and board Vice President Nathan Lichtenwalner. He was nominated by Vaughn and seconded by Makary.

Voting against Flamisch was school Director Brian McCulloch and board President Kristin Soldridge.

“I am glad to see Parker serving with us,” Becker said after the vote.

Prior to the selection of Flamisch, a vote was taken for Marchiano, but the result was 5-3 against Marchiano. Harris nominated Marchiano, seconded by McCulloch.

After Flamisch was chosen, no voting took place for Gogel or Jerry Bretzik.

Each of the four applicants was asked the same set of 16 questions.

The 16 questions, paraphrased, were:

1. Why do you want to serve on the school board?

2. If a book was banned nationally, would you support the ban in a school library?

3. Would you back a balanced school district budget and not having a deficit?

4. Should NASD fund Northampton Area Public Library?

5. What is your definition of community?

6. What improvements are needed in the district?

7. What is the role of the school board and district administration?

8. How should conflicts be resolved?

9. What about the choice of public school or charter or private schools?

10. Is the U.S. Constitution the No. 1 guiding principle?

11. What is the role of the school director?

12. Should weapons be allowed in schools?

13. What guidelines should there be for public participation at school board meetings?

14. Should tax money follow a student to a school of choice?

15. Should a school district finance debt?

16. What are the priorities for district facilities?

Before the school board applicants’ interviews, former school board president James Chuss spoke during the public comment portion. He praised the format of the interviews meeting.

“This gives the public an understanding of the candidates and to make an informed decision,” Chuss said.

Approximately 60 people occupied nearly every seat set up in the NAMS cafeteria.

A video of the school board meeting April 30 can be viewed on the NASD website at nasdschools.org/o/nasd/page/board-meeting-recording.

The board of education is next scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. May 12 in the Northampton Area High School auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave.