Despite district schools being closed due to snow earlier in the day, the East Penn Board of School Directors conducted its annual organizational meeting Dec. 2. Three new board members were sworn in.

Board Secretary Janine Allen briefly presided over the meeting until Dr. Joshua Levinson was elected president pro tempore to administer the oath of office to Dr. Rita Perez, Christine Price and Melissa Stiavelli, as well as overseeing the election of officers.

Unable to attend the evening’s meeting, reelected incumbent Dr. William Whitney will take the oath of office at the next meeting.

In a vote 6-2, Shonta Ford was elected to serve as president. Gabrielle Klotz was elected as vice president in a 6-2 vote.

The directors approved the meeting schedule for 2026. The dates are as follows: Jan. 12 and 26, Feb. 9 and 23, March 9 and 23, April 13 and 27, May 11, June 8 and 22, July 13, Aug. 10 and 24, Sept. 14 and 28, Oct. 12 and 26, Nov. 9, Dec. 7 (reorganization) and 14.

The board also voted to designate the East Penn Press as one of three media outlets for advertising purposes during the 2026 calendar year.

Family and friends of the three new board members, as well as former directors Michael Felegy and Allan Byrd attended.

There were no requests to address the board and no executive session was held before the public forum.

The next regular school board meeting was scheduled Dec. 8. The public can access documents through BoardDocs via a link on the district website. Livestreaming of meetings is available on the district’s YouTube channel.