Hamburg Area school directors welcomed a new member and four current school directors began new terms during the reorganization meeting on Dec. 4.
District Justice Kim Bagenstose administered the oath of office to new school director Leon Grim and current school directors Brian Riegel, Andrew Raugh, Maggie Rhoades and Lolly Lesher.
Each of the school directors began a four-year term, except for Rhoades who began a two-year term after replacing former school director Natalie Snow who resigned.
Grim, 50, lives in Upper Bern Township with his wife, Gloria, and son Evan, 15, who is in ninth grade. Grim is a sergeant in the Wyomissing Police Department where he has worked for 22 years. He also works as an adjunct professor at Alvernia University teaching criminal justice and as a mortgage broker with Mortgage America.
“I just wanted to get involved and I have no agenda,” Grim said.
The positions of president and vice-president remained the same as Brian Specht and Raugh, respectively, were re-elected.
School directors also re-elected the firm of Antanavage, Farbiarz, PLLC as solicitor for 2018 with Russell Farbiarz as chief counsel at a cost of $5,775.
The cost reflects zero increase for 2017.
The Hamburg Area School District consists of three regions.
Region 1 is Hamburg borough and is represented by Todd Hummel, Cory Johnson and Riegel.
Region 2 includes Shoemakersville, and the townships of Perry and Windsor and is represented by Specht, Rhoades and Raugh.
Region 3 includes Strausstown and the townships of Tilden, Upper Bern and Upper Tulpehocken and is represented by Bradley Faust, Lesher and Grim.
The following committees were appointed for 2018: Berks EIT Committee (Michele Zimmerman, business manager and Raugh); Joint Operating Committee (Raugh and Lesher as alternate); Committee on Legislative Action (Johnson and Hummel as alternate) and Intermediate Unit Board (Specht).
Other committees included: Building Committee (Riegel, Lesher, Raugh and Hummel); Fine Arts Hall of Fame (Riegel and Grim); Wellness Committee (Johnson and Grim) and Academic Hall of Fame (Grim and Faust).
The next meeting of school directors is Monday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room at the high school.
