Berwick Area School District names Dr. Jason Bendel superintendent for five-year term

The Berwick Area School District Board voted to appoint Dr. Jason Bendel to a five-year term as the district’s superintendent, board members said during a personnel action at the meeting. The motion was moved and seconded and the board approved the appointment; individual vote tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

The appointment follows a multi-month selection process in which the board received about 22 applicants and narrowed the pool after district surveys, according to the agenda discussion recorded before the action. The agenda item was listed as Personnel A1.

At the meeting’s public-comment period, Christina Culver, a Salem Township resident and co-chair of Defense of Democracy of Columbia County, welcomed Bendel and urged him to be “a strong advocate for our public schools,” saying she wants every child in the district to feel “safe and included and welcomed.”

After the board’s approval, Dr. Jason Bendel addressed the board and audience. “I’d like to thank the board for trusting me,” he said, adding that he has “served as a superintendent for over the past 10 years.” Bendel said his prior work included turning financially unstable districts around and that he intends to be “fiscally responsible to our taxpayers” while supporting teachers, staff and students. He said he likely will not be able to begin until early August.

The board’s personnel action did not include additional details about salary, contract start date, or a recorded roll-call vote in the transcript. The agenda packet referenced that the board considered applicant materials and survey responses in narrowing candidates, but those materials and any formal employment contract terms were not included in the spoken record provided.

Board members and staff present were not identified by name in the portions of the transcript that recorded the motion, second and vote. The district’s public comment included at least one speaker in support of the selection. The board did not record other formal directions, conditions, or amendments to the appointment on the transcript.

Bendel thanked the board and said he looks forward to learning more about the district and working with faculty, staff, students and parents. The board meeting then adjourned following the personnel action.