Board approves assistant superintendent appointment and a 2% superintendent raise amid budget concerns

The Easton Area School District board approved two personnel actions after debate: a motion to appoint Josh Zayadek as assistant superintendent for operations and a 2% salary increase for Superintendent Tracy Piazza.

Chair (speaker 2) read the motions (items l and m) to appoint Josh Zayadek and to approve a 2% increase for the superintendent. Board member (speaker 14) questioned the timing of bringing an administrative contract forward, saying the district’s financial status is unclear and calling the long‑term budget impact of the appointment “a near $2,300,000 impact on the budget over the next few years.” He said the board should consider waiting until the new board members take office or until budget sessions provide clarity.

Other members disagreed on timing and priorities. One board member said the district had discussed the position in prior meetings and supported moving forward with the appointment; another said their vote reflected financial concern but not a reflection on the nominee’s ability. Several members explicitly recorded votes against one or both items during the roll call sequence: speaker 14 voted no; speaker 2 indicated they would vote no on l and on m; speaker 9 recorded nays on both; speaker 8 stated they would vote yes on the superintendent raise (m) but no on the appointment (l). After the roll call sequence recorded in the transcript, both motions were carried and the board moved on to the next agenda items.

Board discussion focused on fiscal prudence, the timing of administrative approvals relative to budget certainty, and a clause in the appointment contract that speaker 14 said may allow district‑paid medical benefits beyond what other administrative contracts specify; legal counsel confirmed the clause language but the member remained concerned. The board directed the administration to continue due diligence for future hires and to provide more financial context when proposing administrative contracts.

Minutes and motions from the meeting list the appointment and the raise as approved; recorded dissent was noted in the roll‑call exchange captured in the meeting transcript.