East Penn School District certifies election, swears in two directors and elects Ford president, Klotz vice president

The East Penn School District Board of Directors on Dec. 2 certified the Nov. 4, 2025 election returns, administered oaths of office and elected board officers for the coming year.

The board read the certified vote totals from the Election Board of Lehigh County: Rita Perez, 9,728 votes; Christine Price, 11,127; Melissa Stiavelli, 11,021; and William Whitney, 9,490. The board noted Whitney was not present and will be sworn in at the board’s Dec. 8 meeting and then take his seat.

An official administered the oath of office to Rita Perez and Melissa Stiavelli. During the oath the administrator read the standard pledge to “support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this commonwealth,” after which Perez and Stiavelli were seated.

The board then opened nominations for president. "I nominate Josh Levinson, Dr. Josh Levinson," said a member during nominations; another member nominated Shanta Ford. The board voted by written ballot. The clerk announced the tally: Shanta Ford received six votes, Dr. Josh Levinson received two votes. The clerk read the names associated with each tally as recorded in the ballot count.

Nominations for vice president followed. Members nominated Miss Klotz and Mr. Jankowski and proceeded to a written ballot. The clerk announced the tally: Miss Klotz received six votes and Mr. Jankowski received two votes, and Miss Klotz was declared vice president.

The board did not debate these leadership choices on the record; voting proceeded by ballot and the clerk announced the results. William Whitney’s swearing-in is scheduled for Dec. 8, 2025.

The meeting adjourned after routine confirmations of officers and the swearing-in ceremony.