In a voice vote, Parkland School Board unanimously elected Jayne R. Bartlett, a long-time board member and former ninth grade English teacher, as its new board president.

The 10-member board also elected Robert M. Cohen as its vice president.

Bartlett, 55, of Upper Macungie, replaces Robert E. Bold, who served as president for three years.

As she accepted the new position, Bartlett spoke of the challenges ahead.

"Education is primarily taken, not given," she said. "It is, at best, well offered. It is our responsibility as members of the Parkland Board of School Directors to see that it continues to be well offered."

Bartlett spoke of the need to strike a balance between quality education for students and responsible taxation of residents.

"Unfortunately, the economic times we live in are making that much more difficult," she said. "However, we must continue to do our utmost to achieve this balance." 

Bartlett also made reference to the governmental scrutiny that comes with assessment testing.

"Not only must we be concerned about financial pressure put on us beyond our control, we have to go up against state and federal policies that want to turn our students into data robots, our teachers into testing agents...and our administrators into competitors for money in so-called races."

Bartlett's friends and family, including her mother, husband and two sons, were on hand for the vote.