Board appoints new school director, takes steps to expand high school
Parkland School Board appointed a new school director after a round of public interviews Tuesday.
David Ellowitch, a district parent and financial planner, was sworn in and will serve a two-year term, the result of a board vacancy created by state Sen. Jarrett Coleman’s resignation.
“I’m hoping that I can help the district chart a strong path forward, continue to be thoughtful and help the conversation,” Ellowitch said, noting board meetings have been “contentious” in recent years.
Coleman resigned from the school board in December 2022 after winning his senate race. As a result, the school board appointed former school director Bob Bold to fill the vacancy until the November election, when a candidate would be elected to serve out the remainder of Coleman’s four year-term.
School Director Jay Rohatgi ran on the Democratic ticket for both a fouryear term and the two-year term created by Coleman’s resignation. Because he won in both races, Rohatgi chose to serve the four-year term, allowing school directors to appoint Ellowitch to the remaining seat.
Mike Millo, the Republican candidate who lost the two-year seat to Rohatgi, did not apply for the seat, nor did any other school board candidates who were unsuccessful in November.
On Tuesday, Ellowitch went up against four other applicants for the open seat, including Michele Fedorov, Brad Maier, John Pfeiffer and Fathima Wakeel.
Fedorov is a former teacher and corporate professional; Maier is a South Whitehall business owner; Pfeiffer is a former Parkland teacher and administrator; and Wakeel is a maternal and child health researcher at Lehigh University.
Ellowitch, Maier and Wakeel were nominated for the appointment. Ellowitch received five votes while Maier and Wakeel each received one. School director David Hein voted for Maier, and school director Annette Wilcox voted for
Wakeel. Rohatgi was absent from Tuesday’s meeting and did not vote for an appointment.
“We live in a very divisive society. To have such qualified people who clearly have our kids as front and center … it was amazing to read all your applications, to hear you tonight,” school director Chris Pirrotta said to the applicants. Pirrotta is serving his first term on the board after being elected in November.
Ellowitch has been a frequent board meeting attendee in recent years and regularly spoke during public comment. He was also supportive of the Democratic slate of candidates in November’s school board race, all of whom won and currently sit on Parkland School Board.
During his interview,
Ellowitch said Pakland’s strengths include being a “forward-thinking” district with a strong tax base, as well as its success in academics, arts and athletics. As for weaknesses, Ellowitch said it can be hard for students to find their place in activities, like sports teams, because of how large the student body is.
He also said Parkland is facing the same challenges as districts across the state when it comes to concerns like the teacher shortage.
Following Ellowitch’s appointment, the board also approved a construction management agreement with Alvin H. Butz Inc and an architectural services agreement with the firm Alloy 5. Both agreements are for expansion of the high school.
The school board considered two construction paths to manage student population growth and are moving forward with the path that consists of renovations and additions at both Parkland High School and Orefield Middle School.
Those projects are projected to cost $160 million to $183 million. The high school expansion is projected to be completed by the end of 2026, and the middle school project by about mid-2028.
The district is starting with the high school construction phase of the pathway, but planning and timelines will remain flexible in coming months, the superintendent said.