Melanie Cunningham and Keith McCarrick maintained their leadership positions on the Upper Perkiomen School Board. Cunningham received unanimous re-election as the president during Monday's annual reorganization meeting. McCarrick will continue as vice president after edging out Peg Pennepacker.

            Cunningham, McCarrick and two new members took the oath of office from Red Hill District Judge Maureen Coggins during the meeting. The incumbents welcomed Monica Oswald and Paige Konopelsky.

            Oswald, an East Greenville resident who received 3,629 votes during the Nov. 4 General Election, has worked as a paraprofessional at Hereford Elementary and as a crossing guard. She has also served as the food pantry coordinator at The Open Link, according to her biography on the Team UP for Education website.

            Konopelsky, who also lives in the borough and received 3,618 votes, serves on the Red Hill Library Board. She graduated summa cum laude from Kutztown University with a bachelor's degree in social work and a minor in Spanish. She boasts a background in vocational coaching, disability advocacy, and community service, according to the same website.

            The new member received her first committee assignment. The members voted unanimously during the regular board meeting to appoint Konopelsky to the Western Montgomery County Career & Technical Center's Joint Operating Committee for a term that expires in three years.

            Cunningham, an Upper Hanover resident who began her third full term on board, received 3,424 votes. Her second stint as board president began three years ago.

            Cunningham was first elected to the leadership position in December 2020 after three years on the board. Judith Maginnis served as board president for 12 months beginning in December 2021.

            McCarrick was initially appointed to the board in October 2019, and earned re-election for the second time with 3,350 votes. The Pennsburg resident hung on to his leadership position with a 6-3 vote for vice president. Pennepacker, Oswald and Konopelsky cast the lone opposing votes.

            Without discussion, the board approved a motion to spend $10,189 for a water quality management survey at the Hereford Elementary wastewater treatment plant. TRC Companies, of Philadelphia, will complete the work.

            The survey, recommended by the board's facilities committee two months ago, is part of a five-year performance report required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The agency completed a general inspection of the facility on Aug. 5, according to a Nov. 13 proposal letter from the business to Mike Rohrbach, the district's facilities and operations director, ??embedded in the meeting agenda on the district's website.

            TRC Companies will monitor and survey five wells and will then use information from the survey to provide the report by Feb. 1, 2026.

            "The intent is to provide a Five-Year Performance Report that meets regulatory expectations with the intent to demonstrate on-going compliance with the WQM (Water Quality Management) permit and will provide recommendations for changes to the permit and/or facility operations, as needed," according to the letter.

            In personnel news, the board approved the resignations of staff nurse Diana Andrews and Megan Hendershot, a food service worker. It also approved four to six weeks of unpaid sick leave for Jessica Gerhart beginning Dec. 16, as needed.
            The members also voted to appoint Amy Fox, an existing employee, as a gifted teacher for Hereford and Marlborough elementaries. They voted to hire three paraprofessionals: Ariana George, Jessica Kemler and Melissa Naples.

            The board's next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.