BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Just days after approving what school leaders described as a “difficult budget”, the Bethlehem Area School District has chosen a new leader.
Monday night, school board members appointed Dr. Renato Lajara to succeed retiring Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva and lead one of the region’s largest school districts through its next chapter.
The timing is significant.
Dr. Lajara takes over at a time when Bethlehem schools face the same financial pressures confronting districts all across Pennsylvania.
Monday night’s vote not only marks the end of Dr. Silva’s tenure but also puts a new leader in charge at a critical moment for the district.
With applause from the audience, Bethlehem Area School Board members officially appointed Dr. Renato Lajara as the district’s next superintendent.
Lajara arrives just days after the board approved what district leaders called a difficult budget.
The district recently worked through a multimillion-dollar budget gap driven by rising costs, including employee benefits and charter school tuition expenses.
“It’s bittersweet,” Silva says.
His predecessor, Dr. Jack Silva, leaves after more than 40 years in education and nearly three years leading Bethlehem Area schools.
“There’s a lot to build upon of community connections to expand and in that relies a lot of for our kids,” Silva says.
Lajara paves the way as the first Latino superintendent in Bethlehem area school district history
He worked as the assistant superintendent in North Philadelphia and Kensington.
Dr. Lajara is expected to officially take over the job later this summer.