BETHEL TOWNSHIP - Although retirement bells were extended to Carla Burton, Danny Elam and Mary Ann Welch for 35, 25, and 11 years of service respectively, they were only retired for the course of the board meeting.

Burton, Welch and Elam all sought and were approved for reemployment at Bethel Local School’s Board of Education meeting Monday.

Burton teaches social studies, English, and AP classes at the high school. Welch is the library media specialist, serving all grades. Elam is the junior high and high school music director.

Interim Superintendent Larry Smith also had his contract extended, ending now in July 31, 2015.

"I have enjoyed my time here as interim and am very impressed with the dedicated staff and employees and the very talented students. There is lots of growth potential to deal with," Smith said.

With a new class comes a new textbook for Bethel High students next school year.

The board approved the purchase of 50 “Math for Your World” textbooks for Transitional Algebra II, at a price of $94.97 per book. The class is designed for students who have completed Algebra I, but aren’t ready for geometry yet.

It also approved 30 new books for the AP senior English course. The textbook, “An Introduction to Reading and Writing,” costs $74.97 each.

Textbook purchases come out of the permanent improvement fund, according to Treasurer Karen Newman.