Longtime School District Solicitor Retires

A familiar face to many who regularly attend Southern Lehigh School Board meetings, attorney James Bartholomew was honored for his 35-plus years of service to the school district at Monday night's board meeting.

Bartholomew, who said he first served as the board's solicitor in 1976, was given a wooden armchair as a memento and "small token" of the district's gratitude upon his retirement.

School board president Jeffrey Dimmig presented Bartholomew with the chair, and noted that as the board solicitor, Bartholomew has "given legal advice that has guided this district."

"He has really seen, as you can imagine, the changes we've had in our community," Dimmig said.

Bartholomew appeared touched by the recognition, and recalled some of the projects he has helped the district with over the years, such as the planning of the Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School, sensitive personnel issues, the establishment of the district's educational foundation and tax collection issues.

Serving the district has "been a great joy," he said.

Bartholomew estimated that since 1976 he's attended about 700 school board meetings, worked with five different superintendents and helped advise at least 60 school board members.

He also singled out the district's former business administrator, Jim Snell, with whom he worked closely for about three decades.

"You name it and Jim Snell and I probably touched it," he said.

Snell and several former school board members were in attendance at the meeting.

"I consider Southern Lehigh to be one of the premier districts in the Lehigh Valley," Bartholomew concluded.

Photo: Attorney James Bartholomew, left, is honored after 35 years of service to the Southern Lehigh School District as its school board solicitor. Pictured at right is school board president Jeffrey Dimmig. Bartholomew, who is retiring, was given a wooden armchair as a gift at Monday's school board meeting.