The Penn Manor school board has appointed Eric Warfel to fill five months of the unexpired term of the late Wardell “Dell” Jackson.
Dell died May 25 after serving nearly six years on the Penn Manor school board and 30 years as a teacher and basketball coach.
The board voted June 23 to appoint Warfel, a business development officer at Harvest Small Business Finance, to fill Dell’s term through November.
A two-year school board seat will appear on the November 4 election ballot, and whoever wins that seat will serve the remainder of Dell’s term through November 2027. Four, four-year school board seats also are on the ballot, and Warfel is currently a candidate for one of those seats.
Jackson had served on the school board since 2019. Prior to that, he taught middle school math at Manor and Marticville Middle Schools for 30 years and held leadership roles within the district and teachers’ association.
He also was a boys’ basketball coach at Penn Manor and Donegal schools and the founder of LLHoops.com, which shared news, scores, and stories from Lancaster-Lebanon League boys’ basketball.
Dell was a strong advocate for students, teachers, and public education, and was known for his generosity—whether passing out LLHoops gear or sharing homemade raspberry jelly, salsa, pickles, honey, or wine.
“The Penn Manor community lost a tremendous advocate with Dell’s passing,” said superintendent Dr. Phil Gale. “He was a true educator and shared his passion for learning with many. Dell sought the best for Penn Manor students, teachers, and community. His love for Penn Manor will be greatly missed.”
He is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children, Dessie and Wardell “Jay” Jackson III; his brothers, James and Jon Jackson; and his four nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Meadia Heights Golf Club in Lancaster from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28. Guests are welcome to drop in to honor Dell’s memory.