The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School Board is seeking state grants for Support The School Resource Officer program and security related technology.

The grant applications will be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Office of Safe Schools Targeted Grant Program, it was announced at Monday's meeting.The fund for the officer resource program will be used to obtain a certification agreement from the state police which will include job description, background check, accuracy, and training on interaction with children and adolescents with in a school setting. The second grant is to purchase security related equipment, including surveillance equipment, special emergency communications equipment, electronic lock sets, and deadbolts for the Maple Campus building.Other actionPayments of $16,683 to Pottsville Area School District and $1,008 to Minersville Area School District were approved for instructional services and supplies utilized during the month of September for the 2012-13 school year's after school program. The payments were made from a grant received for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Cohort Six Program.Also, a payment of $2,832 to Mud and Maker, Pottsville, for 211 students in the 21st Century CCLC after school program. Mary Ellen Matunis, Shenandoah, hired for evaluation services provided to the 21st Century Afterschool Program as mandated by the grant.The board recommended the administration be granted permission to advertise to employ an English as Second Language teachers to serve the district's ELS program.The board accepted the resignation of Donna Dennis, a part-time teacher aide at the Maple Avenue Campus, and accepted the letter of intent to retire from Patricia Macaluso, payroll secretary.Ryan Merwine, Ashland, was hired as a full-time one-on-one Behavior Interventionist instructor for a Mahanoy Area School District student at the Maple Avenue Campus at $24,000 annual salary. Tiffany Pickett, Tamaqua, and Linnea Meiser, Andreas, West Penn Township, were named substitute teachers from the Guest Teacher Program.Tara Roberts, Schuylkill Haven, was hired as a substitute teacher at $80 per day. Barbara Poncelet, Orwigsburg, hired as a substitute nurse at $419 per hour. Bonita McHugh, Lewellyn, Branch Township, hired as substitute teacher aide at $9.35 per hour and as a substitute cafeteria worker at $8.60 per hour. Julia Jones, Pottsville, hired as a part-time, as-needed nursing instructor assistant for the Health Careers Program clinical rotation at $16 per hour. Elizabeth Guldin, Frackville, hired as a substitute nurse at $19.66 per hourEmily Stemmler, New Ringgold; Lindsey Sinton, Auburn; Alyssa Sedor, Boyertown; and Stephanie Carmichael, Vermont, students at Kutztown University, were granted approval to observe the workings of the vision therapy staff and orientation and mobility therapy staff.The board entered into a training agreement with Safe Crisis Management to provide a Train the Trainer Safe Crisis Management retraining. The cost will be billed to participating districts unless grant funding is received. Approved was the Pediatric Therapeutic Services agreement in amount of $67 per hour. The services will provide speech and language services for students who attend the nonpublic schools in the county.Permission was given to the South Campus Carpentry Shop students and instructor to construct a handicap ramp for the Cressona Community Band. They will pay costs associated with the project and transportation and lunches.Approval was given for the purchase of a tractor trailer from Hunter Keystone Peterbilt LP, Breinigsville, for $59,000, and purchase of a used Dry Van Trailer for $10,000 to be used in the CDL program.