The Board of Education of the Jim Thorpe Area School District was informed during its regular monthly meeting on Monday that a new subcommittee of the board's curriculum committee would be delivering a report to the board during its upcoming meeting on Nov. 9. The report will provide an overview of the pros and cons of constructing either a new middle school for grades 5-8 or a new K-8 facility in the district in the near future to accommodate the influx of new students. That meeting will be held at the Penn Kidder Campus.

In other business, the board moved to revert back to its former practice of interviewing teachers for positions in the district. For many years, administrators brought their best candidates before the board, along with their recommendations, and the board would make a decision on the persons to hire.A few months ago, board member Dr. Clem McGinley successfully argued that administrators were in a better position to determine what teachers should serve in the district and urged the board to get out of the interviewing business. During the board's meeting on Monday, that changed.Board member Gerald Strubinger was a driving force in the change, arguing that the board should have final approval of all candidates. The motion carried.Problems with the Jim Thorpe High School Football field were also on the agenda this week. Heavy rains have damaged the field such that the team's final home game had to be rescheduled for a field in Schuylkill Haven, disappointing local fans.The board agreed to hire the Brickman Group of Allentown to do a topographical study of the field as a first step in making necessary repairs before the next season.The district got one step closer to turning part of the administration building into an emergency shelter on Monday night when it approved the upgrade of the building's natural gas meter, a requirement for the new generator. The upgrade will cost the district $1,230.Finally, the board moved to approve a number of new appointments and position changes during its meeting. Christine Griffaton had her position changed to 6 and one half hours weekly in the high school. Jenna Hoffert and Sara Hill were appointed dance team advisors for the high school, without pay. Glen Serfass was appointed a full-time custodian at $11 per hour and the board accepted the resignation of Elena Monaco, the chair of the high school special education department.