A playground in the Palmerton Area School District has just received quite the economic boost.

The school board on Tuesday agreed to accept a check in the amount of $12,937 to purchase playground equipment for the Coal Bowl.Mary Jo King, president of the S.S. Palmer/Parkside Education Center PTO, and Christine Lesher, treasurer, presented the board with the check.King said the check was to be used to purchase a new set of swings, a carousel, tube slide, and other items.The funds were raised through a combination of private donations and community fundraisers, King said."We're really excited about it," said King, who added that the equipment is expected to be installed by late-May early-June.Board President Barry Scherer said the board was appreciative of the PTO's efforts."It's been a long time in coming," Scherer said. "We'll really be glad to see it come to fruition in time for the summer recreation program."Also on Tuesday, the board heard a presentation on Tech Wizards from three junior high school students.Instructor Amy Morgan introduced eighth-grade students Janel Tracy and Lauren Campbell, and seventh-grade student Erika Beers.Morgan said the students were scheduled to teach a half-hour session at the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit today.Junior high school Principal Thaddeus Kosciolek said the school recognizes the importance of the program."We're just fortunate to be able to go every year," Kosciolek said.In an unrelated matter, the board heard a brief presentation from Mariann Kmetz about the Palmerton Library Tutoring Program.Kmetz, who serves as assistant director of the Palmerton Area Library, told the board the program began last week with nine students."So far, it's going really, really well," Kmetz said. "It's really rewarding to see our seniors working with younger students in reading and math."