Palmerton Area School District has approved a pair of contracts for Internet access and connections to the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit.

The school board, on a 7-0 vote at a special meeting on Tuesday, approved the contracts with PenTeleData. Directors Carol Dwyer and Michael Ballard were absent.Approved by the board were the Ethernet Contract at the cost of $1,500 per month, effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014; as well as the Transport Contract at the cost of $1,808 per month, effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016.Before the board's vote, it heard a presentation from Dan Heaney, director of technology.The special meeting was held before the board's monthly committee workshop in an effort to address project deadlines more efficiently.Board President Barry Scherer told the audience that the special meetings will be held in the event there is any "critical business to tend to before the regular board meeting."Scherer added that the special meetings would have absolutely no effect on the board's regularly scheduled monthly meetings typically held the second Tuesday of each month.The district has advertised for the board to conduct a series of special meetings before its monthly committee workshop at 5 p.m. April 5; May 3; June 7; July 12; Aug. 2; Sept. 6; Oct. 4; and Nov. 1.