Two Tamaqua Area High School students, who are enrolled in the Schuylkill IU 29 School District's vocational program, were among 15 students who met the criteria to be in the National Technical Honor Society for the 2012-2013 school year.

Dr. Diane M. Niederriter, executive director, informed the IU29 Schuylkill Intermediate School Board at its monthly meeting of the results.The students are Robert Hartranft, Tamaqua, from the residential /industrial electricity shop; Cory Schuetrumpf, Tamaqua, from the computer aided drafting shop; Kyle Kuehn, Blue Mountain, residential/industrial electricity shop; James Minahan, Mahanoy City, culinary arts; John Graeff, Minersville, plumbing; Damian Sharp, Shenandoah Valley, carpentry; Gavin Kline, Tri Valley, welding; James Davidson, Shenandoah Valley, electromechanical; Alexa Heher, Schuylkill Haven, culinary arts; Aaron Kalochiue, Pottsville/Saint Clair, carpentry; Samantha Kostowskie, Minersville, culinary arts; Bradlee Levan, Blue Mountain, culinary arts; Shelbe Miller, Pottsville/Saint Clair, culinary arts; Keysha Rosa Bonilla, Minersville, culinary arts; and Walter Ughes, Pottsville, computer info system.Board businessPayments were approved to four school districts for instructional services and supplies utilized in November for the after school program.The payments from the 21st Century Community Learning Center Cohort 6 Grant were to Minersville Area, $6,181.95; Pottsville Area, $9,017.47; Williams Valley, $8,987.76; and North Schuylkill, $14,049.78.Actions taken on personnel matters were as follows:Jennifer Curnow, part-time teacher aide at Pine Grove resigned for personal reasons; Kathy MacKelvey, Pine Grove, hired as a substitute cafeteria worker at $8 per hour; Robert Bruck, Pottsville, and Janine Hinnershitz, Orwigsburg, named substitute teachers for the Guest Teacher Program, and Robert Beruck, Pottsville, for Schuylkill Learning Academy; Benjamin Mennig, Minersville, as a substitute Behavior Interventionist at $80 per day and also as a substitute Mental Health Therapist at $80 per day.Also, Gary Hummel resigned as full-time custodian at the South Campus, located near Marlin, Norwegian Township; Essie Karnes, Pine Grove, hired as a substitute teacher at $80 per day; Amy Friday, Pottsville, hired as a substitute teacher aide at $8.75 per day; Sharon Thomas, Orwigsburg, resigned as a practical nurse instructor; and Kelly A. Thier, Orwigsburg, was hired to fill the vacancy at an annual salary of $46,512; and Julia Jones, Pottsville, hired as a part-time nurse's aide instructor at $28 per hour.Payment of $1,000 was approved for Mary Ellen Matunis, Shenandoah, for evaluation services provided to the 21st Century Afterschool Program.A renewal agreement was ratified with Leader Services, Hazleton, for the Children Count User License at a cost of $4,496.The board entered into a contract with Linda Light, an American Red Cross Instructor, to provide first aide certification training. The cost of the certification will be for standard certification for two years at cost of $630.A contract in amount of $810 was entered with Gillingham Charter School for English as a Second Language Consortium Program.A special education service contract was entered with Mount Carmel Area School District for the provision of an appropriate life skills support class and speech and occupational therapy special education for $25,684.Approved was a letter of agreement with the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy Township to assist in the event of a major emergency until normal operation is restored.The Schuylkill IU will provide floor space, cafeteria space, and meeting rooms for which the SCI will be responsible for providing reimbursement of any fees charged to cover the services rendered.The board is seeking bids to replace the roof at the Maple Avenue Campus.