Students at North Schuylkill High School received a lesson how county government operates as the Schuylkill County commissioners visited the school Wednesday and held a public meeting.

Chairman Frank Staudenmeier explained that the quick actions taken on approving items on the agenda does not mean they have not been thoroughly studied and researched. He told the students this is done at a work session the commissioners hold a week before the public meeting. Commissioner George Halcovage passed out copies of the agenda to the students.Business actionsEileen Kuperavage, executive director of the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, presented a check for $26,907 to be used for conservation and environmental programs and projects in the county. The fund was established in 2001 and its purpose is to provide annual support. The commissioners must expend the annual fund earnings in conformation with the Environmental Stewards and Watershed Protection Act of1999.A proclamation was adopted designating the week of May 5 through 11 as "National Drinking Water Week."Patrick Caufield. executive director of the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, accepted the proclamation. The proclamation calls on each citizen to help protect local water sources from pollution, to practice water conservation, and to get involved in local water issues.Purchase of service agreements on behalf of the Children and Youth Service Agency were approved with the Catholic Charities Diocese of Allentown for counseling at $65 per day and with 'Firetree, LTD, Williamsport, for residential placement at $195 per day.Hired as site supervisors at $9.50 per day were, Sarah Connely, Tamaqua; Keandra Koons, Pine Grove; Alex Palubinsky, Ringtown; Stephen Delinko, Seltzer, Norwegian Township; Emily Grube, Orwigsburg; Alexza Wallauer, Ashland; Scott Houser, Frackville; Leo Kayes, Shenandoah; and Braden Strouse, Zachary Williams, and Lochlan McDonald, Pottsville.A contract was approved with Paris Healthcare to provide linen and laundry services to Rest Haven Home at a cost of $18,000.A resolution was adopted approving transferring the county's qualified energy conservation bond allocation to Tri-Valley School District to assist the school district with the implementation of their planned energy conservation system at their junior-senior high school facility.Approval was given the City of Pottsville to take action on the abandoned and considered blighted building at 1950 Mahantongo St.Personnel mattersAction taken on personnel matters were as follows:Rest Haven Home - Hired were, Christine Bailey. Orwigsburg, per diem nurse's aide at $13 per hour; Bobbi James, Mohrsville, full time licensed practical nurse, $15.99 per hour; Renae Anderson, Schuylkill Haven, part time licensed practical nurse, $15.99; Tammy Bryniarski, Orwigsburg, floor care technician, $9 per hour; Susan Lucas, Tower City, Jacqueline McDonald, Schuylkill Haven, and Stephanie Rogers, Auburn, part time nurse's aides, $11.72 per hour; Jane Cook, Schuylkill Haven, clerk typist 2, $12.5369 per hours; promotion of Shawna Eberts, Rush Township, from caseworker 1 to caseworker 2, $18.0415 per hour; and resignation, Michelle Haas, Pottsville, full time nurse's aide, $11.72 per hour.Clerk of Courts - Janice Boychak, Frackville, hired as per diem scanning clerk at $11 per hour.Sheriff's Office - Narissa Garber, Barnesville, hired at an unpaid intern.Court Administration - Elise Alvarado, Auburn, resigned as a court reporterDistrict Attorney's Office - Atty. Rachel Cichowic, North Manheim Township, part time assistant district attorney, $21,418 per year.Conservation District - Alexa Kramer, Washington Township; Kaitlyn Coleman, Frackville; and Randy Sourbeer, Elizabeth Borough, unpaid interns.Adult Probation Department - Cheryl McSurdy, Saint Clair, unpaid intern.