Students in the north eastern area of Schuylkill County, who reside within the boundary of Hazleton Area School District and who attend non-public schools in Schuylkill County, will now be eligible to receive Title One services from the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School District for the school year 2013-14, according to action taken by IU school board at its monthly meeting. Hazleton Area School District will pay $2,406.96 for the service.

The area of Schuylkill County which is part of the Hazleton Area School District consists of the townships of East Union, North Union, Kline, and Borough of McAdoo.The board also approved the Act 89 Catapult Learning agreement in amount of $218,500 for all students who attend non-public schools in the county to provide remedial reading, remedial math, and instructional support for the coming school year.A $70,000 grant received from Title II Part A will be used to support professional development associated with the PA Hybrid Learning project for IU and its technology center, Bethlehem Catholic High School, Pius X High School, and Marian Catholic High School.An agreement was entered with Leader Service Inc., Hazleton, for the period July 1, to June 30, 2014, for Medical Assistance Processing for the Schuylkill Intermediate School and Early Intervention Programs.A contract was entered with the American Red Cross to provide CPR and first aid certification training for the IU staff on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the Maple Avenue Campus. The cost of the certification and new certification total of 13 at $110 per, or $1,430; recertification, 109 at $90 or $9,810; book fee, 122 at $8.50 or $1,037; and service fee, $200, total $12,477.An agreement was entered with Blended Schools, McVeytown, Mifflin County, for $10,769, for the period July 1, to June 30, 2014, for online learning technology and curriculum.An agreement was entered with Lancaster Lebanon IU for enrollment into the microsoft EES program which will provide entity wide licensing for various programs that are offered by Microsoft.Special Ed BudgetA Special Education District Services Program budget was adopted for 2013-14 school year with $271,262 budgeted for Title II Part A-Revised program; Transportation, $1,029,333; Schuylkill County Youth Conference Arnold Delin Award, $11,600; Act 89, $545,823; Schuylkill Learning Academy, $1,156,119; partial hospitalization, $507,480; Day Treatment, $200,200; Early Intervention, $2,650,504; IDEA Component 1, $316,460; IDEA Component II and III, $3,646,688; and IDEA 619, $313,727.Payments were approved for four school districts for instructional services and supplies utilized in the after school program in May.They are Minersville Area, $4,170,51; Pottsville Area, $810.70; North Schuylkill, $6,881.55; and Williams Valley, $2,662.50.The 21st Century Community Learning Center's Cohort 6 Grant covers the costs.The board announced receiving an additional $25,610 from the Department of Education in Harisburg to apply to the existing 21st CCLC Cohort 6 after school program. The additional funds will be utilized to hire a part-time science technology engineering mathematics coordinator, and purchase for mobile labs.The board was thankful to Auto Zone, of Carlisle, which donated auto materials from a store closure for use in the technical campus classes of collision repair.Accepted was a proposal from Levkulic Associates, Minersville, to provide architectural services on an on-call as-needed basis for the diesel garage construction project at the North Campus at $125 per hour.LIcensesTuition fees were approved for the coming school year for programs in the technology centers.Fees to obtain a heavy equipment and commercial driver's licenses, Class A (400 clock hours), $5,995; CDL permit, $70; MVR, $5; Haz-Mat application, $60; and DOT physical and drug test, $115.Also,CDL Class B (35 clock hours), $1,695; DOT physical drug test, $115; Heavy Equipment (400 clock hours), $9,445; DOT physical and drug test, $115; CDL Heavy Equipment Combined (800 clock hours) $14,959; CDL permit $70; MVR $5, Haz-Mat application, $60; and DOT physical and drug test, $115.Tuition for Practical Nursing 12 months program 1,545 clock hours, $12,360; Lab test fees, $715; textbooks, $970; uniforms, $200; background check, $49; medical screening, $250; application, $70; and enrollment deposit $275.Nurse Aide Training Program, (122 clock hours), $1,475; clearances, $48.75; urine and drug test, $30; and physical exam, $150.Personnel mattersThe board authorized the administration to advertise and employ a supervisor of curriculum and school improvement to fill a vacant position.Diane Best, Landingville, was hired as director of curriculum at $82,750 per year to fill a vacancy; Matt Butensky, Harrisburg, hired as a part-time 21st Century CCL STEM Coordinator at $28.50 per hour; Allie Krisa, Pottsville, hired as a part-time as needed licensed practical nurse assistant at the Maple Avenue Campus at $19.65 per hour; Jenny Miller, Pottsville, hired as a substitute cafeteria worker at $8.60 per hour; and Daniel Zackus, Cumbola, hired as a special olympics program manager at $3,000 per year under the Exceptional Children's Program Professional Personnel Contract.Emily Duffy, New Philadelphia, was hired as a one-on-two bus aide for two Pottsville Area students at $8.75 per hour; Laura Kramer, Minersville, one-on-one teacher aide for a Shenandoah Valley student at $8.75 per year; and Barbara Merwine to provide needed nursing coverage for the Early Intervention Program at $25 per hour.