Lines of communication will be clarified and safety reinforcements will be engineered into seven existing wooden placards.

When those measures are accomplished, possibly today, there is a good chance that a temporary RAIDERS sign on Stadium Hill will survive and help to instill pride for the fall sports programs of the Tamaqua Area School District.More than 60 area residents turned out Tuesday night at the TASD board of education meeting in support of resident Justin Startzel and a program of community spirit.An issue had arisen Monday when superintendent Carol Makuta reportedly relayed a message to Startzel through school channels that his sign on Stadium Hill was too large and would need to be removed by the end of the day.Makuta was not present at Tuesday's meeting. Board President Larry Wittig said she was at an out-of-town meeting.Wittig explained that the district's concern is that proper channels are taken for signage and that it meets with approval of the district facilities manager.That position was further detailed by Ray Kinder, assistant superintendent, who explained that the district is exposed to liability for any signage placed on its property. Ribbons and bows and similar gestures typically aren't an issue. But major initiatives fall into a separate category."Large scale signs need to go through a different forum," Kinder said.Much of the discussion during the contentious session focused on protocol.Startzel held copies of emails he said he'd sent to the superintendent regarding his intentions, and said he followed the same protocol as last year and no problems were encountered. He said the signs of 2012 were up for a period of seven weeks. Startzel also said he used long drywall screws to securely fasten the signs to the trees.Wittig said that district facilities manager Art Oakes had inspected the signs and suggested modifications."They need to be secured better. They weren't secured enough to satisfy him that something might happen," explained Wittig.For a time during the 45-minute session, tempers flared and the discussion grew heated.South Ward resident Bill Jones, 78, spoke of school pride through the years, but expressed disappointment with "nothing but double-talk" he hears today, he said, before walking out.Startzel said he felt he was being unfairly singled out."I feel the committee is picking on me because I did it. I had the same experience last year with the pep rally."But Wittig responded that the district supports enthusiasm."We're not in the position of squashing school spirit," said Wittig.At one point, Startzel remarked that he's inclined to contact Matt Hope to possibly secure permission to move the signs to Hope's property. Like the district, Hope also owns land on Stadium Hill.Eventually, the rhetoric simmered down from both sides.In a touching show of Tamaqua-Panther Valley unity, a group of PV students and adults arrived to encourage pride. One told the board that things shouldn't be so complicated."It shouldn't be this hard for him to do something good for his community," said Jennifer Fox, Summit Hill.Her daughter, Kamryn Clifford, a PV cheerleader formerly with the Tamaqua cheer squad, was on hand to promote good will.The group carried signs, with one reading "PV Supports Your Spirit." The show of kinship and camaraderie by the Panther Valley residents provided a boost and greatly impressed members of the appreciative Tamaqua contingent.Eventually, common ground was reached on the sign issue.On behalf of the district, Kinder offered a two-part plan for progress. First, the district will contact the Tamaqua Area Football Boosters Association today and ask them to designate a signage contact person on the club's behalf. Since the signs were created by Startzel, the district will include him and other appropriate parties, such as facilities manager Oakes, in order to meet and assess optimum safety and conformance requirements.Then, additional reinforcement will be made, including, perhaps, a post secured to the rear of certain placards if deemed necessary.Those moves hold promise to put all parties on the same page and save the RAIDERS sign just in time for tonight's Meet the Raiders Night at 7 p.m. in the Tamaqua Area Sports Stadium.