An acclaimed after-school program will be instituted in the Tamaqua Area School District by the start of the next school year.

On an 8-0 vote, the school board on Tuesday approved an agreement to support Lehigh Carbon Community College in applying for grant money to establish the SHINE Program at Tamaqua Elementary. Board President Larry Wittig was absent.Superintendent Ray Kinder previously said LCCC will apply for the grant for the district's students.Kinder said there would be no cost to the district, other than the use of the Tamaqua Elementary building.SHINE has been a successful after-school model, administered by LCCC in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, for over a decade.Preschool programAlso on Tuesday, the board agreed to renew a lease agreement between the district and the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit No. 29 for classroom space to be used to conduct a preschool program.The agreement is for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2017, to June 20, 2018.The consideration for the agreement is $10,200 per year.Other businessThe board also approved:• The 2017-18 Schuylkill Intermediate Unit No. 29 general operating budget.• The expulsion of a high school student for one calendar year for violation of the discipline code.• Authorizing the business manager to select the lowest responsible bidder for fuel oil for the 2017-18 fiscal year.• The Tamaqua Borough Right of Entry to access the Wabash Creek.• A revision to a quote from Catapult Learning through Title I funds for general operations.• The donation of a GaGa ball pit from the Geisinger Health Play System for use at the Tamaqua Elementary School.• A Knadler's Lawn and Landscape sign for the Rush Field.