Two longtime Palmerton Area High School educators are calling it a career at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

Palmerton’s board of directors accepted the retirement requests of English teachers Anna Corby and Bonnie Tavella on Wednesday.

The two, according to board member and retired teacher Audrey Larvey, came to the district together in 1984 and will be leaving together.

“I’ve known each of them for over 35 years as colleagues and friends,” Larvey said. “They are the backbone of the English department in the high school. This is a great loss for the district, but I’m thankful that thousands of students have been lucky enough to have had the two of them for classes over the years.”

In other board action Wednesday, directors:

• Approved staff to work in the Extended School Year program from July 6-29 including Karoline Anthony, Kristen Perdew, Amanda Cappella, Michelle Davis, Christine King, Jennifer Anthony, Kendra Smiley, Michelle Bisbing. Speech services will be provided through Pediatric Therapy Services.

• Approved staff to work in the Pa. COVID-19 Compensatory Services program from June 14-25 including Amanda Mayer, Kristen Perdew, and Michelle Bisbing.

• Approved Andrew Remsing as summer program facilitator of the eBridges Course/Credit Recovery program for students in grades 7-12 at the rate of $33 per hour. The program will run from June 21 through July 2.

• Approved Jacqueline McCandless as Palmerton Area School board secretary effective July 1 through June 30, 2025, at the rate of $1,500 per year

• Approved Ryan Kish as Palmerton Area School Board assistant secretary effective July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2025.

• Approved Jodi Frankelli, Jamie Schuler, Paula Husar, Mary Brumbach, Dan Heaney, Suzanne Rentschler, Rich DeSocio, and Christine Steigerwalt to attend the PASA virtual professional development conference on June 16, July 21 and Aug. 18, 2021, with a cost of $2,189.52.

• Removed April Duff and Kimberly Stefanoni from the list of substitute instructional assistant and secretary positions effective May 20.

• Approved the first reading of policies on weapons, discipline of student convicted/adjudicated of sexual assault, and sabbatical leave.

• Approved the second reading and adoption of policies on Discrimination/Title IX Sexual Harassment Affecting Students, Discrimination/Title IX Sexual Harassment Affecting Staff, Title I-Comparability of Services, Tobacco and Vaping Products, Dating Violence, and Title I Parent and Family Engagement.

• Approved the one-year contract with Leon A. George School Buses Inc., at no increase for the 2021-22 school year.

• Approved the food service contract renewal with Metz Culinary Management for the 2021-22 school year.

• Approved the district’s participation in the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit Technology Pool Legal Services Consultation Agreement for the 2021-22 school year.

• Approved the contract with Bayada Nursing for the 2021-22 school year.

• Approved the CLIU Intergovernmental Agreement for Special Education Services and the CLIU Agreement for TransPerfect Remote Interpreters Products and Services for the 2021-22 school year.

• Authorized the business manager to sign the 2021-22 Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Computer Service eService Rates agreement, based on student enrollment, at an estimated cost of $23,000. This provides for the district’s accounting, payroll, personnel, and inventory software.

• Accepted memorandum of understandings with the Pennsylvania State Police and Palmerton Borough Police.

• Approved the BSN Sports Reward Program for the purchase and supply of athletic apparel and equipment.