Tamaqua Area School Board approved the following agenda items this week:

• A two-year memorandum of understanding with the Tamaqua Area Education Support Professionals Association, representing custodians, maintenance, paraprofessionals and administrative assistants. The only change is an increase in wages from .70 cents to $1 per hour in each year, Kinder said.

• Agreements for services as needed with: Behavioral Associates of Lehighton, Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley Inc., Partial Hospitalization Program and Therapeutic Education Program; Child and Family Support Services for the Student Assistance Program; and Pennsylvania Counseling Services Inc. for behavioral health services.

• Resignations of LeeAnn Matteo, life skills support teacher, West Penn Elementary; Jessica Reynolds, middle school English language arts teacher; Jennifer Puckette, part-time paraprofessional.

• Hiring of Devin Murphy, Tamaqua, career counselor at a salary of $43,631; Diann Belsak, New Ringgold, ESL teacher at a salary of $61,891; Taylor Stair, Wapwallopen, middle school English language arts teacher at a salary of $61,646; Leah Huynh, Tamaqua, full-time middle school secretary at $12 an hour; Heater Bleiler, occupational therapist, full-time contract, at a salary of $52,500; Christine Stumhofer of New Ringgold, as full-time custodian at rate of $11 an hour.

• Substitute guest teachers: Kelly Giffin, Shenandoah; Deb Gogno, Pottsville; Grised Garcia, Middleport; and Suzanne Lobichusky, Barnesville.

• Permission for Matt Hope of Tamaqua to use the triangular piece of property on Stadium Hill for the 2023-24 school year.

• School uniform stipend of $25 with a cutoff for financial assistance relative to the dress code for household income less than 130% of the poverty guideline.

• Purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet cargo van from Tri-Star Chevrolet of Uniontown, at a cost of $40,001. This will be used as a utility van by custodians, Kinder said.