Tamaqua Area School Board is looking to upgrade some of its gaming desktops and accessories, and continues to look for an assistant gaming coach.

The gaming upgrades, which include new video cards and software, will cost $14,600 and will be covered by a grant.

Ken Dunkelberger, chief operations officer, said the upgrades are needed as items become antiquated with the newer, increased games.

The district has more students involved in gaming in the middle school than the high school, Assistant Superintendent Stephen Toth said. It’s the middle school program that needs the coach, he said.

The district has advertised three times for the stipend position, but has not had any takers, Toth said.

The district still hopes that a gamer will step forward to fill the position, which is listed as open on the district website, he said.

Other business

In other business, the TASB’s committees also approved the following for the full board consideration next week:

• Policies regarding student homelessness, foster care and other educational instability, meetings, and records management.

• Homebound instruction for one elementary and two high school students.

• Early graduation for one 11th-grade student, who has met all requirements.

• Letter of agreement between TASD and Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Title I math and reading for non-public programs at a $7,168 per student, plus 11% administrative fee at these schools: Assumption BVM, Pottsville; St. Jerome Regional, Tamaqua, and St. Nicholas, Minersville.

• Title IIA non-public programs and services letter of agreement between TASD and Schuylkill IU starting Sept. 1, 2023, with a spending consideration of $16,078.

• A two-year agreement with Service Access and Management of Reading, starting Aug. 1, 2023.

• Bills totaling $1,233,345 and interim bills of $303,724. Business manager Connie Ligenza noted that incoming tax revenues are 5.5% lower this year than last year, possibly because some larger taxpayers have not paid them yet.

• Blanket resolution allowing business administration to process payments for utilities, previously approved purchases, tuitions, leases, contracts, discounts and other routine items pending ratification at next meeting.

• Resolution to allow business administration to approve repository sales. Ligenza said these are usually blighted properties that have not otherwise sold, and now go for very low offers in the hopes that they are rehabilitated and placed back on tax rolls.

• Approved board members Larry Wittig and Thomas Bartasavage as voting delegates for Pennsylvania School Board Association Assembly.