The Tamaqua Area School Board on Tuesday night moved through a short agenda, which included policy revisions, personnel moves and repairs.

Superintendent Ray Kinder reported that the district had a successful start to the new school year.

Some elementary students visited a “curiosity cube,” which fosters science-based learning, Kinder told the board.

The cube was brought to the district by the PTO and EMD Electronics, he said.

Progress reports will also be going home next week, marking the halfway point of the first quarter, Kinder said.

Elementary students will also be participating in off-site evacuation plans Sept. 27, and information will be sent home to parents, he said.

Board Vice President Nicholas Boyle reported that he received unsolicited positive feedback from some teachers regarding the district’s revised cellphone policy.

The district this year moved to limit students’ use of cellphones and other electronic devices during the school day.

Lunch is the only time students are permitted to use their cellphones, except under a teacher’s direction during a class or for medical reasons.

The board approved the following:

• The first reading of these polices: educator misconduct; personal necessity leave, uncompensated leave; opening exercises/moment of silence/flag displays; maintaining professional adult/student boundaries; student discipline, pregnant/parenting/married students; hazing; bullying/cyberbullying; and dating violence.

• The repair of a damaged railing along Stadium Hill, or South Lehigh Street, by Rob Terleski Fabrication at a cost not to exceed $22,800. The work will begin in spring 2025.

• Blake Tharp of New Ringgold as an adult game worker.

• Reclassification of Donovan Moeller from substitute to full-time custodian and hiring Caryn Matz of Tamaqua as a full-time custodian.

• Homebound instruction for one high school student.

• The following substitute guest teachers: Pamela Miler, Pamela Androshick, Jessica Faust and Carmen Perez.

• An adjustment to Dana Ayer’s Family Medical Leave Act to intermittent FMLA.

• Hiring the following as part-time paraprofessionals at a rate of $12 an hour: Ciara McKee, Sarah Hartranft, Erica Benningfield and Ashley McArdle.

• Hired Tracy Moyer as a full-time paraprofessional at $12 an hour.

• Accepted the resignation of Leah Gehringer, certified school nurse, with a separation date of Nov. 8; and Stephanie Bednarz, part-time health room assistant, with a separation of Sept. 6.