The Panther Valley School Board on Wednesday extended its contract with paraprofessionals for two years.

The board approved the contract extension with the Panther Valley Education Association Paraprofessionals Educator Group, which provides average increases of 3%.

“On behalf of the district, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of the paraprofessionals,” Superintendent Dave McAndrew said. “Their dedication, patience, love and support for our students does not go unnoticed.

“They are the unsung heroes in the classrooms and hallways. They play such an essential role in the development of our students and we want them to know they are valued and appreciated.”

McAndrew also reported the federal government is withholding $200,000 that was earmarked by the Department of Education for the district’s grant applications.

The money would help the district to lower class size, offsetting the cost of a full-time elementary teacher, a part-salary of a music teacher and the district’s drug and alcohol prevention programs.

Several states have filed lawsuits to free up this funding.

“Hopefully, the state budget can relieve some of that gap,” he said.