Panther Valley School District, which already has the highest tax rate in Carbon County, added two more mills for the 2014-15 school year.

The board was split, voting 5-4 on the tax increase.Approving the increase were board member Roy Angst, Anthony DeMarco, Michelle Markovich, Irene Genther, and Board President Jeff Markovich.Opposed were Dan Heaney, Bill Hunsicker, Brian Dolena and John Williams.Initially a 3-mill increase was proposed but that was defeated by a 6-3 vote. In favor were Hunsicker, Heaney, and Dolena.The new real estate tax rate for Panther Valley property owners is 57.69 mills.Palmerton Area School District presently has taxes set at 51.444 mills.For Schuylkill County residents in the Panther Valley School District those who have property in Coaldale the tax hike is 0.58 mills because of rebalancing.The general budget is based on expenditures of $25,138,682.16.The cafeteria fund budget totals $824,709.The athletic fund budget is $183,800.The board tabled the hiring of workers for fall sports for the 2014-15 school year.Angst criticized athletic director Kristin Black for presenting a list of nearly 100 people for serving as fall sports workers.Williams interjected that not that many people would be used; that many of the names on the list are fill-in people.Black was directed to present a list to the board of how many people are needed to help for each sport.She will be presenting the list at a meeting of the board's athletic committee at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 23.Some fall sports workers get paid $25 per event. Others work without compensation.Nine conference requests were approved by 5-2 votes. Opposed were Genther and Angst.Genther said she voted "no" because it was her understanding there would be no conference approvals for the remainder of this year due to budget constraints.The approvals were:• Lisa Ogozalek, Flight team meeting, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, cost is $33.60 for mileage.• Gail Christopher-Lazar, STEM program and 3-D printing technology, Carbon Career Technical Institute, no cost to the district.• Valerie Matika, School employee absentee workshop, Bethlehem, cost of $40.88 for mileage.• Anthony Russo and John Cooper, NASP archery instructor certification, cost of $40.88 for mileage.• Lisa Ogozalek, PATH review meeting, cost of $12.88 mileage.• Lisa Ogozalek, Life Skills training, booster workshop, Lehighton, no cost to the district.• Sandra Michalik, Special Education Leadership Academy, Bedford Springs, $780 room and $204.99 mileage, funded through School Improvement Grant.