A negotiated contract for the Schuylkill County Vocational Technology Centers was approved by the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School Board at its monthly meeting held Monday evening at the Maple Avenue Campus, Norwegian Township.

The contract is for the period from July 1, through June 30, 2015, and covers 38 instructors in the North Center, located in Frackville; and South Center in Norwegian Township.The salaries will be based on the average salary of the instructors in the 12 public school districts which comprise IU29 School District.The estimated increase for the first year of the contract is around $1,700 per instructor. Two local districts are still negotiating contracts with their teachers, Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley.Votech budgetThe board is still awaiting approval from the local districts of the budget adopted at last month's meeting for the Schuylkill Technology Center for 2012-2013.The budget calls for total anticipated expenditures of $6,020,701 and anticipated revenues of $6,325,167. The overall budget increase of $19,748 and the contributions from the 12 school districts the overall decrease is $26,519.The districts shares total $5,018,655 based on enrollment. It averages $6,449 per student. The budget calls for payments from the districts as follows:Blue Mountain, projected enrollment of 119 students, $767,418; Mahanoy Area, 46 students, $296,641; Minersville Area, 48 students, $309,539; North Schuylkill, 79 students, $509,458; Pine Grove Area, 67 students, $432,070; Pottsville Area, 139 students, $896,397; Saint Clair Area, 33 students, $212,804; Schuylkill Haven Area, 54 students, $348,233; Shenandoah Valley, 42 students, $270,845; Tamaqua Area, 83 students, $535,254; Tri Valley, 36 students, $232,151; and Williams Valley, 42 students, $270,845.Two other budgets previously adopted were revised.The Act 89 budge for 2011-2012 was reset at $514,728.55 due to a five percent reduction in state allocations and this year's budget for Title III: Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students was increased by $5,151 to $18,149 for supplemental services available to nine local school districts including Tamaqua Area.Summer schoolThe board fixed dates for the Academic Summer School with registration deadline set for 3 p.m. Thursday, June 14.The school will begin Monday, June 25, and end Friday, July 27. All classes will be online.Classes are for students in grades 7 through 12 and are online. It is expected that each course will involve 70 hours of course work. The course will be available beginning 8 a.m. on June 25 and close at 12 p.m. on July 27.Students and parents must provide a valid email address on registration form as most if not all communications will be via email, according to Doreen Milot, academic summer school coordinator.Students enrolled must be active learners, complete the required assignments according to the timeline established by the instructor and follow the acceptable use policy and program procedures. Violations of any of the procedures stated can result in automatic dismissal from the summer school.Tuitions are $150 per course if enrolled b 3 p.m. June 14, and $165 per course after. To pass a course a student must earn a minimum of 75 percent of the total points established by the classroom instructor and complete all assignments.The board also authorized the administration to higher teachers for the summer school. Salaries will be based on student enrollment not to exceed $1,250 per course.The board acknowledged receipt of a grant in amount of $17,853 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education Career and Technical Education for state equipment.The board approved the use of the North Campus, Frackville, as the major emergency staging facility for the State Correctional Institution, located outside Frackville in Ryan Township. The Votech Center will provide floor space, cafeteria space and meeting rooms.Approval was given to use the conference room at the South Campus, Norwegian Township, by Wilkes University to conduct college level classes at a cost of $50 per session.Personnel mattersDiane L. Bodan, CPA, Pottsville, was hired as the Human Resource Coordinator, effective June 18, at a salary of $52,000 per year.Three employees placed on furlough due to transfer of programs or classes and elimination of positions, Ashley Hess, New Ringgold; Colleen Fanelli, Ashland; and Jill Wulf, Pine Grove. Albert J. Wank resigned as the plumbing instructor.Employment status of Susan McGovern, Pottsville, changed from full time to part-time teacher aide because of member schools reducing service requests.Kim Ginther, a special education supervisor, is retiring effective April 19.Christy Tisdale, part-time teacher aide in Hearing Impaired Classroom at Saint Clair Area, resigned as she has pursued other employment.Delta Hoysock, bus driver; Diane Hudock, date entry secretary in the business office; and Mary Ann Kulenguskey, full-time secretary in the Special Education Department, are retiring. Hugh Dougherty resigned as masonry instructor.Hired were, Dawn Ayars and Lauren Pope, both of Pottsville, as substitute teachers in the behavior intervention program at $80 per day; and Keith Yarger as classroom manager and instructor for Continued Professional Education Courses.