The Tamaqua Area School District is expected to approve and adopt a guidance program for 2,200 students that addresses potential factors within the school and at home.

At Tuesday's council workshop session, Frank Dickman, guidance counselor, advised school board members that the district's proposed guidance counseling plan for grades K-12 includes two programs that assist a wide variety of situations.The SIT, or Student Intervention Team, works with "academic issues and assigns mentors for students" said Dickman, noting that special needs are sometimes identified and can be addressed through the SIT.The district also utilizes an SAP, or Student Assistance Program, which "deals with grief, loss, drug and alcohol issues" and similar situations that can occur off-campus but impact a student's performance and welfare.The Tamaqua district's education committee will review the policy, after which the general board is expected to adopt it at the board's regular meeting set for Oct. 16.A guidance counseling plan is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education."Vo-Tech needs it for each district in the county," added Dickman.Connie Ligenza, district business manager, reported that the district has collected $8,562,000 to date, which is $195,000 more than the same time last year.The fluctuation might be due to growth or timing of payment, she said."There is no glaring explanation," noted Ligenza, adding that such variations can be expected.Ligenza also shared data regarding the Act 1 index for the 2013-14 fiscal year. If the district were to raise taxes, it is subject to a maximum 2.3 percent increase in millage rate, which translates to a maximum .77 mill increase.If that were to happen, the district would realize $218,675 in additional revenue.In other activity, the board is expected to approve a request from instructors Samantha McBreen and Thomas Kanger to attend the U. S. All-Star Track and Field and Cross Country Clinic in Atlantic City on Dec. 13.Biology instructor Roseann Weinrich is expected to be given permission to take the biology club to visit the national museums in Washington, D.C. in early November.Additionally, Melissa Day, high school technology specialist, has requested to attend the 90/90/90 Schools Summit in Mount Laurel, N.J. Oct. 10-11.Once again, the district is expected to participate in the E-rate program for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The program allows the district to access Internet, telecommunications and web-hosting services at discounts of about 56 percent of actual cost.The board also is expected to award a waste removal contract to Waste Management Services for its low bid of $38,849. In addition, a new bus stop for bus #44, a.m. and p.m., is expected to be approved for West Broad Street in the vicinity of St. Jerome's Church to alleviate overloads on bus #46.