Schuylkill County commissioners were joined on Wednesday by children who attend Schuylkill Child Development programs to celebrate the Week of the Young Child, April 12-18.

"Schuylkill County's young children are our most cherished population, valued resources, and hope for the future," said Commissioners' Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier.He read a proclamation that emphasized the importance of early childhood education, and lauded Child Development's accomplishments. The organization provides Head Start, PreK Counts, and Keystone Star 4 programs.Also on Wednesday, commissioners approved a purchase of service agreement between the county Children and Youth Services agency and the following providers. The agreement runs retroactively from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015:• The Bair Foundation of New Wilmington, Lawrence County, for community residential rehab at a per diem of $28.35, traditional foster care at a per diem of $57.78, and mother and nondependent infant foster care at a per diem of $85.02;• The Salvation Army of West Nyack, New York, for regular foster care at a per diem of $40.80, foster care plus at a per diem of $47.70, and intensive foster care at a per diem of $72.They also approved a contract addendum for Rest Haven with McKesson Medical to increase the contract amount by $10,000, and with Concept Medical to increase the contract amount by $60,000.Also on Wednesday, the county Salary Board approved the hiring of Paula Moucheron of Mahanoy City as interim administrative assistant for human resources at $34,269.It also accepted the retirement of former Clerk of Courts First Deputy Paul Steffanic.The board approved the hiring of 911 center telecommunication 3 trainees Kyle Koury of Cressona, Joshua Donatti of Schuylkill Haven, and D. Faye Noll of Gordon. They will earn $12.84 an hour.The board also hired Christine Fulton of Frackville as an administrative assistant with the MH/DS/D&A agency at $18.25 an hour.In other matters Wednesday, Deputy Controller Ron Zimmerman said the county's retirement portfolio grew over the past month, from $127,019,865 to $127,725,892 as of Wednesday morning.