Tamaqua Area School District will be one of two districts in the county participating in a pilot program targeting truancy.

Superintendent Ray Kinder explained the truancy prevention pilot through the Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services Justice Works Youth Care to school board members on Tuesday.

“This is a new program,” Kinder said. “They came to us because of the work of our administrators in trying to work with Children and Youth, and as well as with families to get kids to attend school and reduce truancy.”

The program involves providing an individual or truancy officer, who will work with the district’s administration and parents to curb truancy, he said.

The officer will go out to homes and work with parents to “help figure out ways to get their children to attend school,” Kinder said.

The district wants to focus its efforts on the elementary and middle school, he said.

“We want to get them early, and get them going, so hopefully, they won’t need it when they‘re in high school.” Kinder said.

There is no cost to the district for participating in the pilot program, he said.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding with Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services Justice Works Youth Care for services for the 2023-24 school year.

School lunches

In other business, the board approved the 2023-24 school lunch prices as follows: $2.45, elementary; $2.70, secondary, and $4.75, adult. Breakfast prices were set at $1.25, student, and $2.50, adult.

All students receive free breakfast and lunch, and the student prices reflect those who want a second breakfast or lunch, said Connie Ligenza, business manager.

The district receives reimbursements for providing the free meals, which works out better for the district, she said.

School Board President Larry Wittig asked if the district was making money on providing free meals, and Ligenza said the district can’t make money on the meals. Kinder said it was closer to a break-even situation.

The board also approved sponsor-to-sponsor agreements for the LCCC Shine Afterschool Program at $4 a meal and St. Jerome’s Regional School for school lunch at $2.75 per student lunch.

Also approved was an agreement for participation in the Child Nutrition Program with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 and Schuylkill County AVTS Operating Agency. This is for students who attend those programs, Ligenza said.