Tamaqua Area School Board last week moved quickly through a light agenda, which included an agreement for special education services.

The board approved the agreement with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 to provide special education services at a tentative cost of $251,036.

The board also elected not to exceed the Act 1 index of 5.3%, including the adjustment factor 7.6% for the 2024-25 budget cycle. The Act 1 index is the maximum tax increase for each tax the school district levies.

Dress code

Parent Desiree Ulicki of Tamaqua asked the board to consider a change in the dress code to allow blue dress shirts. The policy only allows white dress shirts now, she said.

She was upset that her son was flagged for wearing a blue, button-down shirt, and noted that he prefers to dress well.

Ulicki previously addressed the board regarding allowing small logos, which is often found on the quality, designer clothing she prefers to buy. But the board held firm on its dress code back in August.

Board President Larry Wittig didn’t disagree with her request, which he called modest and reasonable. He again explained that the board only makes changes when absolutely necessary, as one change leads to another.

She was advised to talk to the principal at her son’s school about her suggested change in the dress code, and a committee would review that suggestion.

Coach

Senor volleyball player Sarah Coccio expressed her dissatisfaction with a coach. Although her season is over, she came to support other members of the team.

Last week, Marie Schock read a letter from her daughter, Madison, a freshman volleyball player, expressing some of the same concerns about the volleyball coach.

On Tuesday, Madison’s father, Clint Schock, questioned why a student had to come before the board in a public forum with the media present to express these concerns, as it puts a target on them.

Assistant Superintendent Stephen Toth explained students can talk to an administrator or the athletic director, a teacher or guidance counselor when there are issues.

Schock said that maybe they should make that procedure clear to the students, and Toth said that 95% of the time concerns such as these do go through teachers or administrators and make their way to board.

Wittig explained that the board is aware of many things that aren’t discussed at a public meeting, as they are personnel matters.

“We’ve been aware of a lot of things in the last two months,” he said. “There is a procedure to go through. I can assure you that everybody on this board has ties to athletics in some way, shape or form, and appreciates the value of athletics, as it relates to academics.”