Tamaqua Area School Board moved ahead with a proposal to replace the parking lots and driveway at the high school and middle school on Tuesday.

The board approved a proposal from the Gordian Group to make repairs and replace aging lots at a cost of $469,331, which is down from a $490,680 price tag presented a week earlier.

The board at its committee meeting questioned whether there was savings with going with the proposal from Gordian, which is an approved state and Keystone Purchasing Network vendor, or bidding the project.

Bidding out the project, however, carried with it additional costs in drawing up specifications, whereas Gordian, which was already on site to replace doors at the high school, developed its own plan which was included in the cost.

Board President Larry Wittig, who sits on the finance committee, said last week that he would be a no vote on the proposal and wanted to make sure whether or not there would be savings with another vendor.

District administrators also pointed out that it would also take time to draw up the specifications and put the project out to bid, which could mean that the paving would wait until 2025. Gordian said they could start as early as June, pending board approval.

The board did not publicly discuss the project Tuesday night and approved a contract with Gordian at the lower cost.

Air quality

The board approved a one-year pilot program with IotaComm of Allentown to install building/classroom sensors at the West Penn Elementary School. The sensors will monitor air quality and also provide information on energy efficiency.

The cost is not to exceed $2,500 with a per month cost not to exceed $600 based on building square footage.

Other matters

In other business, the board:

• Hired Eric Helbing, attorney from Bowe and Odorizzi Law of Tamaqua, as the district’s solicitor for 2024 at a retainer of $5,200 and $175 an hour.

• Approved IDEA part B and Section 619 with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit No. 29 for 2023-24.

• Approved changes to its policy on Naloxone, making the opioid reversal drug available in the elementary schools. Staff are trained on how to use the drug.

• Approved the first reading of policies on acceptable use of internet, computers and network resources, and suicide awareness, prevention and response. The internet/computer policy was up for review, while the suicide prevention policy detailed the district’s prevention plan, including training and helping students.

• Approved substitute custodians, Talib Whah, Lisa Macalush, Melissa Martinez, and Isabella Fort, all of Tamaqua, at a rate of $11.92 an hour.

• Approved Nate Halenar as a volunteer Student Government adviser for 2023-23, and Thorn Devlin of Tamaqua, as ski club adviser, at a stipend of $642.

• Approved the 2023-24 Health and Safety Plan.

• Approved homebound instruction for one high school student.

• Approved unpaid leave for Kristen Tubbs, beginning Jan. 8, 2024 with a tentative return Jan. 6, 2025; and Amanda Gallagher for the remainder of the school year.

• Ratified maternity leave from Sept. 6 to Nov. 29 for Darcijo Smarr.

• Approved retirement of Cathy Miorelli, secondary school nurse, with a separation date of Dec. 22.

• Approved substitute teachers Julian Costa, East Stroudsburg; Emily Titus of Tamaqua and Ainsley Segedy of Drums.

• Approved the 2022 audit report.