Human services — namely with counseling, food services and homelessness — will continue to be provided for needy students in the Lehighton Area School District, based on a recommendation for approval to the district’s board of education.

At a workshop this week, the board members were advised of the recommendation to approve a contract with the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission for drug and alcohol primary prevention and intervention services for the upcoming school year.

Under the terms of the agreement, the district would put $34,200 to the commission, whose assistant administrator, Rob Mikulski, would serve as “contact person” for the services.

Under his watch, the prevention services would be administered within the district as set by the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, offering in-school consultation services on the district’s annual prevention and intervention plans.

The commission would offer consultation to Core Team families and students as requested, regarding need for referral to community or school-based services and supports, D&A screening for students and when necessary, and referrals for D&A Level of Care Assessment to determine treatment needs. It would also participate in parent/teacher and consultation meetings as requested and maintain data for required reporting to DDAP.

The commission would also facilitate school-based D&A individual and/or group primary prevention/education services, including evidence-based programs such as Too Good for Drugs and Life Skills and other specialized SAP groups as appropriate throughout the school year.

At-risk students would be referred to individual or group intervention activities, screenings or any other requested services.

In another matter, the district’s administrators recommended the school board renew Sponsor-to-Sponsor Agreement between the Lehigh County Community College and the district for the period of Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2027.

Under the terms of the agreement, designed to assist with the SHINE program administered locally, the district will purchase meals from the community college for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, providing “supper” meals to eligible recipients. It is estimated there will be 35 daily servings for 120 days throughout the length of the contract at a cost of $4.95 per meal, or $20,790 overall.

The funding will be provided by the PA Department of Education through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In another matter, the board received a recommendation to engage in a letter of agreement with the state’s Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program committing to compliance with the requirements and goals of the program.

The program is aimed at educating entities/staff who work with children, youth and families, on the rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness and will work collaboratively to eliminate the barriers that may impede enrollment, attendance, or receipt of services that support academic success.

The district’s responsibility would be to identify a full-time school employee to serve as homeless liaison who would help to ensure students enroll in and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school; and ensure that children/youth in homeless situations are identified by school personnel through outreach and coordination with other entities and agencies.