Over the past four weeks, the Tamaqua Area School District has received unexpected endowments to the tune of $242,508.

Tuesday night at the school board's three committee workshops held at Tamaqua Area Middle School, Superintendent Carol Makuta and business manager Connie Ligenza announced that the district is the beneficiary of a $54,366.61 endowment from the estate of the late Elbur C. and Ruth S. Purnell. Purnell was a former school superintendent. The funds are targeted to a restrictive purpose, it was noted."They endowed it to the school district for improving the administrative team," said Makuta.The gift, known as the Elbur C. Purnell and Ruth S. Purnell Administration Improvement Fund, will be deposited in an account set up to administer such funds following the district's established protocol.The surprise gift comes on the heels of a June 18 endowment from the estate of the late Mary C. Wolfe for the purpose of establishing a student scholarship fund. That gift amounted to $188,142.The district already has sent a letter of gratitude to the Wolfe Estate in acknowledgment of the generosity of Mary C. Wolfe. In an interesting, twist, board members are still unclear as to the exact nature of the relationship between the late Ms. Wolfe and the district.Bolstered by these most recent endowments the school's trust fund now has over $600,000 available. The criteria for ultimate disposition of those funds is determined by guidelines set forth by the various benefactors.In other action the board is gearing up for the 2010-11 school year. Much of the discussion centered on a middle school honors program, the purchase of new books, and new equipment for video capture and also for food service.But first a tweak to the existing dress code policy was discussed with administrators expecting to recommend that undershirts or undergarments be in the white or navy blue colors since those garments are sometimes exposed during the course of daily school activities, such as when a shirt or blouse rises when a student raises his or her hand in class.The education committee approved the administration's request to purchase Pennsylvania Our Home for the fourth grade social studies curriculum; Music Expressions for the elementary program; three books: Marketing, Public Speaking and You May Ask Yourself, for the dual enrollment curriculum; and the addition of a British literature course for Vo-Tech.Makuta commented that district's music program is one of the largest in the county and has gained a reputation as being The Pride of Tamaqua.Much discussion focused on the National Junior Honor Society program, due to an expected change in the induction timetable.Henceforth, there will be a spring induction, not a fall induction, for those in seventh grade who qualify for the program, which emphasizes scholarship, character, citizenship, leadership and service.Board member Aaron Frantz expressed concern due to some inaccurate reports that the program wouldn't be offered to those in seventh grade. However, administrator Christopher Czapla explained that such was not the case.The board is expected to agree to the finance committee's approval of six scheduled installment payments to the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit in the total amount of $1,164,392, and for participating in the Child Nutrition Program of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #290 for the Schuylkill County AVTS Operating Agency.Also expecting to be ratified is the superintendent's approval to purchase $33,804 in video capture equipment from Apple Inc., Austin, Tex., for use in six classrooms.Other items expected to be given a nod are donations to the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission, $2,500; Tamaqua Public Library, $7,000; a three-year contract with Coordinated Health Services, Bethlehem, for the purpose of athletic training services for $28,000 in 2010-11; $28,980 in 2011-12; and $29,994 for 2012-13.Cafeteria purchases expected to be made for the Tamaqua Elementary School Cafeteria include $32,455 to Clark Food Service Equipment for two hot serving counters; two cold serving counters; one cash register stand and installation and delivery of those items as per the General Services State Contract.Another item expected to be purchased from the same vendor for the high school cafeteria is a steamer/convection unit for $17,020, along with a convection oven not to exceed $7,532 from a vendor not specified.The board also is looking at a bid quote to install new underground oil lines at West Penn Elementary School via the McClure Company at a cost of $7,240.