The Tamaqua Area School Board held a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss budget items.

The meeting began with President Larry Witting leading the board in a moment of silence in remembrance of TIMES NEWS reporter Joe Plasko who passed away earlier in the day. Plasko was an alumnus of the high school who covered the Tamaqua Area School District beat for many years, including academics and athletics.In committee action, the auxiliary committee approved the hiring of Tom Miller, Minersville, as volunteer boys tennis coach for the 2010-11 school year;Janet P. Smolden, New Ringgold, was hired as drama club designer for 2010-2011 school year at the established stipend of $657.00.The education committee approved a request by Roseann Weinrich to attend an out-of-state professional development workshop in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, April 15, 16, 17 and 18. Registration and lodging is sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, MA.The finance committee agreed to execute an amendment to an existing agreement with McClure Company, a subsidiary of PPL Energy Services, for the purpose of expanding energy savings measures for a total project cost not to exceed $5,787,986, along with a full interest rate that funds the project as per a schedule of savings and final review and approval of the amendment by the solicitor.The board entered into a letter of intent between the school district and Metrotek Electrical Services for the purposes of developing a mutually agreeable Power Purchase Agreement to support a Solar Energy/Alternate Energy Project, and implementation of the same.