Palmerton Area School District has approved a one-year student transportation contract.

On a unanimous vote, the school board this week approved the contract for transportation of school students with Leon A. George II School Buses Inc. for the 2015-16 school year.Superintendent Scot Engler said the contract comes with a 2 percent increase over this year's rate.After the meeting, business Manager Matthew Sawarynski said the new bus contract is budgeted at $971,000.The board approved the purchase and installation of a new remote walk-in combination cooler freezer for the S.S. Palmer Elementary School at a cost of $18,709.The item will be paid from the district's cafeteria fund.The installation of the cooler freezer will take place after the students' last day of lunches at the end of the school year.Other businessIn other business, the board:Accepted the resignation of Karen Keck at the end of the 2014-15 school year.Approved Kathi Anderson as an instructional aide at the rate of $13.38 an hour. She is filling a position vacated by the retirement of Susan Beers.Approved Jennifer Figueroa as a substitute secretary and substitute instructional aide.Approved Ben Winn, Lindsay Stasko, Kylee Tirado, and Jenna Haydt as summer employees at the rate of $7.25 an hour, 28 hours a week, effective June 15 through Aug. 20.Approved the 2015-16 Facilities Plan Committee Report that was approved by the CLIU Facilities Plan Committee on March 11 and the CLIU 21 board of directors on March 16. In addition, the board reaffirms its commitment to the original construct of the Facilities Planning, approved Nov. 1, 1989, which consists of a series of prioritized inquiries to be considered in determining future locations of the CLIU and school district special education classes.Awarded the janitorial/ lighting bids in the amount of $45,006.Approved the fall sports and athletic medical bids in the amount of $21,643.Approved the three-year contract with Gorman & Associates, P.C. for audit services at the following rates: Audit fee, 2014-15, $21,400; 2015-16, $21,400; and 2016-17, $21,500; single audit fee (if required), 2014-15, $2,550; 2015-16, $2,550; and 2016-17, $2,600; AFR fee, 2014-15, $875; 2015-16, $875; and 2016-17, $875; and hourly rate for additional services, 2014-15, $75; 2015-16, $75; and 2016-17, $75.Approved the donation of the old high school wrestling mats to the high school Parents' Club.Approved the field trip for the high school Environmental Club, chaperoned by David Kellerman and a parent, to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., on April 29, at the cost to the district for a substitute teacher.Approved a contract of agreement with Main Street Leasing bus transportation for the Environmental Club field trip. The trip is paid for by the EnvironmentalClub.