A Lehighton Area Middle School student-athlete has been acknowledged for her sportsmanship.

The school board on Monday recognized student Emily Barkanic with a certificate of appreciation for the gamesmanship she displayed at a track and field event earlier this year.Director Wayne Wentz presented the certificate to Emily, who was joined by middle school volunteer track coach, Erica Pagotto, as well as middle school assistant coach Kim Lusch.Emily was running the hurdles at a track meet in Tamaqua, when, in the lane next to her, a female track athlete from Tamaqua tripped over her and fell.Rather than continue on to build upon her solid showing, Emily stopped, picked up the Tamaqua girl, and escorted her down to the finish line.As a result of Emily's goodness, the Tamaqua coach emailed Lehighton Area School District athletic director Kyle Spotts to make him aware of her kind gesture.After the meeting, Pagotto said she couldn't have been more proud of Emily."She just did an awesome thing," Pagotto said. "It was worth the sacrifice to help someone else out."Bus contractAlso on Monday, the board approved a contract with George's Transportation Company Inc. for the 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 school years. The actual contract will be completed with approved financial information, along with any necessary language changes, and will be approved by the solicitor before signing.District business manager Brian Feick said the contract with George's is per day/per bus rate, with rates at $273.45 in 2014-15; $281.65 in 2015-16; and $290.10 in 2016-17.Feick said there were about 21 bus runs a day this past school year. While the actual schedule is not set yet for next year, he said it should be about the same.In other business, the board:• Approved the purchase of the McGraw-Hill Education Math Series, Glencoe Math-Course 2, Math Accelerated, and Glencoe Math-Course 3 (grades 7-8), for $27,099, and Algebra I and II (grades 9-11) in the for $23,308, for a total of $50,407.• Approved the 2014-15 insurance package policies for property, general liability, auto, boiler and machinery, workers' compensation, umbrella, error and omissions, in the amount of $209,786. Payment will be made July 1, 2014, out of the 2014-15 fiscal year.• Approved a contract between James Schwab, Clinical Psychologist Services, and the school district in the amount of $46,080, to be paid from IDEA funding (2014-15).• Approved the janitorial supply bids for the 2014-15 budget year in the amount of $32,238, effective July 1.