The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School Board placed 40 teacher aides into a furlough pool, due to the transfer of programs or classes and elimination of positions currently funded by nonappropriated or reduced grants. The action was taken at a recent meeting held at the Maple Avenue Campus in Marlin, Norwegian Township. At a previous meeting, 27 professional and non-professional staff members were furloughed.

Teacher aides furloughed are as follows: Michelle Stone, Cumbola; Glenda Kershner, New Ringgold; Beverly Stine, Frackville; Megan Madenford and Catherine Brown, Tremont; Judyann Stine, Nicole Horn, Robyn Naus, Shari Phillips, Carrie Brown; Jennifer Weigley; Aimee Zimmerman and Teresa Spotts, Schuylkill Haven; Ellen Carroll, Tower City; Mary Ann Alisauckas, Minersville; Janet Cook, Antoinette Hughes, Cecelia Weyand, Gloria Frehafer, Antoinette Purcell, Angeline Eckley, Michelene Smith, Danielle Heckman, Heather Myes, Heather Carjaval, Sarah Heman and Kristie Schwartz, Pottsville; Ann Shutt, Muir; Margaret Palladino, Auburn; Laurie Dennis, Bernville; Cynthia Atton and Laura Reed, Orwigsburg; Trisha Graeff and Lori Jill Zerby, Williamstown; Tina Isley, Port Carbon; Sheila Deitrich and Angela Kroh, Hegins; Alissa Hoffman and Rebecca Fedako, Ashland and Amy Spichiger, Pine Grove.Twelve were changed from full-time teacher aides to part-time teacher aides. They are: Susan McGovern and Marissa Underwood, Pottsville; Colleen Hozella, Joyce Daubert and Wendy Wolfe, Pine Grove; April Rusnak, Frackville; Charlotteann Petlansky and Mary Cagle, Auburn; Jacqueline Beach, Minersville; Jessica Carl, Tower City; Tara Mistysyn, Saint Clair; and Jimmie Lu Smallwood, Hegins.Also furloughed were Debra Mitchell Miller, business manager; and Jennifer Houck, social worker.Cafeteria ratesDaily breakfast and lunch rates were established by the board for the 2011-2012 school term.Regular student breakfast will be $1; reduced student breakfast, 30 cents; adult breakfast, $2; regular student lunch, $2.25; reduced student lunch, 40 cents; and milk (1/2 pint) 50 cents. The board also approved participation in the National School Lunch ProgramThe board established a fee of $110 for member school districts and $150 for non-member school districts for video conferencing field trips for the next school year.The rate of compensation for board members serving as secretary and treasurer was set at $3,000 for the new school term.Permission was granted to the Schuylkill Learning Academy to schedule the Schuylkill County Shield 7 Program as an activity for the students in the summer program.The Shield 7 Program is an initiative conducted by the Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office that promotes a proactive approach to address decision making issues of bullying, alcohol/drug use and abuse of cell phones such as sexting.Increase feesTuition rates for the Practical Nursing Program was increased from $11,973.75 to $12,173, and the enrollment deposit was increased from $225 to $275.Testing fees for the Licensed Practical Nursing program were increased from $75 to $90 a term, which is paid by the student and is not included in the tuition.Fees for the Commercial Driver's License program were fixed as follows: Commercial driver's license, $5,995 (no increase); heavy equipment, $9,335 (increase of $540); CDL/Heavy Equipment Combined Program, $14,849 (increase of $540) and Class B License, $1,695 (no increase).Tuition for the Postsecondary Programs was increased from $7.75 to $8 per hour.The board approved use of the North and South Campus Nurse's Office to host a flu clinic for employees and their families on Oct. 12 and 19. A staff member from Saint Catherine's Medical Center, Ashland, will administer flu shots for $15 per shot.HiringsLarry Lightfoot, Schuylkill Haven, as dean of students for the Schuylkill Learning Academy, at $50,000 per the support staff compensation plan; Nicholas Reese, Shenandoah, and Ashley Heim, Auburn, as behavioral interventionists for the Schuylkill Learning Academy at $23,000 each; Michael Stock, Pottsville, as work mentor coordinator at $43,352.70 per plan; Anne Grabowski, Pottsville, as the autism and behavior specialist TaC (Training and Consulting) at $49,733 under the plan; Terry Murphy, Ashland, as occupational therapist-registered at $40,000 under the plan; Matthew Slonaker, Benton, as science teacher, at $34,000 on memorandum of understanding; Kathleen Marie Lopez, Reading, as reading specialist in the Schuylkill Learning Academy at salary of $44,065 under master scale.Five teachers were employed to provide Extended School Year Services to eligible students at $23 per hour during the current summer program. They are Nick Brayford and Pam Roshoe, from the Maple Avenue Campus; Amanda Gossard, Schuylkill Haven Area High School; and Heather Boyer and Edie Tanner, substitute teachers.Twenty-two teacher aides were hired to provide Extended School Year Services at the following rates: Michael Luna, Saray Kelly and Sue Dolan, Tamaqua Area High School, $8 per hour; Crystal Corby, Aimee Corby, Olivia Miller, Mary Ann Kristoff, Elizabeth Witman and Jordan Schistle, Maple Avenue Campus, $8 per hour; Angeline Eckley, Antoinette Purcell, Marissa Underwood, Beverly Stine, Gladys Keefer, Carol Reiner, Tammie Walborn and Brooke Shutt, Maple Avenue Campus, current rate; Jessica Carl, Williams Valley Elementary, current rate; Joyce Daubert and Carol Lutsey, Pine Grove Area, current rate; Colleen Altemos, Schuylkill Haven High School, current rate; and Colleen Hozella, Blue Mountain High School, current rate.Four speech and language therapists were hired to provide Extended School Year Services at $23 per hour are Daphne Christianson, Eileen Puglia, Ashley Miller Kovatch and Nadine Elenchin.Two development teachers hired to provide preschool screening, evaluations and therapy during summer months at $23 per hour are Colleen Cannon and Amy Holland.Ten teacher aides in the Preschool Summer Program who will be paid $8 per hour are Amanda Eich, Malerie Zimmerman, Christal Schwenk, Katlynn Fickinger, Kristy Nork, Darci Jo Grasso, Ashley Wade, Amanda Pavalko, Emily Hobbs and Molly Joyce.Two speech therapists hired for the Preschool Summer Program at $23 per hour are Cheryl Nemeth and Ashley Ann Cory. Hired as occupational therapy instructor was Ricki Koch at $23 per hour.Shirley McFarland, Port Carbon, hired as full-time school nurse for the South Campus at $25,000 per year; Jeanette Tobin, Gilberton, as Child Care Instructor at $41,000 per year; Gary Hummel, Pottsville, and Helene O'Connell, Girardville, as full-time second shift custodians at South Campus at $8 per hour.Stephen Mazur, Frackville, to provide CDL training at a $26 per hour and for heavy equipment training, $36 per hour. David Moyer, Schuylkill Haven, to provide heavy equipment training at $26 per hour.