Like other public school districts, Tamaqua Area has been affected by the lingering state budget impasse.

The district's administration has been making contingency plans in case the adoption of a state spending plan continues further into the school year.Business manager Connie Ligenza told the district's finance committee Tuesday night that Tamaqua Area's revenues for the 2009-2010 fiscal year to date are down about 5 percent from this time a year ago. Through August 2009 the district has received about 34 percent of its projected revenue, compared to 39 percent from last year."That is due to not receiving subsidies from the state Department of Education, as well as some federal funding," related Ligenza.Fortunately, the district's tax receipts are running close to what they were a year ago, she added.Other districts have been looking for ways to offset the delay in receiving state subsidies until the budget deadlock is resolved, including taking out anticipation loans from lending institutions to hold them over and pay the bills in the interim.Superintendent Carol Makuta said Ligenza is gathering information regarding borrowing options, should the impasse continue for an extended length of time, but she stressed the district's finances are steady for the short term."We are good through November," stated Makuta. "We didn't open the 09-10 budget and we are only purchasing necessities right now."In other business, the finance committee recommended the purchase of an E-mail Archive System from Tangent, Inc. at the cost of $8,194.99, as per a state purchasing contract. The system is actually a separate server that will allow the district to store and manage its volume of e-mail. The school board will vote on the purchase at its regular monthly meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 15.The board will also consider the committee's recommendation to approve a resolution authorizing Provident Energy to shop around and solicit an energy procurement plan for the district, beginning in January 2010."They are asking for the latitude to pull the trigger (on a deal)," said Ligenza. "It will be a two- or three-year contract."The district's education committee also met and recommended entering into agreements for special education services with NHS Human Services, Pottsville and St. Michael's School (the latter at a rate of $138.70 per diem), as well as with the Bloomsburg University Nursing Program, regarding student teaching.Those agreements will be considered during the board's monthly meeting next Tuesday.Homecoming plansHigh School Principal RuthAnn Gardiner updated the board on plans for Tamaqua Area's Homecoming festivities, to be held the week of Oct. 5.In addition to the regular decorating of the school and a pep rally, Gardiner said Steve Ulicny, who advises the school's student government, is working on holding a Homecoming Parade in town on the Thursday before the Homecoming game, in which Tamaqua will host North Schuylkill on Friday, Oct. 9.Gardiner said there are plans for a tailgate party at the stadium following the parade, which would be open to the community.The district is working on receiving the proper permission for the parade from Tamaqua Borough, she added.