A classroom at the Schuylkill Technology Center, North Campus, near Frackville, was approved by the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School Board to be used by the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employees Association, in action taken at its monthly meeting held Monday evening at the Maple Avenue Campus in Marlin, Norwegian Township. The association will use the class on Jan. 19 and 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23; March 2, 9 and 16 and May 23 and 30, 2010.

A Tamaqua student was among the students chosen to be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society for their vocational, technical and academic excellence. Board President Willliam Davidson extended the IU board's congratulation.The students inductees are, Kayla Cramer, Tamaqua Area; Jonathan Heim, Seth Leeper, Tanya Schrader, Kristina Shaffer and Keley Wessner, Blue Mountain; Jeremy Billie, Michael Huss and Brandyn Snyder, North Schuylkill; Anthony Brophy, Leigh Ann Burns, Richard Gelbutis and Jessica Ireland, Pottsville; Natasha Kukuk and Samantha Schorr and Cassondra Smith, Williams Valley.New hirings were as follows:Allison Freil, Delano, as a day-to-day substitute teacher of the hearing impaired at $70 per day; Joann Klitsch, Minersville, transferred to position of Early Intervention Consultant/Behavior Intervention Program at $62,004 per year; Knute Brayford, Frackville, as student mentor at $23 per hour; Kathryn Sinkiewicz, Shenandoah, as subtitute secretary at $8.25 per hour; Glenda Kerschner, New Ringgold; Jonathan Bodkins, Valley View, and Brenda Seabolt, Auburn, as substitute teacher aides; Tamara Hanzok and Nicole Stine, both of Pottsville, as subvstritute cafeteria workers.Seventy-three people were hired as substitute teachers for the 2009-10 school term. Area people named were, Matthew Koch, Scott Felty and Norranne Baddick, Tamaqua; Paul Sleva, New Ringgold; Robert Scatton, McAdoo; Joseph Reardon, Barnesville; George Motil, Zion Grove; and Richard Eames, Stephen Babinchak and Brenda Wellington, Mahanoy City.A contract was approved with Bloomsburg University for the purpose of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit supervising student teaching placement and practicum opportunities for university students who are enrolled in teaching education programs.A contract was entered with The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, Midland, to provide an orientation/mobillity therapist and a teacher for the visually impaired for the current school year. All costs to be paid by Cyber Charter School.The board approved a "Job Shadow" program training agreement to allow students to observe people in the community as they perform their regular job duties.A proposal was accepted from Berkheimer Out Sourcing Inc., Bangor, on behalf of the 12 public school districts which comprise the IU to develop and distribute the letter and application as required under Act I-Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006; to incorporate the recommended changes requested by Schuylkill County; all costs will be shared among the participating districts.Robin Hetherington was seated as the North Schuylkill School District representative on the IU board. North Schuylkill had not been represented since Judge D. Michael Stine removed eight of the nine members from the board several weeks ago. The board has been operating with only five members as the judge's ruling is being appealed to a higher court.