• West Penn Elementary School, grades K-5

• Tamaqua Elementary School, grades K-5• Tamaqua Area Middle School, grades 6-8• Tamaqua Area High School, grades 9-12Tamaqua Area School District Superintendent Ray Kinder discussed the upcoming year:What’s news in the district?“The most identifiable change this school year at Tamaqua Area will actually take place after regular school hours. Working in cooperation with Lehigh Carbon Community College, we will be bringing the SHINE Program to our Tamaqua Elementary School. We anticipate it being of great benefit to our students and families.”What are you most looking forward to?“As is the case each year, the thing I most look forward to is seeing the students of our district on the first day of school. It’s always interesting to hear about the things they did over the summer break.”What do you consider as the biggest challenge?“The biggest challenge this year is the same as it has been every year for at least the past six years. Budgetary constraints due to pension and charter school costs have had a devastating effect on all public schools.“The challenge will be to provide the same vast opportunities that they have become accustomed to with less funds to do so.”— Terry Ahner