"Gauging" - stretching pierced ears by using progressively larger pieces of jewelry - may soon be a thing of the past in the Panther Valley School District.

School Board vice-president Bill Hunsicker at a public meeting Tuesday suggested amending the district's dress code to prohibit gauging. Hunsicker said the practice, which eventually results in large holes in one's earlobes, is distracting.The board expects to further discuss the recommendation.In other matters Tuesday, the board learned from solicitor Robert T. Yurchak that the Maple Shade Meadows Assisted Living facility in Nesquehoning has asked the Carbon County Board of Assessment Appeals to reduce its tax assessment by $1.5 million.The board also agreed to:*Accept the resignation of Junior High Cheerleading coach Jillian Shelhammer, whom Athletic Director Kristin Black said quit for personal reasons. Black said Shelhammer would be coaching on a part-time, volunteer basis. The board also agreed to hire Heather Shober in Shelhammer's place.*Add Donald McGorry of Nesquehoning to the list of substitute teachers at a daily rate of $85. McGorry teaches kindergarten through sixth grade.*Approved OAA Orthopaedic Specialists to conduct the concussion management program;*Approved OAA Orthopaedic Specialists Anne Martens and James Reidy as athletic trainers for the 2010-2011 school year;*Approved John Horvath, Laura Tatusko, Michael Kohan, Courtney McCarroll, Tori Devlin and Lauren Schock Wall as PSSA prep coaches for the 2010-2011 school year at $135 per day;*Approved Edward Kocha as a middle school after-school tutor at $30 an hour;*Approved Margaret Heckman as a middle school chaperone for the 2010-2011 school year.Prior to the public meeting, the board met in executive session to discuss, among other things, the status of a lawsuit filed by the county against the school district in the matter of Portnoff Associates, which Panther Valley hired in 2000 to collect delinquent property taxes.