Tamaqua to modify facilities use policies, replace Study Island software

During a brief work session Tuesday evening, the Tamaqua Area School board cleared the way for revisions to its facilities use policy and a discontinuation of the Study Island software.

One change to the facilities policy will affect the time buildings would be open on Sundays and would allow community groups to conduct small games of chance on school premises. Groups that have held events inside of school buildings have asked that the buildings be opened earlier to allow time for them to set up for the event. As the policy stands, buildings will not open before noon on any Sunday.

Superintendent Ray Kinder also presented to the board a request from the groups to allow small games of chance such as 50-50 drawings and raffles to be conducted by the groups during those events that take place inside the district’s buildings. The current policy prohibits groups from doing so and only allows booster clubs associated with the school to offer such games.

Board member Dan Schoener supported the change.

“If we allow it for our clubs, why wouldn’t we allow it for these other groups, provided they have the proper license?”

The board’s education committee recommended the district move forward with a three-year contract with IXL Learning of San Mateo, California, for educational software to replace the Study Island software the district currently uses. The software serves kindergarten through fifth grades. According to the education committee, the IXL Learning platform is a better option because it conforms to Pennsylvania education standards and offers more personalized assessments.

The contract with IXL caps the total expenditures over the next three years at $35,125.

Assistant Superintendent Stephen Toth characterized the change as being “basically budget-neutral.”

In other business, the board approved various September 2018 bills to be paid totaling $1,442,338, as well as retroactively declaring the date of Aug. 28 as an Act 80 Day for elementary buildings only.

Kinder also addressed the reopening of West Penn Elementary School, praising the custodial staff for their work in getting the school cleaned and ready. He also thanked parents and faculty for helping to make the smooth transition.