Two programs aimed at strengthening student performance received unanimous support from the Octorara school board during Monday's brief and sparsely attended meeting. 

The board approved spending $160,000 to fund a summer literacy program, and adding a high school course this fall to be called Remediation Opportunities. 

The district anticipates being reimbursed by the state for at least half the cost of the summer program since it will provide services to special-education students. Other students will be able to attend the five-week summer camp at a cost of $100 per week.

The remediation course is designed to help students who score below proficient on state or local benchmark tests.

In personnel matters, the board approved the retirement request of vocational and agricultural teacher Frank Wasco, who has worked for the school district since 1979. Special-education teacher Ann Porrecca, a district employee since 2000, also submitted a retirement request.

The school board hired: Tammy Anthony as a long-term substitute, teaching third grade; Barbara Whitworth-Roy as an alternative education instructional assistant; Christian Taylor as an assistant high school track coach; and Megan Leff as a long-term substitute, serving as a Title 1 reading assistant.

In other business:

• The board approved a contract with the auditing firm Herbein and Company Inc. for $20,000 a year until June 2014.

• The board approved a confidential settlement agreement with a student who was not named. 

• District business manager Dan Carsley highlighted some budgetary ups and downs. He said the district's new part-time medical access billing clerk has made great progress in collecting state funds and billings are up significantly compared to this time last year. 

• The board approved a contract with B&S Construction. The company will pay the district $900 in 2012 to park trucking equipment in the parking lot of the maintenance building across from the campus on Route 41.

• Board President Lisa Bowman said  in March the board will discuss a parent's request to comment on the benefits of charter schools and administrative recommendations for athletic funding and logistics.  The next board meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 12, in the middle school multi-purpose room.