On Thursday, Carbon Career & Technical Institutes’ Joint Operating Committee met to discuss policy and administrative changes moving forward in the current academic school year.

Administrative Director David Reinbold announced that on March 26 the school received a $36,000 grant to purchase equipment for CCTI’s welding lab. An adjustment to the Perkins grant was necessary as the school was not able to spend the money in the way it was originally intended; passing an additional $10,000 to be reallocated to the welding lab.

After an anticipated additional $30,000 in grants come through to CCTI, Reinbold said that an expected total of $76,000 in grant money would be used to update the welding lab. The three-year capital plan called for spending $108,000 in total for the upgrades necessary.

In relation to student and teacher matters, the following approvals have been announced:

• Suspension of policy #006 was approved to allow virtual meetings, which was possible due to the Pennsylvania Department of Education waiving the 180-day in-school requirement for schools and students. Reinbold thanked students, parents, staff, administrators and JOC members for their cooperation and patience with CCTI’s transition to distance learning and planned instruction.

• The revised CCTI 2019-20 Student/Teacher Calendar was approved to include the updated graduation date of June 4, which can be found at carboncti.org/parents/.

• Jeffry Nietz approved as substitute part-time technology assistant at the rate of $150/day effective July 1.

• Lisa Walck appointed as teacher mentor (technical instructor) for the period of April 1 through March 31, 2021, at a stipend of $750.

The following have been approved as adult education instructors on an as-needed basis at a salary of $21-25 per hour effective April 17, 2020, through April 2021: Autumn Frey, Michele Dominic, Tammy Marshall and Harold Resh.

An approval was made to approve the principal to name the CCTI 2020 salutatorian and valedictorian based on their class ranking through March 13. Based on these updated allowances, Rebekah Lorah was named valedictorian and Meagan Gildner was named salutatorian.

Reinbold expressed his pride toward the two CCTI students.

“Congratulations to Rebekah and Meagan. We are all proud of their accomplishments.”

Additional approvals include the March 2020 treasurer’s report, the payment of bills, and all administrative reports from Principal Brent Borzak, Facilitator of Special Education Christine Trovato, and Adult Education Site Supervisor Francine Kluck.

The Carbon Career & Technical Institute Foundation Report was also accepted with an account balance of $1,767.03.