COAL TOWNSHIP - A retired teacher at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC) believes a one-year, senior-only, full-day program scheduled to go into effect next school year won't be cost effective for home schools because of the drastic reduction in enrollment that will result from the change.
Barry Michael Buriak, former longtime auto mechanics instructor and cooperative education coordinator at the school, asked operating agency members Wednesday night, "If a one-year program is so terrific, why aren't more schools throughout the state using it? The school districts can't afford it because we won't have the enrollment."
I'm very concerned about the future of this school. There are ways around this. It's important that students get the full benefits from this school."
Buriak agreed that students need to attend full-day sessions, but said instruction shouldn't be limited to only seniors.
Charles Shuey, a member of Shamokin Area School Board who chaired Wednesday's meeting, said the districts have been "hamstrung" by state and federal requirements that contributed to the decision to change the curriculum.
Shuey praised past and current students and teachers, but said school officials believe the new program is the best option.
Line Mountain Superintendent David Campbell, a strong proponent of the vo-tech school and the one-year, senior-only, full-day program, said drastic financial cuts in education by Gov. Tom Corbett last March have made life very difficult for districts throughout the state, especially those that didn't receive as much funding as others before cuts were made.
"Our kids at Line Mountain were basically here two hours per day in the half-day program," Campbell said. "In the new program, they will be here about seven hours per day and that works for us."
Campbell said there are approximately 20 students from Line Mountain enrolled at the vo-tech school for next year.
Shamokin Area Superintendent James Zack said PSSA testing has caused problems in all school districts, particularly with vo-tech school students who must be prepared properly to take the test like students at the home school. Zack said districts are penalized if PSSA scores aren't adequate.
Mount Carmel Area Acting Superintendent Bernie Stellar added, "The vo-tech students must have access to the general curriculum and that makes it difficult because it requires school districts to make changes to the curriculum."
Enrollment at NCCTC has decreased from 323 to 106 in two years, and is projected to be less than 60 when the new program is fully in effect.
While the decrease is unavoidable with only one grade enrolled instead of three, some local school officials fear the school is losing too much enrollment, that some classes have too few students, and that further budget cuts may be necessary.
When asked by Coal Township resident Paul Leshinskie what will happen to the school if it continues to lose students, Mount Carmel Area board director Michael Rovito said school officials have agreed to allow Mount Carmel Area students in 10th and 11th grades to attend the vo-tech school next year, and have offered the same opportunity to Line Mountain and Shamokin Area students.
Rovito pointed out that approximately 15 students from Mount Carmel Area are enrolled in courses at Schuylkill County Technology Center that aren't offered at the vo-tech school in Coal Township.
Daycare
During a work session that preceded the regular meeting, Tiny Tech Day Care Director Gwen Spurr told the board the new program will affect the hours of hands-on experience her students obtain.
Spurr, who currently supervises seven seniors in the school-operated day care program, said students must complete 480 hours of work throughout the duration of the program to earn Child Development Association certification.
She said the day care is open from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. But the board granted permission for Spurr and her students to care for pre-schoolers (ages 3 and 4) from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday next school year so students can obtain more hours to earn their certification.
Spurr currently has 13 pre-schoolers in the day care.
She said the projected enrollment for the program next year is eight students.
James Mongahan, administrative director at the school since August, expressed optimism for the new program and said efforts are continuing to promote a vocational education at the home schools.
He said an information night will be held at the vo-tech school at 6:30 p.m. April 22.
Budget, other business
Financial consultant Charles Mannello said the preliminary vo-tech school budget is $1.58 million, including $1.49 million in the general fund. He noted the school receives $61,000 in Carl Perkins funding.
In other business, the board approved the retirement of carpentry instructor James Yurick Jr., effective at the end of the current school year.
Board members commended the longtime instructor for his dedicated service to the school and community.
Monaghan said it's possible the carpentry shop, which doesn't have many students, may be incorporated into a building maintenance program in the future.
He said office manager Sally Merena also is retiring at the end of the school year.
The board agreed to hire Eric Ackerman of Kulpmont as a part-time website design instructor for the adult evening program at $15 an hour, retroactive to Feb. 29.
Registered nurse Jacqueline Verzosa of Coal Township was approved as a day-to-day substitute teacher on an as-needed basis.