Vo-tech panel approves raises
GEORGES TWP. – The Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School’s joint operating committee handed out a few pay raises when they met Monday. The committee increased the pay of school director John Fibbi by $3,000, up from his current salary of $75,050. They voted for a $2,500 increase for the assistant to the director, Dr. Edward Jeffreys. His salary before the increase was $61,300.
They further approved an across-the-board raise of 4 percent for the 2003-2004 year for all other non-contracted salaries that include those of the secretaries, director of the licensed practical nurse program, cafeteria manager and maintenance supervisor.
The committee had a 30-minute executive session prior to the 10-0 vote to consider the raises. Directors Andy Dorsey of Brownsville Area School Board and Shirley Kefover of Laurel Highlands School Board were absent.
In other matters, the committee discussed a possible collaboration between the vo-tech and Laurel Highlands School District on a travel and tourism program.
Fibbi said he needed to clarify a letter from the Reaching Educational Achievement with Community Help (REACH) group of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board that they support the travel and tourism program but have no link or partnerships in place with the program.
The committee decided last month to delay the start of the new travel and tourism program at the vo-tech until the second semester of the upcoming school year in an effort to get students interested in taking the classes but several committee members questioned whether a travel and tourism academy at Laurel Highlands would conflict with the vo-tech’s effort.
Laurel Highlands Superintendent Dr. Ronald Sheba said his school district’s academy and the vo-tech program would attract different layers of students. He said they should be able to collaborate. Fibbi compared the curriculums of the two programs. He said the vo-tech program could be a component of the Laurel Highlands academy.
Albert Gallatin Area School Board Directors John Gruskowski and Edward Andria asked for specifics on such collaboration but Sheba said he would not have all the information until school district officials attend a conference later this summer. He also said Laurel Highlands is not 100 percent committed to offering the program this coming school year.
The committee approved for the graphic communication program the purchase of a screen-printing start-up kit and additional screen printing supplies from Ryan Screen Supply Company of St. Louis, Mo., for $7,965 plus $1,005 for shipping and handling. They also approved the purchase of miscellaneous parts and supplies for the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) shop for necessary repairs at a cost not to exceed $9,000. Fibbi said the purchases would be made with money remaining in the 2002-2003 budget.
Meanwhile, guidance counselor Maria Weightman gave a summary of the school’s use of an $8,500 Safe and Drug Free School grant.
She said the purpose of the grant was to reduce tobacco use by students and to reduce incidents of violence and bullying among students. She said the funds enabled the school to hire a school resource officer and conduct staff training on bullying and smoking cessation.
Weightman said the vo-tech concluded a one-week educator exploration experience Monday for local teachers that attracted 11 teachers from Albert Gallatin and four each from Laurel Highlands and Uniontown. The teacher earned continuing education credit for the program that is in its last year of a grant.
Among further items, they approved the continued operation of the Health Academy for the 2003-2004 school year.
They granted Weightman a sabbatical leave of absence for the 2003-2004 school year.
Also, the committee applauded Brownsville’s superintendent for her participation as chief school administrator. Dr. Gerry Grant is set to retire from Brownsville.
Committee Chairman Angelo Giachetti, a Laurel Highlands director, thanked Grant for sharing her expertise and doing an excellent job as chief school administrator. In response, Grant thanked the committee for their support.