Jun 29, 2010 By Carla Destefano 3 min read

The Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School Joint Operating Committee approved a budget Monday of $5,399,828 for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The committee voted 8-3 to approve the final budget with committee vice president Angelo Giachetti and members Philip Holt and Curtis Jacobs voting against the move. Committee member Ron Dellarose was absent from the meeting.

The budget reflects an increase of $479,796 from last fiscal year’s budget of $4,920,032. Despite the overall increase in the budget, each district will see a decrease in the amount of their contribution.

In 2009-10, the four districts were responsible for paying $3,558,919, but this year, those districts together will pay $3,384,403. That’s a decrease of $174, 516.

The decrease is a result of budget cuts involving eliminating the hospitality and tourism program and an assistant principal position at the vo-tech.

Of the total budget, $1,064,669, will support the Licensed Practical Nursing post-secondary program. The committee unanimously approved the LPN budget in a separate motion.

In other business, director Dr. Edward Jeffreys briefed the committee about the new Dropout Prevention Program, Learn to Earn, which is set to begin next month. According to Jeffreys, the program, made available by a grant, seeks to pull dropouts back into the school.

“They will be paid to come back to school and paid to take their GED, and the GED test will be paid for,” Jeffreys said. “This is a huge opportunity for our school.”

Jeffreys said 40 slots will be open in 15 programs at the vo-tech for students ages 18-24 years. Day and evening classes will be available if there is enough interest.

The board also voted unanimously Monday night to eliminate one of the two maintenance positions currently at the school.

“We felt we could get by with just one maintenance position,” said committee member Jim Tobal.

Jeffreys also called the First Teacher Learning Session a success. The purpose of the sessions, held during the 2009-2010 academic year, was to familiarize faculty within the four participating school districts about the vo-tech programs. Faculty members were invited to an in-service day while vo-tech students were in class.

“Nearly 100 faculty members from the districts participated. It’s a wonderful opportunity to utilize the information they have gathered,” Jeffreys said. “Now they see a value in vocational education. Some of them didn’t even know what happened at the vo-tech. We need to get out there more.”

The committee also recognized Jessica Fike and Ashley Phares for perfect attendance to the FCAVTS during their sophomore year in 2009-10. Fike, of Laurel Highlands School District, is in the agriculture/vet tech program. Phares, of Uniontown Area School District, participates in the culinary arts program.

Also during the meeting, the board approved:

n Switching from First National Bank to Centra Bank for all current banking accounts as depository.

n The school’s insurance policies with Dave Garlitz, PSBA, for a total cost of $60,703, a decrease of $10,983 from last fiscal year.

n The school calendar for the 2010-11 school year. The first day for students will be Aug. 30.

n The motion to enter into a five-year agreement with Williams Vending to provide snack and beverage services to the school.

n The participation in the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Technical Assistance Program and the Challenge Program for the 2010-11 school year.

n The utilization of the vo-tech building to offer adult evening classes Monday through Friday at the discretion of the executive director.