“Full-day” discussion gets heated among vo-tech committee members
GEORGES TWP — Area school board directors, serving on the Joint Operating Committee of the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, shared a few heated moments on Monday, when one member revisited a controversial topic.
Phillip Holt, school director from Uniontown Area, proposed a measure for October’s agenda that would offer full-day instruction for students at the vocational school, changing the current half-day academic system to a semester-about system for the 2014-15 school year.
“You can come here to be a mechanic. You’re here a half day, get all greased up and then you go back to your home school,” said Holt. “It’s not enough instruction.”
Holt, along with Jeff Bayne, Stella Broadwater, Ed Colebank, Thomas George, and Ken Howard, voted in favor of the proposal. Edward Andria, Jim Tobal, Larry Zebley and Ira Chrise voted against the measure. Ron Dellarose and Lloyd Williams were absent.
The committee voted in April to send a similar proposal back to feeding districts — Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Laurel Highlands and Uniontown — for approval of the measure. However, Albert Gallatin was the only district to pass the measure for the 2013-14 school year.
Holt and Bayne said their boards felt there wasn’t enough time to implement the changes prior to the start of this school year.
“My board felt too rushed. This gives us a year to make this happen,” Bayne said.
Some dissenting directors argued the home districts have already voted on the issue and were not in favor of it.
“As long as it takes to pass, I’m not giving up,” said Holt. “I’m in business and we need more technical people, and a half day of instruction isn’t enough.”
The committee will vote on the measure in October, sending it to feeding districts for approval. All four districts must give approval for the change in instruction delivery to be implemented.
Committee members approved the school’s participation in the Benedum Grant Strategic Plan for this school year.
The grant secures a plan through the intermediate unit for counselors to assist career and technical students with post-secondary education decisions, including financial aide and study interests.
“It encourages post-secondary education for students to consider college or technical schools beyond high school,” said Dr. Edward Jeffreys, executive director, FCCTI
The committee also passed the following measures:
n Hiring Robert Landman as a full-time custodian at a rate of $16.65 per hour
n Setting extra work rates for instructors ($25 per hour) and students ($8 per hour) as needed
n Approving student clubs and advisers stipend of $800 per year as per PSEA contract
n Applying for emergency certification for HVAC and machine production instructors at a cost of $125 each
n Moving of business office substitute secretary Lisa Patterson to part time business office assistant for an annual salary of $18,500 with no benefits