Vo-tech names new board president
GEORGES TWP. — The Joint Operating Committee of the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute (FCCTI) reorganized Monday, electing Uniontown Area School District director Dorothy Grahek as president.
Grahek replaced outgoing president Ira Chrise, school director for Laurel Highlands School District.
The committee also elected committee member David Howard of Albert Gallatin Area School District as vice president.
During the reorganization meeting, the committee approved to keep its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on the the fourth Monday of every month during 2016, with work sessions beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Prior to the reorganization meeting, the committee heard the results of an audit report of 2014-15 FCCTI financials from Charlie Rupert of Cypher & Cypher CPA.
Rupert reported that during the fiscal year the institute received $171,000 more than the budgeted revenue amount, while spending $193,000 less than anticipated.
Member school districts will receive refunds due to the surplus funds, said Rupert.
“The unique thing about the vo-tech is it’s a break-even each year, to where we either spend everything that we brought in … (or) member districts are asked to either pay an additional tuition cost or they get a refund,” said Rupert.
Albert Gallatin Area School District will receive $129,000, Brownsville Area School District will receive $42,000, Laurel Highlands School District will receive $73,000 and Uniontown Area School District will receive $68,000 in refunds, according to Rupert.
Rupert also reported that the average cost per student at FCCTI last school year was $5,652, which is in line with costs over the last four years, he said.
In personnel matters, the committee accepted the resignation of FCCTI adult education coordinator Anna Miscovich.
The committee then voted to hire Courtney Venick as the full-time adult education coordinator at a salary of $29,000.
Also Monday, the committee:
n Approved a lease agreement with the Intermediate Unit I for the lease of four classrooms for the 2015-16 school year at a cost of $6,000.
n Approved an update to an agreement between the FCCTI licensed practical nursing program and Highlands Hospital that releases the hospital from liability of student error when working with hospital patients.
n Renewed a memorandum of agreement between the institute’s licensed practical nursing program and Head Start of Fayette County.
n Approved a license agreement with Somastream Interactive to provide an online driver’s education course beginning in February.
n Approved a service agreement with Premier Power Solutions LLC that reflects a rate decrease, resulting in a lower monthly electrical cost.