Applications up at Jeff Tech

The Jeff Tech Operating Committee met in regular session on February 28 and learned that applications are up for the next school year.

In comments to the committee, Jeff Tech Principal Melissa Mowrey said that as of that evening, the school had received 100 applications for the 2022-2023 school year.

“That is completely unheard of. It is not something we typically have by the end of February,” she told the committee.

Mowrey said there were still plenty of openings for any student that was interested. Acceptance letters will be sent out in May.

Jeff Tech held a recruitment fair on February 16. Another one is planned for March 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the school.

Agenda items

A number of items on the agenda were discussed, including entering into a five year agreement with Root, Spitznas and Smiley, Inc., for audit services through June 30, 2026.

Committee member Robert Cardamone of the Punxsutawney School District, who attended the session via the internet, asked about that item and said that he felt all services, including professional services, be subject to the bidding process. Professional services are not subject to that process. He mentioned he approached this same issue with the Punxsutawney School Board.

Business Manager Sherry Hasselman said that in this instance, the auditing firm has the expertise to deal with Title IV financial aide funding, which is highly regulated.

The motion was approved by the committee.

The committee also approved a motion to discontinue the Computer Network Engineering program at the end of this school year due to low enrollment. Another program, Electrical Construction, was approved for development for the 2022-2023 school year.

New budget

In an update to the committee. Business Manager Hasselman said the school’s preliminary budget is still in development and will be presented to the committee at the March meeting.

While there will be a proposed increase for the four sending school districts, that increase percentage has dropped from the 5.29% mentioned at the January meeting to 4.25% as of February 28, but she stressed these were just preliminary figures.

Hirings

The committee approved a motion to hire David Wolfe as the School to Career Coordinator, a position funded through the Perkins Grant. Megan Berquist was hired as the Health/Physical Education instructor and Tanner Smith was hired in the Custodial/Mantenance Department.