Ken Walters, supervisor of Buildings and Grounds at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe, gave an update to the Joint Operating Committee Thursday on upgrades planned for the school.

CCTI met with the architect on Jan. 9 to go over the plans to enclose the courtyard to create more classroom space.

“We are looking at expanding the Cosmetology Department to include a second program,” Walters said.

“We are looking at expanding Cosmetology into the area where the Marketing Department and the School Store are located. Marketing and the School Store would move to the CTE area,” he said.

Another project being discussed is adding on to the Culinary Arts Department.

“We are looking to possibly expand areas of the culinary department next to the restaurant,” Walters said. “Currently, we have 25 students in culinary and only 18 seats, so they are using the restaurant for theory classes. We are looking at possibly adding a second program for the Culinary Department.”

Some academic rooms on the second floor will be used for overflow students from some of the other programs of study.

Walters also advised that the new economy ovens were installed in the kitchen, a $40,000 investment.

Another project for the school includes new graphics to the school van that were recently completed, as well as new graphics for the school’s two plow trucks. Students from the graphic design, auto collision repairs, carpentry, and possibly welding are now looking at rebranding the exterior of the school building with new graphics and designs.

“We will be updating several old, worn-out logos on the building exterior,” Walters added, “as well as signs at the main entrance and directional signs around the campus.”