The Joint Operating Committee at Carbon Career & Technical Institute handled the following items recently.

• Jeffry P. Deutsch, Business Administrator for CCTI, advised that the 2024-2025 budget was sent to all five participating school districts. Panther Valley voted on the budget last week.

“Panther Valley School District voted 9-0 in favor of the budget,” JOC Chairman Renee DeMelfi said. DeMelfi represents the Panther Valley School Board.

• Twenty-four CCTI Health Medical students will attend the HOSA State Conference March 13-15, at the Wyndham Lancaster Resort & Convention Center in Lancaster. The competition will be chaperoned by Donna McClain, Health Medical instructor/HOSA adviser and Dean John Wychulis, Health Medical instructional aide.

• The JOC approved the purchase of an ARES Emergency Care Manikin for the Health Medical technical lab at a cost of $24,849 to include shipping costs. The purchase is included in the approved Supplement Equipment grant.

ARES is CAE Healthcare’s newest mid-fidelity manikin designed for lifesaving simulation experiences in the prehospital and emergency care settings.

• Two CCTI Auto Service & Technology students will attend the Pennsylvania Automotive Association Skip Wagner Automotive Technology Competition Feb. 22 at the Antique Auto Museum in Hershey. The competition will be chaperoned by Harold Resh, Auto Service & Technology instructor or John Rogers, Auto Service & Technology instructional aide.

Each year 10 schools with 2-person teams are selected to compete through a written qualifying exam. In order to prepare for the competition, students are trained at local new car dealerships. Lehighton Ford has agreed to be CCTI’s sponsoring dealership. • Approved the purchase of a 12-inch Parallelogram Jointer with ArmorGlide - Helical Cutterhead for the Carpentry technical lab at a total cost of $9,598 to include shipping costs. The item is included in the approved Capital Equipment Plan.

• Approved the purchase of a 14-inch x 40-inch geared head lathe for the Precision Machine Technology technical lab at a cost of $30,401 to include shipping costs. The item is included in the approved Supplement Equipment grant.

- James Logue Jr.