The Carbon Career & Technical Institute Joint Operating Committee approved the following:

• Revisions to the 2023-2024 Student/Teacher Calendar to make up two snow days. The Jan. 19 snow day will be made up on March 28, and the Feb. 13th snow day will be made up on April 2.

• CCTI will contribute up to $98 (total cost) toward AP exam fees for eligible students testing within the 2023-2024 school year.

• CCTI will contribute up to $18 per exam fee for students taking the PSAT exam within the 2024-2025 school year.

College Board provides a $36 fee reduction per AP exam for eligible students with financial need. Schools are expected to forgo their $9 rebate for these students, resulting in a cost of $53 per exam.

• Sixteen Advanced Placement English students will attend “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theater, New York, New York, on May 15, 2024, chaperoned by Maya Kowalcyk, English Teacher; Jacqueline Cole, English Teacher; and one additional approved chaperon, at a cost of $4,145 to include tickets and transportation.

• Approximately 70 CCTI Senior students attend Knoebel’s Amusement Resort, Elysburg, on May 23, 2024, chaperoned by seven chaperones, at a cost of approximately $3,400 to include tickets and transportation.

• The CCTI Junior/Senior 2025 Prom will be held at Blue Mountain Resort on Friday, May 9, at an estimated cost of $9,000. The cost is based on 150 guests attending.

• Jeffry P. Deutsch, CCTI Business Administrator, gave an update on 2024-2025 Budget process. Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, and Panther Valley School Districts have all approved the new budget so far. Weatherly and Palmerton must still vote on the budget that calls for receipts and expenditures in the amount of $9,305,429.

• Ken Walters, supervisor of buildings and grounds, will be presenting bids to be voted upon at the next JOC meeting. CCTI retired one vehicle, donating it to the Auto Service & Technology Department of CCTI. That vehicle will not be replaced.

• The school is seeking bids for a new dump truck, and they are researching the purchase of another student transport vehicle.

• CCTI Adult Education is offering several courses for the winter/spring season: Air Conditioning Fundamentals, Nurse Aide, Pharmacy Technician, Welding Technology, ServSafe® Exam, Forklift, PA State Inspection Mechanic Certification, and GED Preparation Courses. Program descriptions, orientations, and start dates are available at www.carboncti.org/adulteducation; schedule available. Follow our happenings on Facebook @cctiadulted or Carbon Career and Technical Institute – Adult Education.

• February is Career and Technical Education Month, according to CCTI Principal Michelle Allen.

To celebrate, students from various departments created crafts to be used as gifts at a bag bingo fundraiser for the school. Students took part in a Super Bowl Challenge the Friday before the big game. Every Friday during February, students celebrate a different sending school for CCTI. Students can wear their school colors and clothing. Students also took part in trivia games, logo games, and more.

• CCTI Guidance Counselor Eugene Colosimo organized students from all sending districts to shadow technical areas this month assisting them in making their class selections. Applications are due March 1. CCTI will be hosting 8th grade tours this month. Students will visit two technical areas and have a hands-on experience to introduce them to those trades.

• Five CCTI teachers are heading to Panther Valley later this month for 5th grade interactive presentations. Students will rotate through learning about precision machine, engineering technology, auto service technology, electrical, and carpentry. The four teachers taking part will be Kevin Kuehner, Michael Garrent, Hal Resh, Rich Stettler, and Jeff Hazelton.