Students at the Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Jim Thorpe, will receive free breakfasts and lunches in the 2024-2025 school year, according to a plan explained to the school’s operating committee last night by its business manager.

Business administrator Jeffrey Deutsch briefed the committee members on the program he said will be operated on a trial basis.

He said, “We will be serving free breakfasts and lunches next year for all students. This will be a trial basis for one year to see how it works out. We’re pretty confident about it.”

According to the plan, the breakfast will have a “grab-and-go menu.” Lunches will be prepared by the school, following similar menus from last year.

Deutsch said each student will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch per day.

Meanwhile, the committee voted to establish fees for second lunches. They will be $2.75 for students and $5 for adults.

Budget work

In other matters, Deutsch advised the committee his office personnel are already working on the 2025-2026 budget.

He said “no overall increase is being forecast” in the future budget for the five Carbon County school districts that pay towards the school budget.

SHINE

Regarding the SHINE program, David Reinbold, the school’s administrative director, said, “It’s been touch-and-go whether they were going to get funding or not next year.”

It was reported in May the SHINE program (Schools and Homes in Education) might lose state funding due to its funds being diverted to other programs in urban areas such as Philadelphia.

“It looks now like they are going to get funding for next year,” Reinbold told the committee.

Mrs. Michele Allen, CCTI principal, reported on the success of the Non-Traditional Summer Camp hosted by SHINE, saying 80 students in grades 5-8 participated in lessons and exercises in eight technical areas.

She said as a project, each of the students built a solar-powered car; and, on the last day of the camp, the students had the chance to race them. The students, students helpers and administrators raced the cars, she said, noting the students and student helpers each received certificates of participation.

“I think the most rewarding outcome of the camp is how many of the students are interested in coming to CCTI,” Mrs. Allen said. “They get to see many of the trades we offer, and help them decide what they might want to do.”